"NYA youth and skilled worker"

DESCRIPTION:

A skilled worker uses calipers to demonstrate the use of a metal lathe to a NYA trainee. Among other things, metal lathes such as this were used to manufacture gun barrels for the American war effort. Larger lathes such as this were, as of January 1941, beginning to turn out naval gun barrels across the road from the NYA program at the Naval Ordnance Plant's North Unit.

 

CAPTION:

"NYA youth and skilled worker at work on a metal lathe."

 

DATE:

1939-1943.

 

SUBJECTS:

Unknown.

 

CONTEXT: Founded as one of many New Deal programs designed to alleviate joblessness at the height of the Great Depression, the National Youth Administration established job training and "work experience" programs across the country from 1935 to 1943. Utilizing several nonessential buildings at the Naval Ordnance Plant from 1939 to 1943, the South Charleston program quickly became one of the largest in the country, topping out at roughly 700 youth in 1941-42. While its early stages only included white males aged 17-24, the program later expanded to include female youth and African-Americans.

 

SOURCE:

National Archives, RG119-S. Box 27, Folder K

 

CREATOR/ORIGIN:

Unknown/National Youth Administration

 

MEDIUM:

Photographic Print, B&W

 

COPYRIGHT:

None known.

 

DID#:

119-S-27K_NYA_021_front_PR

Done