urn:taro:utexas.cah.00123 A Guide to the Russell Lee Photograph Collection Text converted and initial EAD tagging done by Bill Hardesty on September 3, 2002 Finding aid written in English. Tue Jul 22 15:27:27 CDT 2003 urn:taro:utexas.cah.00123 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (20030505). Descriptive Summary Lee, Russell, 1903- LEE (RUSSELL) PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION 1935-1977 38850253 3,639 photographic prints; 708 slides; 27, 047 photographic negatives; 5 color transparencies Center for American History,The University of Texas at Austin Documentary photographer Russell Lee, born in 1903, took his first photographs in 1935. He worked for the Farm Security Administration from 1936 to 1942 and remained active in the field of documentary photography until 1977. The collection consists primarily of Lee's work after he left the federal government in 1946. Major series include a study of Spanish-speaking people of Texas (1949-1952), the Italy portfolio (1960), documentation of the campaigns of Texas senator Ralph Yarborough, and other community activities and industrial operations, mainly in Texas and the southwest. English. Biographical Note

Documentary photographer Russell Lee was born in Illinois in 1903. Trained as a chemical engineer and a painter, he took his first photographs in 1935. He worked for the Farm Security Administration from 1936 to 1942 and remained active in the field of documentary photography until 1977. Lee, who enjoyed a reputation for technical excellence and sensitivity to his subjects, moved to Austin, Texas, in 1947. Although he often traveled as a free-lance photographer and on assignment for magazines, corporations, the federal government, and the University of Texas, Austin remained his home and Texas a major focus of his work until his death in 1986. From 1965 to 1973 he taught photography at the University of Texas.

Scope and Contents

The collection consists primarily of Lee's work after he left the federal government in 1946. Major series include a study of Spanish-speaking people of Texas (1949-1952), the Italy portfolio (1960), documentation of the campaigns of Texas senator Ralph Yarborough, and other community activities and industrial operations, mainly in Texas and the southwest.

Arrangement

Arranged by chronology and format.

Access Restrictions

Access to negatives and transparencies is restricted. A portion of these negatives is stored remotely. Contact repository for retrieval from offsite storage.

Use Restrictions

Addition (AR 2002-127), consisting of annotated Farm Security Administration prints, is for research purposes only. Reproductions and permission must be obtained from the Library of Congress.

Cite as

Russell Lee Photograph Collection, 1935-1977, Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin.

