Vachon John Collection

Worker at carbon black plant, Sunray, Texas, 1942. Creator: John Vachon
Worker at carbon black plant, Sunray, Texas

De-waxing plant at Mid-Continent refinery, Tulsa, Okla. (1943?). Creator: John Vachon
De-waxing plant at Mid-Continent refinery, Tulsa, Okla

Employees at Mid-Continent Refinery, Tulsa, Okla. (1943?). Creator: John Vachon
Employees at Mid-Continent Refinery, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Geologist examining cuttings from wildcat well, Amarillo, Texas, (1943?). Creator: John Vachon
Geologist examining cuttings from wildcat well, Amarillo, Texas

Man shovelling ears of dried corn from wagon through feed store window, 1942 or 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Man shovelling ears of dried corn from wagon through feed store window

Workers leaving Pennsylvania shipyards, Beaumont, Texas, 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Workers leaving Pennsylvania shipyards, Beaumont, Texas

House, Houston, Texas, 1943. Creator: John Vachon
House, Houston, Texas. [Fruit stall. Signs advertising Pepsi-Cola and Valley Fruit Golden Age Beverages]

Melted sulphur from the wells pouring into relay... Freeport Sulphur Co, Hoskins Mound, Texas
Melted sulphur from the wells pouring into relay station, Freeport Sulphur Co. Hoskins Mound, Texas

Nearly exhausted sulphur vat from which railroad... Freeport Sulphur Co, Hoskins Mound, Texas
Nearly exhausted sulphur vat from which railroad cars are loaded, Freeport Sulphur Co. Hoskins Mound, Texas

Freeport Sulphur Co. 60 foot high vat of sulphur, Hoskins Mound, Texas, 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Freeport Sulphur Co. 60 foot high vat of sulphur, Hoskins Mound, Texas

Railroad cars loaded with sulphur, Freeport Sulphur Co. Hoskins Mound, Texas, 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Railroad cars loaded with sulphur, Freeport Sulphur Co. Hoskins Mound, Texas

Loading sulphur from vat, Freeport Sulphur Co. Hoskins Mound, Texas, 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Loading sulphur from vat, Freeport Sulphur Co. Hoskins Mound, Texas

Sulphur vat 60 feet high, Freeport Sulphur Co. Hoskins Mound, Texas, 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Sulphur vat 60 feet high, Freeport Sulphur Co. Hoskins Mound, Texas

60 foot high sulphur vat, Freeport Sulphur Co. Hoskins Mound, Texas, 1943. Creator: John Vachon
60 foot high sulphur vat, Freeport Sulphur Co. Hoskins Mound, Texas

Southland Paper Co. Kraft pulp mill under construction, Lufkin, Texas, 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Southland Paper Co. Kraft pulp mill under construction, Lufkin, Texas

Southland Paper mill, Kraft (chemical) pulp used in making newsprint, Lufkin, Texas, 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Southland Paper mill, Kraft (chemical) pulp used in making newsprint, Lufkin, Texas

Rural school girl, San Augustine County, Texas, 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Rural school girl, San Augustine County, Texas

Rural school children, San Augustine County, Texas, 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Rural school children, San Augustine County, Texas

Eagle Fruit Store and Capital Hotel, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1942. Creator: John Vachon
[Eagle Fruit Store and Capital Hotel], Lincoln, Nebraska

Wisdom, Montana, 1942. Creator: John Vachon
Wisdom, Montana. [Signs: Mail Stage; Calso Dealer; Bakers Garage; Calso Gasoline ]

Road out of Romney, West Va. 1942 or 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Road out of Romney, West Virginia

Cemetery at edge of Romney, West Va. 1942. Creator: John Vachon
Cemetery at edge of Romney, West Virginia. [Signs: Key to Happy Motoring for 42 - Care Saves Wear - Esso ; Fort Pitt Ale ]

Country school near Portsmouth, Ohio, 1942 or 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Country school near Portsmouth, Ohio

Seed and feed store, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1942. Creator: John Vachon
Seed and feed store, Lincoln, Nebraska. [Farmers come to town to buy agricultural supplies]

Shot putter, University of Nebraska, 1942. Creator: John Vachon
Shot putter, University of Nebraska

Seed and feed store, Lincoln, Nebr. 1942. Creator: John Vachon
Seed and feed store, Lincoln, Nebraska. [For sale: Best Sudan Grass - Texas Grown - Prices Low ; Better Loaf flour, potatoes, apples, chewing and smoking tobacco, soft drinks, oranges, grapefruit

Grand Grocery Co. Lincoln, Neb. 1942. Creator: John Vachon
[Grand Grocery Co.], Lincoln, Nebraska. [For sale: Better Loaf flour, potatoes, apples, chewing and smoking tobacco, soft drinks, oranges, grapefruit, Rice Krispies]

Lincoln, Nebraska, 1942. Creator: John Vachon
Lincoln, Nebraska. [Parked cars]

Church near Junction City, Kansas, 1942 or 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Church near Junction City, Kansas

Landscape, Northeast Utah, 1942. Creator: John Vachon
Landscape, Northeast Utah

Children playing by road near school house, Kansas?, 1942 or 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Children playing by road near school house, Kansas?

Loading box cars with sulphur, Freeport Sulphur Co. Hoskins Mound, Texas, 1943. Creator: John Vachon
Loading box cars with sulphur, Freeport Sulphur Co. Hoskins Mound, Texas

Grocery store, Mt. Orab, Ohio, Route 74, 1942 or 1943. Creator: John Vachon
[Grocery store, Mt. Orab, Ohio, Route 74]

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"Vachon John: Capturing the Essence of American Industry in the 1940s" Step back in time to Sunray, Texas, 1942, where Vachon John takes us on a journey through the Carbon Black Plant. Witnessing the hard work and dedication of these workers, we get a glimpse into their daily lives. Moving on to Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1943, Vachon John brings us to the De-waxing Plant at Mid-Continent Refinery. The intricate processes involved are beautifully captured by his lens. In another photograph from Tulsa's Mid-Continent Refinery in 1943, Vachon John focuses on the employees themselves. Their faces tell stories of resilience and unity during challenging times. Traveling further south to Amarillo, Texas also in 1943, we find a geologist examining cuttings from a wildcat well. Through this image, Vachon John showcases both scientific exploration and man's connection with nature. Shifting gears slightly but still within the realm of industry and agriculture is an intriguing shot taken either in 1942 or 1943. A man shovels ears of dried corn from a wagon through a feed store window - an everyday scene that speaks volumes about rural life during this era. Heading eastward to Beaumont, Texas in 1943, Vachon John captures workers leaving Pennsylvania shipyards. This poignant image reminds us of America's role as "the arsenal of democracy" during World War II. Returning to Houston later that same year (still within our protagonist's lens), we encounter an ordinary house amidst extraordinary times. This snapshot serves as a reminder that even amidst chaos and change; life goes on for everyday people. Venturing back westward towards Freeport Sulphur Co. , Hoskins Mound, Texas once more in 1943, Vachon John documents melted sulphur pouring into relay. The sheer magnitude of this operation is awe-inspiring.