Photo, Print, Drawing Destitute pea pickers in California. Mother of seven children. Age thirty-two. Nipomo, California digital file from original neg.

About this Item

About this Item

Title
Destitute pea pickers in California. Mother of seven children. Age thirty-two. Nipomo, California
Other Title
Migrant mother.
Summary
Photograph shows Florence Thompson with three of her children in a photograph known as "Migrant Mother." For background information, see "Dorothea Lange's M̀igrant Mother' photographs ..." http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/128_migm.html
Contributor Names
Lange, Dorothea, photographer
Created / Published
1936 Feb. or Mar.
Subject Headings
-  Migrant agricultural laborers.
-  Mothers.
-  Poor persons.
-  United States--California--San Luis Obispo County--Nipomo.
-  Migrants--California
-  California--San Luis Obispo County--Nipomo
Format Headings
Group portraits.
Nitrate negatives.
Portrait photographs.
Notes
-  A copy transparency (LC-USF346-009058-C) and a copy safety negative (LC-USF347-009058-C) are also in the collection.
-  Digital file was made from the original nitrate negative for "Migrant Mother" (LC-USF34-009058-C). The negative was retouched in the 1930s to erase the thumb holding a tent pole in lower right hand corner. The file print made before the thumb was retouched can be seen at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.12883
-  Title from caption card for negative. Title on print: ""Destitute pea pickers in California. A 32 year old mother of seven children."
-  Additional information about this photograph might be available through the Flickr Commons project at http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/3551599565 External
-  LOT 0344 (Location of corresponding print).
-  Transfer; United States. Office of War Information. Overseas Picture Division.
-  More information about the FSA/OWI Collection is available at http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.fsaowi
-  Published in: American women : a Library of Congress guide ... Washington : Library of Congress, 2001, p. 186.
-  Published in: Eyes of the nation / Vincent Virga ... New York : Knopf, 1997.
-  Published in: Library of Congress prints and photographs: an illustrated guide. Washington : Library of Congress, 1995, p. 4.
-  DCRM(G) example 1B3.4 - multiple titles.
-  Original file print is stored in PR 12, FSA file prints, with dimensions of 18 cm. by 23 cm.
Medium
1 negative : nitrate ; 4 x 5 in.
Call Number/Physical Location
LC-USF34- 009058-C [P&P] LC-USF346-009058-C b&w film transparency LC-USF347-009058-C b&w film safety neg.
Source Collection
Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Photograph Collection
Repository
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, DC 20540 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Digital Id
fsa 8b29516 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8b29516
cph 3b41800 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3b41800
ppmsca 23845 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.23845
ppmsca 12883 //hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsca.12883
Control Number
fsa1998021539/PP
Reproduction Number
LC-DIG-fsa-8b29516 (digital file from original neg.) LC-DIG-ppmsca-12883 (digital file from print, pre-conservation) LC-DIG-ppmsca-23845 (digital file from print, post-conservation) LC-USF34-T01-009058-C (b&w film dup. neg.) LC-USZ62-95653 (b&w film copy neg. of an unretouched file, showing thumb)
Rights Advisory
No known restrictions. For information, see U.S. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black & White Photographs http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/071_fsab.html
Online Format
image
Description
1 negative : nitrate ; 4 x 5 in. | Photograph shows Florence Thompson with three of her children in a photograph known as "Migrant Mother." For background information, see "Dorothea Lange's M̀igrant Mother' photographs ..." http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/128_migm.html

Rights & Access

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For information about reproducing, publishing, and citing material from this collection, as well as access to the original items, see: U.S. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black & White Photographs - Rights and Restrictions Information

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For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

  • Rights Advisory: No known restrictions. For information, see U.S. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Black & White Photographs http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/071_fsab.html
  • Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-fsa-8b29516 (digital file from original neg.) LC-DIG-ppmsca-12883 (digital file from print, pre-conservation) LC-DIG-ppmsca-23845 (digital file from print, post-conservation) LC-USF34-T01-009058-C (b&w film dup. neg.) LC-USZ62-95653 (b&w film copy neg. of an unretouched file, showing thumb)
  • Call Number: LC-USF34- 009058-C [P&P] LC-USF346-009058-C b&w film transparency LC-USF347-009058-C b&w film safety neg.
  • Access Advisory: ---

Obtaining Copies

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Alternatively, you can purchase copies of various types through Library of Congress Duplication Services.

  1. If a digital image is displaying: The qualities of the digital image partially depend on whether it was made from the original or an intermediate such as a copy negative or transparency. If the Reproduction Number field above includes a reproduction number that starts with LC-DIG..., then there is a digital image that was made directly from the original and is of sufficient resolution for most publication purposes.
  2. If there is information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can use the reproduction number to purchase a copy from Duplication Services. It will be made from the source listed in the parentheses after the number. If only black-and-white ("b&w") sources are listed and you desire a copy showing color or tint (assuming the original has any), you can generally purchase a quality copy of the original in color by citing the Call Number listed above and including the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.
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Price lists, contact information, and order forms are available on the Duplication Services Web site.

Expect Delays in Service of Nitrate Negatives

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Clues that an FSA/OWI/OEM image may be affected are:
Medium field says "1 negative : nitrate" OR
Reproduction Number field begins with: LC-USF33-

If either is the case, you may wish to consult with Prints and Photographs Division reference staff (202-707-6394). In certain instances, duplicate negatives are available for copying.

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    • Yes, the item is digitized. Please use the digital image in preference to requesting the original. All images can be viewed at a large size when you are in any reading room at the Library of Congress. In some cases, only thumbnail (small) images are available when you are outside the Library of Congress because the item is rights restricted or has not been evaluated for rights restrictions.
      As a preservation measure, we generally do not serve an original item when a digital image is available. If you have a compelling reason to see the original, consult with a reference librarian. (Sometimes, the original is simply too fragile to serve. For example, glass and film photographic negatives are particularly subject to damage. They are also easier to see online where they are presented as positive images.)
    • No, the item is not digitized. Please go to #2.
  2. Do the Access Advisory or Call Number fields above indicate that a non-digital surrogate exists, such as microfilm or copy prints?

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    • No, another surrogate does not exist. Please go to #3.
  3. If you do not see a thumbnail image or a reference to another surrogate, please fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room. In many cases, the originals can be served in a few minutes. Other materials require appointments for later the same day or in the future. Reference staff can advise you in both how to fill out a call slip and when the item can be served.

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

Lange, Dorothea, photographer. Destitute pea pickers in California. Mother of seven children. Age thirty-two. Nipomo, California. California Nipomo San Luis Obispo County, 1936. Feb. or Mar. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/fsa1998021539/PP/. (Accessed January 20, 2018.)

APA citation style:

Lange, D., photographer. (1936) Destitute pea pickers in California. Mother of seven children. Age thirty-two. Nipomo, California. California Nipomo San Luis Obispo County, 1936. Feb. or Mar. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/fsa1998021539/PP/.

MLA citation style:

Lange, Dorothea, photographer. Destitute pea pickers in California. Mother of seven children. Age thirty-two. Nipomo, California. Feb. or Mar. Photograph. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <https://www.loc.gov/item/fsa1998021539/PP/>.