John Vachon Enter a
feeling, not
a gallery.
Choose a mood and the room itself answers — the light cools or warms, the air changes pace, and only the works that carry that feeling step forward from the dark. Everything else recedes into shadow.
John Vachon
Early Life and Education Born: John Felix Vachon was born on May 19, 1914, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Family Background: He was the son of Ann Marie (O'Hara) and Harry Parnell Vachon. Education: Vachon graduated from Cretin High School (now Cretin-Derham Hall High School). He then earned a bachelor’s degree in 1934 from the University of St. Thomas, formerly known as the College of St. Thomas, and continued his studies at the Catholic
University of America in Washington D.C. between 1935 and 1936. Career with the Farm Security Administration (FSA) Early Role: In 1937, Vachon began his career at the Farm Security Administration as an assistant messenger. He initially had no intention of becoming a photographer. Transition to Photography: As he took on responsibilities maintaining the FSA photographic file, his interest in photography grew. With encouragement fro…
