Description: Taken by photographer Homer Jensen in the 1930s or early 1940s, this photograph shows Ohio farmers baling hay using a tractor with a pulley attachment. Homer Jensen was a pioneer in aerial searches for oil and minerals hidden underground and beneath the seas. He first worked as a professional photographer in Cincinnati, Ohio, and founded the photographic department of the Procter & Gamble Company. He was the Co-Inventor of Magnetometer. He died in 1991. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, one of the primary goals of which was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B06F06_021_1
Subjects: Agriculture; Hay; Farms; Tractors; Barns; Rural life
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Reproduction of a portrait depicting Victoria Claflin Woodhull from Homer, Ohio. Woodhull was one of the most controversial women of the 19th century. Rejecting conventional women's roles, she toured the country speaking on such topics as women's rights and social reform for women. In 1871, she testified before Congress in an attempt to gain women's rights through the citizenship guarantees of the 14th and 15th amendments. When Congress denied her claims, Woodhull decided to run for president of the United States the following year as the Equal Rights Party Candidate. She and her sister Tennessee Claflin became the first women to own and operate a brokerage firm on Wall Street, and also published a newspaper titled "Woodhull and Claflin's Weekly." Woodhull was at the center of many scandals and eventually even the most radical members of the woman's rights movement tried to distance themselves from her. She moved to England in 1877 and later married an Englishman. She died in 1927. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL01099
Subjects: Women's rights; Women social reformers - Ohio; Ohio History--Presidents and Politics; Political campaigns
Places: Homer (Ohio); Licking County (Ohio)
 

Description: Reverse reads in script: "Scene in Strobridge Lithographing Plant, Cincinnati c/ Homer Jensen." The photograph shows lithographing machines in the Strobridge Lithographing Plant. Each machines uses a series of dampening rollers, inking rollers, and cylanders to print the lithographs. Strobridge Lithographing Plant was founded in 1847 as a stationery store by Elijah Middleton. In 1854 lithographer W.R. Wallace and bookseller Hines Strobridge joined the business. Its signature products were circus, theater, and movie posters. It was sold to the H.S. Crocker printing company in 1961 and closed its doors ten years later in 1961. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B07F09_018_1
Subjects: Cincinnati (Ohio)--History--20th century--Pictorial works; Cincinnati (Ohio)--Industries--History; Strobridge Lithographing Company
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton (Ohio)
 

Description: Handwritten on reverse: "Springfield folder." This photograph is in a folder titled "National Guide Book" This art deco style illustration for "Springfield" was used in The Ohio Guide. It features a frontiersman wearing a coonskin cap. It is most likely either James Demint, a Kentuckian who built a small settlement in what is now Springfield, or Simon Kenton, also from Kentucky, who named the village. In the background is the Crowell-Collier Publishing Company Plant, the Clark County Courthouse and St. Raphael Church. A signature of the artist "Homer Seay" can also be seen. It is very similar to chapter heading that was used for Springfield in The Ohio Guide. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B09F13_005
Subjects: United States. Works Progress Administration of Ohio; Federal Writers' Project. Ohio Federal Writers' Project
Places: Springfield (Ohio); Clark County (Ohio)
 

Description: This art deco style illustration for “The Press” was used in The Ohio Guide. It shows two men operating a hand-operated letterpress printing press. A signature of the artist “Homer Seay” can also be seen. This illustration is a photographic reproduction of a drawing. It is one of a series produced as possible chapter headings for The Ohio Guide. From 1935 to 1942, the Works Progress Administration (WPA), through its Federal Writers' Project created The American Guide Series, which included forty-eight state guides, as well as supplemental guides for large cities, etc. The state guides are divided into three sections. In the first section are general essays about the state on things such as agriculture, culture, history, industry, religion, etc. The second section contains an overview of the various cities and towns around the state, as well as enumerating various points of interest. The last section is dedicated to various tours around the state. The tourist is taken from city to city, with turn by turn directions, and descriptions of what can be seen along the way. While much of the country has grown and changed since the guides were written, it is surprising how much remains, and sometimes more surprising what has been lost. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B09F16_003
Subjects: Books Chapter-headings; United States. Works Progress Administration of Ohio; Federal Writers' Project. Ohio Federal Writers' Project
Places: Ohio
 

