Russell Lee: Boom Town

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Signs in the oil town of Hobbs, New Mexico: photo by Russell Lee, March 1940



Main street Hobbs, New Mexico. Hobbs is an oil boom town: photo by Russell Lee, March 1940



Signs in front of theater, Hobbs, New Mexico: photo by Russell Lee, March 1940



Cot house in the oil town of Hobbs, New Mexico. Hobbs is now experiencing a boom and the cot houses are necessary for the swarms of workers who come in. This is typical of all oil boom towns: photo by Russell Lee, March 1940

Boarding house in oil boom town of Hobbs, New Mexico: photo by Russell Lee, March 1940

Houses of oil field workers in Hobbs, New Mexico: photo by Russell Lee, March 1940

Recess time at grade school in Hobbs, New Mexico: photo by Russell Lee, March 1940



Store in Hobbs, New Mexico, oil boom town: photo by Russell Lee, March 1940

Shops on the main street of the oil boom town of Hobbs, New Mexico: photo by Russell Lee, March 1940

Oil well supplies, Hobbs, New Mexico: photo by Russell Lee, March 1940

Photos by Russell Lee from Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Collection, Library of Congress