Index Terms Subjects (Persons) Connally, John Bowden, 1917- --Pictorial works. Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank), 1888-1964--Pictorial works. Eckhardt, Bob--Pictorial works. Faulk, John Henry--Pictorial works. Garner, John Nance, 1868-1967--Pictorial works. Gipson, Fred, 1908- --Pictorial works. Gonzales, Henry B. (Henry Barbosa), 1916- --Pictorial works. Johnson, Lady Bird, 1912- --Pictorial works. Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973-- Pictorial works. Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963--Pictorial works. Lee, Russell, 1903- --Photograph collections. Ransom, Harry Huntt, 1908- --Pictorial works. Rayburn, Sam, 1882-1961--Pictorial works. Shivers, Allan, 1907- --Pictorial works. Umlauf, Charles, 1911- --Pictorial works. Yarborough, Ralph Webster, 1903- --Pictorial works. Subjects (Organizations) University of Texas--Pictorial works. Places Canada--Pictorial works. Italy--Pictorial works. Mexico--Pictorial works. New York (State)--Pictorial works. Saudi Arabia--Pictorial works. Texas--Pictorial works. Subjects Airlines--Photographs. Children--Pictorial works. Cowboys--Pictorial works. Electioneering--Texas--Photographs. Fairs--Photographs. Fishing--Photographs. Livestock exhibitions--Texas--Photographs. Mexican Americans--Pictorial works. Petroleum industry and trade--Photographs. Politicians--United States--Pictorial works. Prints: 3Y146 Early work of Woodstock and New York City, 1935-1936 3Y147 Resettlement Administration: 3Y147 Jersey Homesteads Project, Roosevelt, N.J., October 1936 3Y147 Transylvania, 1939 3Y147 Texas Ranches (for Standard Oil of New Jersey), ca. 1947-1949 3Y147 Sharyland, Texas Barbecue, 1948 3Y147 Stockdale, Texas watermelon festival, 1949 3Y147 Wimberley, Texas deer hunt, Fall 1949 3Y147 Zacatecas and Durango, Mexico, ca. 1949 3Y147 Study of Spanish-Speaking People of Texas: 3Y147 Corpus Christi, Texas, April 1949 3Y147 San Angelo, Lampasas, Sonora, Texas, May 1949 3Y148 San Antonio, Texas, June 1949 3Y148 San Antonio and Stockdale, Texas, June 1949 3Y148 El Paso, Texas, July 1949 3Y148 Rockdale, Texas, August 1951 3Y148 Austin (6th and Congress Streets), ca. 1951 3Y148 Nova Scotia, ca. 1951-1952 3Y149 For Fortune Magazine: 3Y149 American Airlines, 1951 3Y149 Dow Chemical Company, Freeport, Texas, 1952 3Y149 Arkansas Power and Light Company, 1952 3Y149 South America trip aboard freighter, 1953 3Y150 South America trip aboard freighter, 1953 3Y150 Austin children's concert, 1953 3Y151 Austin children's concert, ca. 1953 3Y151 Cemetery cleaning party, Smithwick, Texas, 1954 3Y151 Austin Livestock show, 1954 3Y151 Kid's party in restaurant, ca. 1954 3Y151 Race relations meeting, University of Texas Union, 1954 3Y151 Elroy, Texas political rally, June 1954 3Y152 Ralph Yarborough gubernatorial campaign, 1954: 3Y152 Women for Yarborough meeting, Austin, August 2 3Y152 Lubbock, August 3 3Y152 Tyler, August 4 3Y152 Allan Shivers at the Texas Telegraph Centennial, Marshall, August 12 3Y152 Women for Shivers meeting, Austin, August 13 3Y152 Paris, Bonham, Mt. Vernon, August 14 3Y152 Shivers Rally, Wooldridge Park, Austin, 1954 3Y153 Texas Politics, 1954, for New York Times Sunday Magazine: 3Y153 Yarborough in Denison, Sherman, and McKinney, July 3 3Y153 Yarborough in Farmersville, Greenville, Terrell, and Kaufman, July 3 3Y153 Yarborough at Driskill Hotel, Austin, July 4 3Y153 Political rally, Belton, July 5 3Y153 Texas State Democratic Convention, Austin, 1954 3Y153 Fish fry, Buchanan Dam, Texas, March 18, 1955 3Y153 Goats and Kids near Austin, March 1955 3Y153 Leaners and Lookers-People