When I was a teenager, I found the poetry of Gordon Parks and was awestruck. So maybe you can imagine my surprise and delight when I learned THE Gordon Parks had a photography assignment right here in Gloucester for the Office of War Information. I came across these photos in the Library of Congress digital collection (search Gloucester Massachusetts) which has been covered previously in this blog by Catherine Ryan back in 2014-Link here: https://goodmorninggloucester.com/2014/03/01/catherine-ryan-on-gloucester-ma-in-landmark-farm-security-administrationoffice-of-war-information-fsaowi-documentary-photographs-part-1/. They are all from June 1943, almost 80 years ago. I thought some of our readers might remember or recognize these families or fishing vessels.
They include Franasco Parisi, youngest member of the F/V Alden; Frank Mineo, owner F/V Alden, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lopez, fish skinner with 2 sons in the service; Antonio Milietello, oldest crew member F/V Alden; 4 generations of the Machado family (Mary Machado, Isabell Lopez, Irene, Francis, Dorothy Sr. and Dorothy Jr.); and 97 year old Mary Machado grandmother to 11 in the service. Each photo includes a brief description so I have included one of those for reference. The emphasis on men in the service is understandable given the year and the assignment. You can find additional information about Gordon Parks from this story by Keith Powers. Enjoy your stroll through Memory Lane.
Good Morning Gloucester 