Description: 1974 photograph by Joe Munroe of an oil worker looking on during drilling in Texas. Texas is one of the leading producers of oil in the world, and leads the United States in oil production. This resource transformed the state from a largely rural and agricultural state to one full of large cities. Joe Munroe's career began in 1939 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He served in the Air Force during World War II and then joined Cincinnati-based Farm Quarterly magazine. Though raised in Detroit, agriculture became an important subject of Joe's photographs. He moved to California in 1955 and free-lanced, taking magazine assignments and selling his own work. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: P400_B33_F2374_JPG210
Subjects: Joe Munroe; Oil industry; Oil workers; Oil well drilling--Texas.
Places: Odessa (Texas)
 

Description: A group of men, most likely employees of an oil or drilling company, stand in front of a large oil derrick. This photograph was taken by traveling photographer Albert J. Ewing, ca. 1896-1912. Like most of Ewing's work, it was likely taken in southeastern Ohio or central West Virginia. Born in 1870 in Washington County, Ohio, near Marietta, Ewing most likely began his photography career in the 1890s. The 1910 US Census and a 1912-1913 directory list him as a photographer. A negative signed “Ewing Brothers” and a picture with his younger brother, Frank, indicate that Frank may have joined the business. After 1916, directories list Albert as a salesman. He died in 1934. The Ewing Collection consists of 5,055 glass plate negatives, each individually housed and numbered. Additionally, the collection includes approximately 450 modern contact prints made from the glass plate negatives. Subjects include infants and young children, elderly people, families, school and religious groups, animals and rural scenes. In 1982, the Ohio Historical Society received the collection, still housed in the original dry plate negative boxes purchased by Albert J. Ewing. A selection of the original glass plate negatives were exhibited for the first time in 2013 at the Ohio Historical Center. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: AV71_b05_f331
Subjects: Ewing, Albert J. (1870-1934); Portrait photography--United States--History; Laborers; Oil industry; Oil workers
Places: Ohio; West Virginia