[Photos] B&W Historic Photos of Public #Breastfeeding in the US #WBW2014

Long ago in Internet years (about seven years ago) I was a staunch breastfeeding advocate and researcher (still am!). Back then I wanted to get to the bottom of why nursing in public was such a big issue in the United States. So, I started digging in the photo archives of the Library of Congress for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours and discovered through black and white, historic photos that breastfeeding in public hasn’t always been a problem in the United States.

Last week I was reminded about all of my research when during the #EveryNewborn Twitter chat Kenyan Social Good Moms correspondent Maryanne Waweru Wanyama mentioned that Kenyans do not have a problem with public nursing. It’s true. The many, many times I have been to Africa I have never witnessed a problem with women breastfeeding in public; no disgusted glares or reprimands. And yet, here in the United States public breastfeeding always draws controversy.

Thankfully, many African communities have no qualms about nursing moms breastfeeding in public. It's NOT considered indecent #EveryNewborn
— Maryanne W. Waweru (@MummyTales) July 31, 2014

@MummyTales This is an important point. Not so here in the US and other western countries! #EveryNewborn #breastfeeding
— Social Good Moms (@socialgoodmoms) July 31, 2014

For World Breastfeeding Week I wanted to revisit the historic photos I found years ago in the Library of Congress archives that show nursing in public hasn’t always been an issue like it is today. When public perception about breastfeeding changed in the United States, I still don’t know. It’s definitely an issue worth pursuing.

a) Part of Social Hour audience at Shafter Camp (handwritten on reverse); b) Todd’s favorite picture of an “Okie Family” in Shafter F.S.A. Camp. Nursing babies was the usual thing at camp “Socials.” (typed and attached to reverse) — Part of Social Hour audience at Shafter Camp (handwritten on reverse) b) Todd’s favorite picture of an “Okie Family” in Shafter F.S.A. Camp. Nursing babies was the usual thing at camp “Socials.” (typed and attached to reverse)

Drought refugees from Oklahoma camping by the roadside. They hope to work in the cotton fields. There are seven in family. Blythe, California. LC-USF34- 009666-E. Lange, Dorothea, photographer

8a16168r — Colored mother and child, Little Rock, Arkansas. Note: I am keeping captions as they appear in the Library of Congress archives. LC-USF3301-006023-M5; Shahn, Ben, 1898-1969, photographer

Colored sharecropper family living in Little Rock, Arkansas (same woman as above). Note: I am keeping captions as they appear in the Library of Congress archives. LC-USF33- 006023-M4; Shahn, Ben, 1898-1969, photographer — Colored sharecropper family living in Little Rock, Arkansas (same woman as above)

27028_1287386817035_1001101732_30688309_6914032_n — This is a mother who is traveling from Louisville, Kentucky to Memphis, Tennessee on a Greyhound bus. Here, she is waiting in the Chattanooga bus terminal and breastfeeding in public in September 1943. Photographer: Esther Bubley, a pioneer in female photojournalism, who chronicled people’s daily lives for the Farm Security Administration – Office of War Information Collection (FSA-OWI).

Coal miner's wife and child. Pursglove, West Virginia. Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer. LC-USF34- 050320-E — Coal miner’s wife and child. Pursglove, West Virginia. Wolcott, Marion Post, 1910-1990, photographer; LC-USF34- 050320-E

Scene in New Orleans, Louisiana; Shahn, Ben, 1898-1969, photographer; LC-USF33- 006099-M2 — Scene in New Orleans, Louisiana; Shahn, Ben, 1898-1969, LC-USF33- 006099-M2

Location:Greenville, MS, US Date taken:1937 Photographer:Alfred Eisenstaedt Time Life Magazine — Location: Greenville, MS, US
Date taken: 1937
Photographer: Alfred Eisenstaedt
Time Life Magazine

Migrant mother and child in tent home. Harlingen, Texas; Lee, Russell, 1903-1986, photographer; LC-USF34- 032200-D

This post will be updated from time to time. There are more photos I have found from the archives and I will share them here.

Also, see a recent post I wrote: [Photos in Black and White] Historical Look at Child and Newborn Health in the US.

3 thoughts on “[Photos] B&W Historic Photos of Public #Breastfeeding in the US #WBW2014”

Really fascinating to see the old photographs. Thanks for sharing! – a breastfeeding mother

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Jennifer James says:

August 6, 2014 at 10:16 pm

Hi Katie – You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by.

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It became a problem when people began viewing breasts solely as sexual objects. I personally don’t want to see other women’s breasts while I eat/shop/work. I have no problem with public breastfeeding, but I don’t see how it is a hardship to out a blanket over it. Feed your child, but keep with the laws about public decency when you do it.

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Katie says:

August 6, 2014 at 8:52 pm

Really fascinating to see the old photographs. Thanks for sharing! – a breastfeeding mother

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1. Jennifer James says:
  
  August 6, 2014 at 10:16 pm
  
  Hi Katie – You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by.
  
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Victoria says:

January 12, 2015 at 5:15 pm

It became a problem when people began viewing breasts solely as sexual objects. I personally don’t want to see other women’s breasts while I eat/shop/work. I have no problem with public breastfeeding, but I don’t see how it is a hardship to out a blanket over it. Feed your child, but keep with the laws about public decency when you do it.

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