National Youth Administration

The National Youth Administration of Texas was an agency of the Work Projects Administration and later the Federal Security Agency and the War Manpower Commission from 1935 to 1943. It offered “work study” jobs to students and youth aged 16 to 25. For the most part, they worked on public buildings, highways and parks all over Texas. Some also were in residence at educational training centers at colleges. Inclusion in the program was based on financial need. After World War II began the agency refocused on the war effort but it was voted out of existence in 1943 as being too expensive and no longer necessary. The NYA in Texas was considered a success however, and served more than 175,000 youth during its existence. Maude H. Walker, the former owner of these photographs, was an official with the NYA in Texas from 1939-1941.

From the guide to the National Youth Administration of Texas Photograph Collection 2010-222., 1939-1941, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)