in Austin, 1955 3Y153 Arabian-American Oil Company, Saudi Arabia, 1955 3Y154 Fishing trip to Lapaz, Lower California, Mexico (for Magnum Photos, Inc.), 1955 3Y154 Fishing trip to Lapaz (Non-Magnum photos), 1955 3Y154 Fishing on Texas Highland Lakes, 1956 3Y154 Texas Fine Arts, Laguna Gloria, Austin, February 1956 3Y154 Fat Stock Show, Austin, 1956 3Y154 Fred Gipson's autographing party, Mason, Texas, June 30, 1956 3Y154 Political candidates speak at Belton, Texas, July 4, 1956 3Y154 Easter Lilies, Austin, 1956 3Y154 Brazos River Authority press tour, July 1956 3Y154 Travis County, Texas, Democratic convention, 1956 3Y154 Skunk catching in Texas, August 1956 3Y155 Lampasas, Texas, flood, May 1957 3Y155 Democrats of Texas convention, Austin, May 1957 3Y155 Austin fine arts festival, Laguna Gloria, 1957 3Y155 Ralph Yarborough and John Nance Garner, Uvalde, Texas, 1957 3Y155 Yarborough Senate campaign headquarters, Austin, 1957 3Y155 Celebration at Yarborough Senate campaign headquarters, Austin, 1957 3Y155 Barbecue at Joe Small's, ca. 1957 3Y155 J. Frank Dobie and others 3Y155 Walter Prescott Webb 3Y156 Fred Gipson, Tex Purvis, J. Frank Dobie and others 3Y156 Blessing of the fleet, Aransas Pass, 1958 3Y156 Pre-school retarded children, Austin, 1958 3Y156 Children at Austin State School, 1958 3Y157 Gonzales Warm Springs Foundation - Jerry Holloman A.F.L. official, visiting, 1958 3Y157 Henry B. Gonzales gubernatorial campaign rallies, Austin, 1958 3Y157 Ralph Yarborough Senate campaign, 1958 3Y157 Chandler and vicinity 3Y157 Victory party 3Y157 Travis County Democratic convention, 1958 3Y157 Johnson City Centennial, August 1958 3Y157 Gillespie County Fair, August 1958 3Y158 State Democratic Executive Committee meeting over Code of Ethics, Austin, 1958 3Y158 Democrats of Texas convention, Austin, 1958 3Y158 Freighter trip to Europe via Cuba, 1958-1959 3Y158 Writer's Roundup, Austin, 1959 3Y159 Texas Confederate Home, Austin, February 1959 3Y159 Terrell State Hospital, March 1959 3Y159 Rusk State Hospital, March 1959 3Y159 Texas Cowboy Reunion, Stamford, Texas, July 2-4, 1959 3Y160 Texas Cowboy Reunion, Stamford, July 2-4, 1959 3Y160 Fishing trip to Lapaz, Mexico, October 1959 3Y160 Trip to Minor James near Rockport, Texas, November 1959 3Y161 New Orleans, November - December 1959 3Y161 Italy Portfolio, 1960 3Y161 Po River Valley, Modena, Lago Lagarda, Trento Province, Sienna, Florence, Bolzano, Tuscany, San Gimienano, Island of Elba, Milan, Turin 3Y162 Bologna, Bresica, Verona, Bolzano, Elba, Turin, Bergamo, Tuscany (Province), Bosen Province Ravenna and ship channel, Italian Alps, Florence, San Donato, Corsica, Palermo, on board Italian freighter, Milan, Modena, San Gimignano, Sienna, Arco, Po River Valley, Trento 3Y163 Melissa (Calabria), Matera and vicinity, Lucania, Potenza, near Rome, Naples, Monterotondo 3Y163 Rome and vicinity, Caserta (Easter Monday) 3Y163 Boat to Corsica, Naples (Mayday), Rome, Corsica 3Y163 Rome (cemetery and vicinity, Boat to Corsica, Perugia and vicinity, Gubbio (Umbria) and vicinity, near Narni, north of L'Aquila, near Fougno (Umbria), near Tivoli, near Assisi (Umbria) 3Y164 Melissa (Calabria), Matera and vicinity, Lucania, Potenza, near Crotone 3Y164 Sicily: 3Y164 Monreale, coast near Palermo, Palermo and vicinity, Agrigento and vicinity, interior, Caltanisetta, Piazza Armerina, Palma di Montchiaro, Catania, between Palermo and Agrigento, market in Catania or Naples, between Piazza Armerina and Catania, market at Catania 3Y165 Democrats of Texas convention, Houston, Texas, 1960 3Y165 Harris County, Texas, Legislative candidates, 1960 