Press Photo of WPA Strikers outside the Chicago Municipal Airport

[Chicago]: 1938. 8 x 10 inches. B&w photograph with stamps, annotations, and a snipe to the verso. Light soiling to verso; slight rippling. About Very Good.

Press photograph of WPA strikers "grouped around a warm fire which officials want to take away from them during working hours," per the snipe caption. The strikers, who appear to be both Black and white men, are bundled up against the cold and hold shovels and other tools, while one holds a water bucket and ladle. A dusting of snow is on the ground.

6,700 WPA workers joined the strike that February, which was blamed on outside radical agitators from New York. However, the desire by officials to complete the airport improvements by July 1 led to concessions, and the workers were granted a change in hours and an increase in pay.The Municipal Airport is now known as Chicago Midway International Airport.