Description: This art deco style illustration for “Industry” was used in The Ohio Guide. It shows a busy dock, with several industrial buildings and billowing smoke stacks in the background, while a man toil with a gear handle in the foreground. A signature of the artist “Homer Seay” can also be seen. This illustration is a photographic reproduction of a drawing. It is one of a series produced as possible chapter headings for The Ohio Guide. From 1935 to 1942, the Works Progress Administration (WPA), through its Federal Writers' Project created The American Guide Series, which included forty-eight state guides, as well as supplemental guides for large cities, etc. The state guides are divided into three sections. In the first section are general essays about the state on things such as agriculture, culture, history, industry, religion, etc. The second section contains an overview of the various cities and towns around the state, as well as enumerating various points of interest. The last section is dedicated to various tours around the state. The tourist is taken from city to city, with turn by turn directions, and descriptions of what can be seen along the way. While much of the country has grown and changed since the guides were written, it is surprising how much remains, and sometimes more surprising what has been lost. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B09F16_006
Subjects: Books Chapter-headings; United States. Works Progress Administration of Ohio; Federal Writers' Project. Ohio Federal Writers' Project
Places: Ohio
 

Description: This art deco style illustration for “Tours” was not used in The Ohio Guide. It shows a road going through the country, past a rural farm, towards a large city in the horizon. A signature of the artist “Homer Seay” can also be seen. This illustration is a photographic reproduction of a drawing. It is one of a series produced as possible chapter headings for The Ohio Guide. From 1935 to 1942, the Works Progress Administration (WPA), through its Federal Writers' Project created The American Guide Series, which included forty-eight state guides, as well as supplemental guides for large cities, etc. The state guides are divided into three sections. In the first section are general essays about the state on things such as agriculture, culture, history, industry, religion, etc. The second section contains an overview of the various cities and towns around the state, as well as enumerating various points of interest. The last section is dedicated to various tours around the state. The tourist is taken from city to city, with turn by turn directions, and descriptions of what can be seen along the way. While much of the country has grown and changed since the guides were written, it is surprising how much remains, and sometimes more surprising what has been lost. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B09F16_015
Subjects: Books Chapter-headings; United States. Works Progress Administration of Ohio; Federal Writers' Project. Ohio Federal Writers' Project
Places: Ohio
 

Description: Homer Ruh in pro Football gear taken sometime during his years with the Columbus Panhandles and the Columbus Tigers, two early pro football teams: 1914-1917, 1920-1925. Homer L. Ruh of Columbus, Ohio, served in the American Expeditionary Force during World War I. He trained at Camp Sheridan, Alabama, where this photograph was taken. Homer was with the 37th Infantry Division in France and Belgium from June 15, 1918, until March 23, 1919. On April 12, 1919, Ruh was honorably discharged. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry by General John J. Pershing. After service in World War I, Ruh was a professional football player with the Columbus Panhandles (later the Columbus Tigers), an early National Football League franchise. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07046
Subjects: Columbus (Ohio); World War I; Football--Ohio--History
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Caption of a similar photograph reads: "Code - E5; Class - Cities; Ident. - River Scene at Cincinnati, from Kentucky shore; Location - Cincinnati; Credit - Courtesy of Homer Jensen." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B04F01_032_01
Subjects: Cincinnati (Ohio); Cities and towns--Ohio; Cityscapes;
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Caption of a similar photograph reads: "Code - E5; Class - Cities; Ident. - River Scene at Cincinnati, from Kentucky shore; Location - Cincinnati; Credit - Courtesy of Homer Jensen." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B04F01_033_1
Subjects: Cincinnati (Ohio); Cities and towns--Ohio; Cityscapes;
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: Caption reads: "Code - E5; Class - Cities; Ident. - River Scene at Cincinnati, from Kentucky shore; Location - Cincinnati; Credit - Courtesy of Homer Jensen." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B04F01_053_1
Subjects: Cincinnati (Ohio)--Buildings, structures, etc.
Places: Cincinnati (Ohio); Hamilton County (Ohio)
 

Description: The subject of this portrait, Homer L. Ruh of Columbus, Ohio, served in the American Expeditionary Force during World War I. He trained at Camp Sheridan, Alabama, where this photograph was taken. Homer was with the 37th Infantry Division in France and Belgium from June 15, 1918, until March 23, 1919. On April 12, 1919, Ruh was honorably discharged. He was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry by General John J. Pershing. After service in World War I, Ruh was a professional football player with the Columbus Panhandles (later the Columbus Tigers), an early National Football League franchise. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AL07047
Subjects: Soldiers--Ohio; Ohio History--Military Ohio; World War I, 1914-1918; Football--Ohio--History
Places: Camp Sheridan (Alabama); Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)