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There's a lot of context needed for today's #FrameIt image, "Temple Court off D Street and Delaware, SW, Washington, D.C." by Marion Post Wolcott, presumably shot between 1938 and '42, when she worked for the FSA. http://frameit.blot.im/
It's hard to imagine now, but much of the area currently fenced off around the capitol once was once filled with rowhouses and alleys, mainly occupied by African American families. There was a lot of poverty, very close to the seat of power in the United States.
This area was chosen for "urban renewal" and was dramatically transformed, at great cost.
NYT 2014: "We cleared 23,000 households, and the rest is history," said Ellen M. McCarthy, then D.C. planning director https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/19/realestate/commercial/washington-dc-refreshes-a-waterfront.html
NYT 2014: "We cleared 23,000 households, and the rest is history," said Ellen M. McCarthy, then D.C. planning director https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/19/realestate/commercial/washington-dc-refreshes-a-waterfront.html
But of course, it's not just history. Waterfront is one of the few parts of the city still open to development, and now the idea of urban highway REMOVAL is gaining support. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-01/urban-highway-removals-could-get-federal-help
These photos of Black life in D.C. before the war are startling and evocative, in addition to just being really good photos. There's lots of Wolcott available through the @nypl, here: https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/search/index?filters%5BnamePart_mtxt_s%5D%5B%5D=Wolcott%2C%20Marion%20Post%20%281910-1990%29&keywords=&layout=false#
