Saturday Afternoon Street Scene Necklace

Our exclusive charm necklace showcases a Saturday afternoon street scene in Welch, McDowell County, West Virginia. The photo encased in the charm has been colorized with a vibrant red hue and a bead made from jet also hangs on the chain, reminiscent of the coal being mined from the ground in Welch. It is great memento from The Power & Light exhibition at the National Archives, and we also offer the charm on a carnelian stretch bracelet.

Russell Werner Lee (1903-1986) was born in Ottawa, Illinois. Originally trained as an engineer, he was methodical in his work, and approached his subjects with warmth and respect. The quiet Midwesterner put people at ease, enabling him to capture scenes of surprising intimacy. Many of his photographs reveal worlds through small details—keepsakes on the mantel, lined and calloused hands. What may be most distinctive about these images is their reflection of the photographerʼs respect for his subjects. Despite their plight, it is their strength, dignity, and humanity that strikes the viewer.

Although the coal survey photos represent some of Leeʼs finest work, his best-known photographs are from an earlier project. Lee was one of several photographers hired by the federal government in the 1930s to document the toll of the Great Depression and drought on rural Americans. While he worked alongside famous colleagues including Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange, Lee eschewed celebrity. He aimed to inspire social change, believing visual evidence of struggle and hardship could inspire reforms.