The Farm Security Administration's photographic project of the 1930s captured the essence of a nation in crisis. This collection, comprising hundreds of masterpieces from over 270,000 images taken between 1937 and 1943, documents an entire land and its people during a period of immense hardship. Under the direction of Roy Stryker, photographers like Walker Evans, Dorothea Lange, Ben Shahn, and Russell Lee created a national treasure that reveals a spirit of hope even amidst poverty, bringing a historic time to life.

This collection is recognized for its profound historical and artistic significance, with hundreds of its photographs considered masterpieces. The images are lauded for their ability to capture the spirit of hope that persisted even during the extreme poverty of the 1930s. The work serves as a vital national treasure, offering a vivid portrayal of a pivotal era in American history. Its documentation of the land and its people is considered an unprecedented achievement in photography.