3Y165 John F. Kennedy campaigning in Texas (for New York Times Sunday Magazine), September 1960 3Y165 Bracketville hunting trip, 1960 3Y165 Russians at East Texas oil field, Kilgore, Texas, November 1960 3Y166 Maury Maverick, Jr., 1960-1961 3Y166 White wing hunt, Mexico(?), ca. 1961 3Y166 Harry Huntt Ransom and Joseph R. Smiley, 1961 3Y166 Architectural shots of Austin, ca. 1961 3Y167 "Looking Up," following one theme, Austin, 1961 3Y167 Houston, 1962 3Y167 Gulf Coast Giants of Jazz, 1962 3Y167 Cypress Rifle Club annual feast, near Houston, 1962 3Y167 Bob Eckhardt, 1962 3Y167 Texas Southern University wins Texas Relays, ca. 1962 3Y167 Close of the 58th Texas Legislature, May 24, 1963 3Y168 Senator Ralph Yarborough in Washington, 1963 3Y168 Salute to Ralph Yarborough, Austin, October 19, 1963 3Y168 Texas politics (for New York Times), November 1963 3Y168 LBJ and Yarborough, January 1964 3Y169 Ralph Yarborough filing for U.S. Senate, February 1964 3Y169 Yarborough's field trips home, April 1964 3Y169 Yarborough, Johnson and Humphrey arriving in Austin, August 1964 3Y169 Retrospective show at the University of Texas, March 1965 3Y169 The Beach, 1970-1971 3Y170 Friday Mountain Ranch, 1966 3Y170 Labrador, 1967 3Y170 Claude Eatherly, June 1967 3Y170 Storm offshore near Freeport, Texas, 1970; Lake City, Colorado, 1970 3Y170 Bob Eckhardt, 1970 3Y170 The beach, 1970-1971 3Y171 Circus, downtown Austin, 1973 3Y171 Lake City, Colorado, September 1973 3Y171 Port Aransas, Texas, November 1973 3Y171 London, May 1974 3Y171 San Antonio and San Marcos, Texas, 1975 3Y171 Kansas City, near Country Club Plaza, 1975 3Y171 Montreal, Isle de Magdalen and seals, March 1976 3Y171 Pocano Bay whooping crane trip, 1976 3Y171 Lockhart, Texas barbeque eaters, 1976 3Y171 San Antonio and Mexico City, 1976 3Y172 University of Missouri photo workshop, October 1976 3Y172 Mississippi Queen trip, April-May 1977 3Y172 Mississippi bayou, undated 3Y172 Marion Storms, undated 3Y172 Walter Prescott Webb, undated 3Y172 Helicopter roundup, undated 3Y172 Darrel Royal, UT Memorial Stadium, undated 3Y172 Emma Long, undated Oversize Prints: 3S218 Early work of New York City and Woodstock, New York, 1935-1936 3S218 Study of Spanish-Speaking People of Texas, 1949 3S218 Rockdale, Texas, August 1951 3S218 Austin children's concert, ca. 1953 3S218 Texas fine arts, Laguna Gloria, Austin, February 1956 3S218 Brazos River Authority press tour, July 1956 3S218 Celebration at Yarborough Senate campaign headquarters, Austin, 1957 3S218 Children at Austin State School, 1958 3S218 Gillespie County Fair, August 1958 3S218 Texas Confederate Home, Austin, February 1959 3S218 Rusk State Hospital, March 1959 3S218 Texas Cowboy Reunion, Stamford, Texas, July 2-4, 1959 3S218 Italy portfolio, 1960 3S218 "Looking Up," Austin, 1961 3S218 Texas Southern University wins Texas Relays, ca. 1962 3S218 Senator Ralph Yarborough in Washington - Senate Commerce Committee, 1963 3S218 Yarborough, Johnson and Humphrey arriving in Austin, August 1964 3S218 Storm offshore near Freeport, Texas, 1970 Negatives, 35mm and 120: AHC Early work of Woodstock and New York City, N.Y., 1935-1936 3Y173 (09263111) 1948-1949 3Y173 (09263111) Study of Spanish-Speaking People of Texas, April-July 1949 3Y173 (09263111) 1950-1952 3Y173 (09263111) American Airlines, 1951 3Y173 (09263111) Arkansas Power and Light Company, 1952 3Y173 (09263111) South America trip, 1953 3Y174 Austin children's concert, ca. 1953 3Y174 1954 3Y174 Yarborough gubernatorial campaign, 1954 3Y174 Texas State Democratic Convention, 1954 3Y174 Miscellaneous, 1955 3Y174 Fishing trip to Lapaz, Lower California, Mexico, 1955 3Y175 Arabian-American Oil Company, 1955 3Y175 Miscellaneous, Austin, 1955-1956 3Y175 Ohio River Valley (for Fortune magazine), June 1956 3Y175 Brazos River Authority press tour, July 1956 3Y175 Fred Gipson's autographing party, Mason, Texas, June 30, 1956 3Y175 Belton, Texas political rally, July 4, 1956 3Y176 Travis County Democratic convention, 1956 3Y176 Skunk catching in Texas, August 1956 3Y176 Austin livestock show, 1957 3Y176 Democrats of Texas convention, Austin (for Magnum Photos, Inc.), May 1957 3Y176 Lampasas, Texas, flood, May 1957 3Y176 Miscellaneous, 1957 3Y176 Yarborough Senate campaign, 1957 3Y176 Barbecue at Joe Small's, ca. 1957 3Y176 Miscellaneous, 1958 3Y176 Austin State School, 1958 3Y177 Gonzales Warm Springs Foundation, 1958 3Y177 Henry B. Gonzales gubernatorial campaign, Austin, 1958 3Y177 Yarborough Senate campaign, 1958 3Y177 Travis County Democratic convention, 1958 3Y177 Johnson City Centennial, August 1958 3Y177 Gillespie County Fair, August 1958 3Y177 State Democratic Executive committee, 1958 3Y177 Democrats of Texas convention, 1958 3Y177 Freighter trip to Europe via Cuba, 1958-1959 3Y177 Writers' Roundup, Austin, 1959 3Y177 Texas Confederate Home, February 1959 3Y177 Terrell and Rusk State Hospitals, March 1959 3Y177 Texas Cowboy Reunion, Stamford, July 2-4, 1959 3Y178 Fishing trip to Lapaz, Mexico, October 1959 3Y178 Trip to Minor James near Rockport, November 1959 3Y178 New Orleans, November - December 1959 3Y178 Italy Portfolio, 1960 3Y178 I-1 through I-70 3Y179 I-71 through I-90, series I through IX 3Y180 Sicily 3Y180 Democrats of Texas convention, 1960 3Y180 Harris County legislative candidates, 1960 3Y180 John F. Kennedy campaigning in Texas (for New York Times Sunday Magazine ) September 1960 3Y180 Miscellaneous, 1960 3Y180 Maury Maverick, Jr., 1960-1961 3Y181 Miscellaneous, 1961-1962 3Y181 Cypress Rifle Club annual feast, near Houston, 1962 3Y181 Bob Eckhardt, 1962 3Y181 Close of the 58th Texas Legislature, May 1963 3Y181 Ralph Yarborough, 1963 3Y181 Texas Politics (for New York Times), November 1963 3Y181 Ralph Yarborough, 1964 3Y181 Retrospective show at UT, March 1965 3Y181 Charles Umlauf and sculptures, January 1966 3Y181 Friday Mountain Ranch, 1966 3Y181 Labrador, 1967 3Y181 Claude Eatherly, June 1967 3Y182 Miscellaneous, 1970 3Y182 Bob Eckhardt, 1970 3Y182 The beach, 1970-1971 3Y182 Miscellaneous, 1973 3Y182 San Antonio Airport and Mexico City, 1976 3Y182 Mississippi Queen trip, April - May 1977 3Y182 Spotted Bass, Mason, Texas, undated Negatives, 4 x 5: 3Y183 (08531838) Early work of Woodstock and New York City, N.Y., 1935-1936 3Y183 (08531838) Stockdale, Texas watermelon festival, 1949 3Y183 (08531838) Study of Spanish-Speaking People of Texas, series 13918 and 13943, 1949 3Y184 (08531838) Study of Spanish-Speaking People of Texas, series 14233 and 14646, 1949 3Y185 (08531850) Study of Spanish-Speaking people of Texas, series 14920 1949 3Y185 (08531850) Rockdale, Texas, 1951 3Y185 (08531850) American Airlines, 1951 3Y185 (08531850) Dow Chemical Company, Freeport, Texas, 1952 3Y186 (08531850) Arkansas Power and Light Company, 1952 3Y186 (08531850) Austin children's concert, ca. 1953 3Y186 (08531850) Arabian American Oil Company, 1955 3Y187 (08531850) Ohio River Valley, June 1956 3Y187 (08531850) New Orleans, December 7, 1959 3Y187 (08531850) Architectural shots of Austin, ca. 1961 2 x 2 color slides: 3Y188 Oaxaca, Mexico, ca. 1950 3Y188 The University of Texas for The Observer (London), 1964 3Y188 Miscellaneous, 1959-1976 3Y188 Retrospective of Lee's work: 3Y188 Early work, Farm Security