Timeline
The life and career of Russell Lee, 1903–1986
Born in Ottawa, Illinois on July 21
Earns a degree in chemical engineering from Lehigh University
Hired by Roy Stryker for the FSA photographic unit, replacing Carl Mydans
Documents the town of San Augustine and migrant communities of Hidalgo County, Texas
Photographs the homesteading community of Pie Town, New Mexico in black-and-white and Kodachrome color
FSA photographic work is absorbed into the Office of War Information and the unit winds down
Serves with the Air Transport Command during World War II, photographing airfields worldwide
Begins a federal survey of the bituminous coal industry, making more than 4,000 photographs
Settles in Austin, Texas, and continues to photograph the state
Becomes the first instructor of photography at the University of Texas at Austin
Dies in Austin, Texas on August 28
Explore by Decade
1930s
495 photographs from the 1930s
1940s
959 photographs from the 1940s
