This Photographer Captured The Most Iconic Photos Of Rural Kentucky, And Her Story Is Fascinating
By Sarah McCosham|Published January 13, 2022
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words; and indeed, there’s something so captivating and powerful about photography. It commemorates a moment in time, or history, in a way no other medium can. Take the photography of Marion Post Wolcott, for example. This incredibly talented photographer captured some of the most iconic photos of rural America — Kentucky included — during the Great Depression, with her images both heartbreaking and beautiful. She might not be as well-known as some of her contemporaries, but her story is fascinating, and her legacy is truly inspiring.
Like the rest of the country, Kentucky was hit hard by the Great Depression, with the state's poverty levels spiking in the midst of this massive sea of change.
The Bluegrass was hit harder than most states. With the coal mines closed, hard-working families were left to fend for themselves; hungry and cut-off from the wider world.
The upheaval of this moment in history continued to make waves long after the Depression "ended," with rural families feeling the adverse effects most of all.
The teachers who taught in Kentucky's one-room schoolhouses (and makeshift schools) became a lifeline to the rest of the world, with their work more important than ever.
Post put real people and faces to the struggles of this devastating time. She had an eye for photography that's truly unmatched. Her photos often explore the political aspects of poverty and deprivation, and definitely make you stop and confront these difficult subjects head on.
Interestingly enough, she originally trained as a teacher, snapping photographs on the side as the Depression swept across the country. She later studied with Trude Fleischmann, a Viennese photographer who encouraged the talented teacher to pursue photography full time.
