Home Front

Alfred T. Palmer's WWII Photography

Alfred Palmer was a prolific home front photographer whose work was used by numerous federal propaganda agencies during WWII. A master of lighting and an early adopter of color film, Palmer brought a visual weapon to America's arsenal-one that portrayed the US as economically wealthy, socially coherent, and energetic.

As Americans prepared for-and then entered-World War II, the nation was awash with government propaganda. Armed with his Graflex, Speed Graphic, and 35mm cameras, Alfred Palmer shot many of the images that appeared in these patriotic appeals. His photographs were used by the National Defense Advisory Commission, the Office of Emergency Management, the Office of War Information, the War Production Board, the War Shipping Administration, and the US Maritime Commission.

Palmer's photographs were seen by millions of Americans and Europeans. His work reveals his technical prowess. He was masterful in his use of lighting and was a pioneer in the use of color photography. He brought a visual weapon to America's arsenal to counter Nazi propaganda. His images portray a country transformed into an economically wealthy, socially coherent, and energetic nation whose citizens-including women and ethnic minorities-were depicted as vitally important to the war effort.