Tulare County Library is currently hosting “Through a Compassionate Lens: Life in Linnell Camp, 1940s-60s,” a month-long free exhibit, which provides a glimpse into the lives of migrant men, women and children living in the farm labor camp through a combination of photos and text.
The exhibit features reproductions of photos and slides taken by Julius “Jim” Stein, during his time as housing project manager of Linnell and Woodville camps. Stein’s photos are accompanied by details about the camps and first-hand accounts from people who lived there, giving a snapshot into life in the camp during its early years.
All photos and slides are from the library’s Annie R. Mitchell History Room collection, and information for the exhibit is derived from oral histories and primary source materials, especially local newspaper articles.
The exhibition runs until Thursday, October 2, on the second floor of the Visalia Branch Library, and is open Tuesdays through Fridays, 1-5pm. The Visalia Branch Library is located at 200 W. Oak Ave., Visalia.