National Mandolin

[Davey]

I love this picture.

[Chief]

Very cool. Wonder what the story is- year, occasion, etc.

[Dale Ludewig]

resonator mandolin and a snare drum in the foreground. Looks like all they need is a banjo and they could make a real racket!

[Roger Adams]

Late 1930's ?

[allenhopkins]

Looks like a Triolian steel-bodied mandolin with the "walnut" finish. Per Brozman's book, the ribbed cover-plate indicates post-1932 manufacture. Wish the headstock were visible, as that would aid in doing a more accurate date. The book's a bit difficult to follow in terms of length of manufacture, but the last Triolians listed -- guitars, mandolins, and ukuleles -- are around 1941.

[jim simpson]

Here's a pic of the one I used to own.

[Bill Kammerzell]

Very cool. Wonder what the story is- year, occasion, etc.

What sort of occasion, is a good question. Appears somber. A couple of people are reading from books. Scripture? Hymnal? One young lady has a hanky pressed up against her face. No one looks very happy. Lot of the photos I have of my family dating back to the 1930's through the 1950's are similar though. No one ever seemed to smile in a photo. The ones from the Okie side of my family are downright scary. Those folks were destitute.
Looking again at this one, a girl has what looks like a grocery bag.
Hard to tell what is going on?

[Bill Kammerzell]

Late 1930's ?

Those hats are timeless. But yes. Late 30's early 40's. Everyone has on really light colored clothing. I think we can rule out a burial.

[foldedpath]

A little Google-fu reveals the following text from this link:

July 1939. "Group of people assembled under tree to listen to revival rally on Saturday afternoon. Tahlequah, Oklahoma." 35mm nitrate negative by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration.

I suppose that explains the wary expressions of everyone staring into the camera. The photographer was an outsider.

[brunello97]

I've got a hunch why folks are looking so grim.

Mick

[Bill Kammerzell]

A little Google-fu reveals the following text from this link:



I suppose that explains the wary expressions of everyone staring into the camera. The photographer was an outsider.

That certainly explains the two prayer books/hymnals. Nice work. I have never researched or referenced a photo through google.

[Bill Kammerzell]

A little Google-fu reveals the following text from this link:



I suppose that explains the wary expressions of everyone staring into the camera. The photographer was an outsider.

I sold a Breedlove oval hole A to a buyer in Tahlequah.

[sumibuilt]

Wow, can almost hear what was going on there. Everyone looks so serious. Great pic

[Bill Snyder]

Wonderful photo. Google Russell Lee and you find more photos from the era. He was a fine photographer.