The image is a black and white photograph of an older man wearing a wide-brimmed hat, likely from the early to mid-20th century. He has a weathered appearance with visible lines on his face indicating age. The man is dressed in a light-colored shirt with pockets, which suggests practical attire suitable for outdoor work or rural activities.
He appears content and reflective as he gazes off into the distance. Behind him, there's an overexposed sky that provides little information about the setting, but it creates a contrast that highlights his figure. The image has text in white on top of it with what seems to be numbers "3-6281" which could indicate a reference or catalog number for this photograph.
Additional context provided suggests that he is one out of seventy-five applicants who successfully purchased land under the Bankhead-Jones Act, indicating his participation in rural development programs during that time period. The quote at the bottom implies self-reliance and hard work as keys to success.
November 17, 1938. Near Stockton, California. One of six successful applicants out of seventy-five. Purchasing farm under Bankhead-Jones Act. "When a feller is in it for himself, if he makes it, it's his. If he don't make it, it's his fault alone" […]
[Original post on mastodon.ozioso.online]