At the onset of World War II in the late 1930s the United States still ranked only twentieth as a global power and thus President Roosevelt launched an aggressive public campaign to engage all Americans in the war effort, building what he termed the Arsenal of Democracy. From 1941 to 1943 Alfred T. Palmer served as the official photographer for the Office of War Information and during that time he strove to inform and rally citizens by illustrating all aspects of the war effort from industrial and mechanical factory jobs to special training programs for youths as well as opportunities for women previously outside of the workforce. Palmer played an important role in the growing “women power” movement that began taking shape during the war, an ideal of female economic power, strength and patriotism most famously encapsulated by “Rosie the Riveter,” and helped to shift the public’s attitude towards women joining the workforce.

Punching rivets in a B-52 bomber frame at the Plant of North American Aviation in Los Angeles, CA.

LEFT: Student using sextant in navigation course at Polytechnic high school in Riverside, CA.

RIGHT: Workers on lunch break at Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, CA.

Studying propeller characteristics in an aeronautics course at Washington high school in Freemont, CA.

LEFT: Worker sorting aviation equipment components at Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, CA.

RIGHT: Assembling the motor of a cargo transport plane at the Plant of North American Aviation in Los Angeles, CA.

Students learning to assemble aircraft motors in a mechanical training course at Washington high school in Freemont, CA.

Workers on lunch break at Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, CA.