Roy E. Stryker

About the Author

Roy E. Stryker was a pioneering figure in American photography and documentation, serving as the head of the Historical Section of the Farm Security Administration (FSA) from 1935 to 1943. Under his visionary leadership, he assembled a team of talented photographers, including Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, and Arthur Rothstein, to capture the stark realities of rural America during the Great Depression and Dust Bowl era. Stryker's meticulous curation of over 175,000 images not only provided invaluable historical records but also shaped public perception of the nation's struggles and resilience. His work emphasized the human element in policy and reform, influencing New Deal initiatives and leaving an enduring legacy in visual storytelling. Beyond the FSA, Stryker continued to advocate for documentary photography's role in social change throughout his career.