Hi,

I know at least a few RYPN regulars are involved with the preservation of photographic archives at their places of employment or volunteering.

The Library of Congress has been doing a very good job of digitizing and sharing their archives. A recent photo blog has been making the rounds outside the history/rail/industry circles and it is worth mentioning here:

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2010/07/26/captured-america-in-color-from-1939-1943/2363/

Many of the rail photos are by Jack Delano, an unsung master. Delano was born in the Ukraine, spent most of his life in Puerto Rico. He had an interest in mining and railroads as subjects of his photography.

Interestingly, these images were shot as part of an FSA documentation project. The whole department was cut as "waste" by budget hawks in 1943 (some things never change).

What came from that "waste" is a simply breathtaking account of working life in America in the 30's and early 40's.

The power of the photograph cannot be overestimated, in my estimation. ;-) As big projects draw interest in funds to save old rusty such and such, I applaud those operations properly caring for and digitizing photo archives.

You know, they are each worth 1,000 words... maybe more.

Rob