Administration, Air Transport Command, Coal Mines Administration Medical Survey, Various Texas Subjects, Italy, Standard Oil of New Jersey, and other industrial photography Manuscript and printed material: 3F164 Study of Spanish-Speaking People of Texas, 1948-1950 3F164 Study proposal 3F164 Work notes 3F164 Arkansas Power and Light Company, correspondence, 1952-1953 3F164 Ralph Yarborough gubernatorial campaign, work notes, 1954 3F164 Texas Politics for New York Times Sunday Magazine, work notes, July 1954 3F164 Fishing trip to La Paz, Lower California, Mexico, work notes (for Magnum Photos, Inc.), 1955 3F164 Lampasas, Texas flood, description (for Magnum Photos Inc.), May 1957 3F164 Texas Cowboy Reunion, Stamford, Texas, July 2-4, 1959: work notes, caption, correspondence, brochure 3F164 New Orleans, November and December 1959: work notes and captions 3F164 Italy, 1960, work notes 3F164 Captions to "Image of Italy" in Texas Quarterly 3F164 John F. Kennedy presidential campaign in Texas, for New York Times Sunday Magazine, work notes, September 1960 3F164 Russians at East Texas oil field, Kilgore, Texas, November 1960, work notes 3F164 Ralph Yarborough, correspondence, 1961, 1963 3F164 Chihuahua al Pacifico Railroad, Mexico: correspondence, drafts of Maury Maverick's story, work notes, 1962-1963 3F164 "The Super University of Texas" in The Observer, correspondence, 1964-1965 3F164 University of Missouri photo workshop, newsletters and brochures October 1976 3F164 Photography instructions, undated 3F164 Correspondence to Jean Lee from the Southern Conference for Human Welfare, 1947 3F165 Publications in which Lee's work appears: 3F165 Texas Federationist, May 1957 3F165 Water for Tomorrow For You in the Brazos Valley, ca. 1957 3F165 State-wide Meeting, Democrats of Texas, 1957 3F165 Yarborough: Portrait of a Steadfast Democrat and Yarborough Portrait of a People's Senator, 1957 3F165 The Reporter, January 22, 1959 3F165 Brighter Futures for the Disabled, ca. 1960 3F165 The Price of Agony, 1961 3F165 Austin on the Go, May 1961 3F165 Texas Quarterly special issue: "Image of Italy" (annotated), Summer 1961 3F165 The Texas Observer: February 28, 1959; March 28, 1959; January 24, 1963; May 30, 1963; November 1, 1963; July 26, 1963; April 17, 1964 3F165 Alcalde: May 1962; April 1963; April and November 1964 3F165 Pemberton Press flyer for A Portrait of Pancho, ca. 1965 3F165 "The Super University of Texas," The Observer, February 14, 1965 3F165 3F165 Austin American-Statesman, March 23, 1958 3F165 Washington Post, March 3, 1963 3F165 "Russell Lee: Artist With a Camera" and "Russell Lee: Teacher of Photography," Southwestern Art, March 1968 3F165 Houston Chronicle Texas Magazine, May 16, 1965; June 25, 1967 3F165 Clippings and Reviews, ca. 1961-1971 Oversize Printed Material: 2.325/V18 Yarborough Senate campaign newspaper ad proof sheets, 1958 2.325/V18 IPS advanced proof picture stories: New Orleans and Texas Cowboy Reunion, 1959-1960 2.325/V18 IPS "Pix on File" flyer, August 1, 1960 Addition [AR 2002-127]: Scope and Contents

Annotated prints from a book project Mr. Lee presented to the University of Texas Press prior to his death in 1986. These prints, in various sizes ranging from 8"x10" to 16"x20", are all from the work he did for the Farm Security Administration. They are of Texas subjects and date from 1939 or 1940.

Use Restrictions

For research purposes only-reproductions and permission must be obtained from the Library of Congress.

Preferred Citation

Obtain proper citation from the Library of Congress.

3So18a Annotated Farm Security Administration prints