View in National Archives Catalog
Power & Light: Russell Lee's Coal Survey is an exhibition of photographs of coal communities by American documentary photographer Russell Lee. These images tell the story of laborers who helped build the nation, of a moment when the government took stock of their health and safety, and of a photographer who recognized their humanity.
About the Exhibit
Power & Light is free and open to the public. The exhibition features more than 200 of Russell Lee’s photographs of coal miners and their families in the form of large-scale prints, projections, and digital interactives from a nationwide survey of housing and medical and community facilities of bituminous coal mining communities. The survey was conducted by Navy personnel in 1946 as part of a strike-ending agreement negotiated between the Department of the Interior and the United Mine Workers of America. The full series of photographs, which numbers in the thousands, can only be found in the holdings of the National Archives. These images document inhumane living and working conditions but also depict the joy, strength, and resilience of the miners' families and communities.
Note: All photograph captions are original, as provided by the photographer. Unless otherwise noted, the images are in the holdings of the National Archives, Records of the Solid Fuels Administration for War.
I'm taking pictures of the history of today. —Russell Lee
Power & Light features Russell Lee’s 1946 coal survey photographs of miners in their homes, mines, and communities.
“Miners' wives and children on the front porch of a typical, fifty year old house. Kentucky Straight Creek Coal Company, Belva Mine, abandoned after explosion [in] Dec. 1945, Four Mile, Bell County, Kentucky, September 4, 1946.” (Original Caption)
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“There are ten children in the Lawson Mayo family, the older taking care of the youngest ones. Three of the daughters are now attending high school in Mullens and have part time jobs during summer months. Mullens Smokeless Coal Company, Mullens Mine, Harmco, Wyoming County, West Virginia, August 23, 1946.” (Original Caption)
“Mrs. Edna Lingar getting wash water from dirty stream; stock wade this stream, privies drain into it, garbage decay in it, a dead animal was in the stream about fifteen feet above where she was getting water. Kentucky Straight Creek Coal Company, Belva, Mine, abandoned after explosion, Four Mile, Bell County, Kentucky, September 4, 1946.” (Original Caption)
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“The only houses with running water inside in this camp are those in which their tennants [sic] have made the installations at no expense to the company. Gilliam Coal and Coke Company, Gilliam Mine, Gilliam, McDowell County, West Virginia, August 13, 1946.” (Original Caption)
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“Mrs. John Whitehead, wife of miner, and two of her children (or grandchildren) in the kitchen of her three room house. Mr. and Mrs. John Whitehead, their six children and six grandchildren live here. This house, built on company owned land was built by Mr. Whitehead's half brother at no expense for materials or labor to the company; the builder (half brother) was to receive the use of the house rent-free for three years and at the end of this period the ownership of the house would revert to the company. The brother moved away at the end of one year, receiving no cash settlement from the company. The house now rents for $6 monthly. It has no running water, no electricity, access is over a mountain trail; there are three rooms. Coleman Fuel Company, Red Bird Mine, Field, Bell County, Kentucky, August 31, 1946.” (Original Caption)
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Lee's photographs of miners at home reflect his respect for their individuality and resourcefulness, his fascination with families, and his meticulous attention to the details of everyday life.
“Changing shifts at the mine portal in the afternoon. Inland Steel Company, Wheelwright #1 & 2 Mines, Wheelwright, Floyd County, Kentucky, September 23, 1946.” (Original Caption)
“James Robert Howard has gotten his safety lamp at lamp house. Of the 232 employees at this mine, 60% are Negroes. Gilliam Coal and Coke Company, Gilliam Mine, Gilliam, McDowell County, West Virginia, August 13, 1946.” (Original Caption)
“Women pick foreign matter out of coal as it is carried on conveyor thru tipple. Union Pacific Coal Company, Stansbury Mine, Rock Springs, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, July 10, 1946.” (Original Caption)
“Harry Fain, second from right, seated in shuttle car on mantrip before going underground. Inland Steel Company, Wheelwright #1 & 2 Mines. Wheelwright, Floyd County, Kentucky, September 24, 1946.” (Original Caption)
“Miners bring in their checks and see the sign that there is no Saturday work. P V & K Coal Company, Clover Gap Mine, Lejunior, Harlan County, Kentucky, September 13, 1946.” (Original Caption)
Russell Lee was attentive to miners’ issues, documenting deductions to their pay, lost work days, perilous conditions, and the union meetings where they fought for a better deal.
“Young couple dancing at VFW dance on occasion of Fourth of July celebration. Price, Carbon County, Utah, July 3, 1946.” (Original Caption)
“Some of the members of the baseball team of Exeter-Warwick Mines. Kingston Pocahontas Coal Company, Exeter Mine, Welch, McDowell County, West Virginia, August 10, 1946.” (Original Caption)
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“Children of miner living in company housing project. Note the homemade baby buggy made of a powder box. Union Pacific Coal Company, Reliance Mine, Reliance, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, August 10, 1946.” (Original Caption)
“Local UMWA union meeting is held on Sunday morning in schoolhouse. Inland Steel Company, Wheelwright #1 & 2 Mines, Wheelwright, Floyd County, Kentucky, September 22, 1946.” (Original Caption)
“Children of miners on the fence in front of the Howard house. Gilliam Coal and Coke Company, Gilliam Mine, Gilliam, McDowell County, West Virginia, August 13, 1946.” (Original Caption)
To fulfill the mandate of the survey, Lee photographed sanitary, medical, and recreational facilities and services. But he also captured moments of joy and connection that characterized the strong community bonds forged by the miners.
Russell W. Lee (with camera in hand), ca 1942–45.
Image courtesy of The Wittliff Collections / Texas State University
About Russell Lee:
Russell Werner Lee (1903–86) was born in Ottawa, Illinois. Originally trained as an engineer, he was methodical in his work, but 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 photographer’s compassion for his subjects. Despite their plight, it is their strength, dignity, and humanity that strike the viewer.
If you recognize Lee’s photos—but not his name—you’re not alone.
Although the coal survey photos represent some of Lee’s 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. His aim was to inspire social change, believing visual evidence of struggle and hardship could generate support for reforms.
“Saturday night in a saloon. Craigville, Minnesota, 1937.” (Original Caption)
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress
“Tenant purchase clients at home. Hidalgo County, Texas, 1939.” (Original Caption)
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress
“Negro drinking at ‘Colored’ water cooler in streetcar terminal. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1939.” (Original Caption)
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress
“Saying grace before the barbeque dinner at the Pie Town, New Mexico Fair, 1940” (Original Caption)
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress
“Filling station and garage at Pie Town, New Mexico, 1940.” (Original Caption)
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress
“Faro and Doris Caudill, homesteaders, Pie Town, New Mexico, 1940” (Original Caption)
Image courtesy of the Library of Congress
Russell Lee talks about the coal survey and how he responded when people asked him, "why do you want to take my picture?"
Clips from "Photographer Russell Lee," a documentary by Ann Mundy, courtesy of Ann Mundy
Related Resources:
- Photographs of the Medical Survey of the Bituminous Coal Industry by Russell Lee, 1946-1947
- Russell Lee images in the National Archives Catalog
- Pieces of History Blog
Download a full PDF Guide to the Images in the Russell Lee exhibit
Exhibit Credits:
Power & Light: Russell Lee’s Coal Survey is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of The Mars Family & Mars, Incorporated and Anonymous.
