In honor of the 50th anniversary of #EarthDay , we're taking a look back at our #DOCUMERICA photographs. https://go.usa.gov/xvRzz 

📸 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/552996  #EarthDay50
In November 1971, the newly created Environmental Protection Agency ( @EPA) announced a massive photodocumentary project to record changes in the American environment.

📸Burning barge on the Ohio River, May 1972 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/543983  #EarthDay50
DOCUMERICA resulted in a collection of more than 20,000 photographs by its conclusion in 1978. These are now part of the @usnatarchives holdings.

📸 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/556607  #EarthDay50
Each photographer worked in one area of the United States, often where they lived and where many had already been working as professional photojournalists.

📸 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/545607  #EarthDay50
DOCUMERICA’s photographs colorfully and explicitly illustrate the nation’s problems and struggles with noise, water and air pollution, health problems, and social decay.

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/552956  #EarthDay50
Out of crisis comes opportunity for change, and DOCUMERICA also showed Americans making a difference and creating positive change in their surroundings.

📸 https://catalog.archives.gov/id/552948  #EarthDay50
You can follow @USNatArchives.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: