Life Magazine feature about the South Charleston NYA

DESCRIPTION:

The cover of Life Magazine in April 1940 featured the National Youth Administration. Features throughout the issue focus on specific programs across the United States. Two pages (pp.82-83) were dedicated to the South Charleston program.

 

CAPTION:

"Boy, girl and electric lathe at NYA machine shop party."

 

DATE:

15 Apr 1940

 

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:

Life Magazine

 

CREATOR/ORIGIN:

Unknown/Life Magazine

 

MEDIUM:

Photographic Print, B&W

 

COPYRIGHT:

Time-Life Magazine

 

DID#:

11x15_Life_4.15.1940_p83a

Done