The piece in which Dominis’ photos appeared — an extraordinary 12-page feature in the Jan. 31, 1964, issue of LIFE, titled “The Valley of Poverty” — was one of the very first substantive reports in any American publication on President Lyndon Johnson’s nascent “war on poverty.” At the time, LIFE was arguably the most influential weekly magazine in the country, and without doubt the most widely read magazine anywhere to regularly publish major photo essays by the world’s best photographers. That said, LIFE was in a unique position in the early days of Johnson’s administration to not merely tell but to show its readers what was at stake, and what the challenges were, as the new president’s “Great Society” initiatives got under way.

“The Valley of Poverty,” illustrated with some of the most powerful and, at the same time, some of the most intimate photographs of John Dominis’ extraordinary career, served (and still serves today) as an indictment of a wealthy nation’s indifference, and a plea — if not a demand — that the rest of the country not turn its back on the suffering of so many of its least powerful citizens

President Lyndon Johnson's war on poverty had just begun. 

 

I grew up in Shelby Ohio, in in the late 1950's I remember a large number of people coming to our town from Kentucky.  They were looking for better jobs, and an oppertunity to make life better for their familys. I had many friends who had come from backgrounds such as these pictured in these photos.  They were an influence on my life  for the better.  They were hard working, men and women most of them came because they had realtives who had moved to our town years earlier.  Many of the children kept this same haunting gaunt look in their faces for many years after their arrival. They were industrious proud, and intelligent.  These photos I think are public domaine sincee they came from a social network photo site.  They are the work of an extrodinary photographer John Dominis.

 

 

 

Two months ago some members of my church went to appalachia to bring Christmas to families who still live in poverty.  WE along with other volunteers helped nearly 500 families with food, clothing, medical care, dental care, There were some barbers and beauticians who cut hair ect for the ladies and teenagers.

 

Poverty still exists today.  I am a member of the Salvation Army, this week in my city of 50,000 people we had our week long monthly noon day hot meal served . On average in the winter we serve about 850 meals a day to men women and children.  In the summer it runs about 1700 as many more children come for dinner. 

Please Remember your local food banks.  There are hungry people in your neighborhoods as well.  And say a prayer for them that our economy will grow.

Going back in my time machine my first memory takes place Mid-January 1952.  My Dad had suddenly become very ill on New Years Eve, and was rushed to the hospital by the Morning of January 3rd, he was dead. Of Encephalitis, an infection of his brain

 

 There were 3 of us kids.my brother age 10, myself age 5, and little sis age 2.  About a week after the funeral, which I have no memory of, it was snowing hard and very cold, someone knocked on our front door a door we never used as it was very drafty  Mum had crammed folded newspapers into the cracks around it and under it to keep the cold air from coming inside.  We called to her and she came as we stood behind her she tugged the door open.  There wrapped in a dirty old towel was a small flea bitten dirty pup . The person had knocked, and when my Mom opened the door she saw a car driving off, I remember this as if it happened yesterday.. Its funny what kids remember, I have no memory of my Father or his funeral. But I remember that puppy. we named Tramp.

 

He had to have been part terrier and something else cause he had those folded down ears that stood up on his head. He was white with a brown cropped tail. And he was a wonder dog. Back then you could have dogs and let them run the streets of the small town where we lived. It was there where Tramp became a neighborhood dog. He would go and visit elderly neighbors who were sitting out on their porch's and just sit with them as they patted his head. Until they fell asleep in their rockers.  Everyday around 1 pm he would take his position at the end of our driveway. Sitting in front of the house when the mail man came by and walk down the block with the mail man waiting for him at each house as he delivered the mail, when he got to the corner of 3rd and Smiley Ave he would turn around and come home.. it was always 3rd and Smiley as if Tramp had his own route to walk.Rain snow sleet hail or sun it was his job.

 

  He was a pal, he was our friend, and he was our watch dog. One time he was caught in a dog fight, I was on my way to school and I saw this awful looking dog coming down the street all bloody with half an ear gone, and his back leg chewed up bad, it was Tramp he was so beat up I did not know it was him and just went on to school .  When I got home for lunch that day  we took him to the vet.  After  a week or two he was back to normal.but he always favored that chewed up leg.

 

 Tramp grew old, and grew up with us, we still had tramp when my first daughter was born. He slept most of the time in his old box in the bathroom he came out to eat and sometimes to just be with us spending quiet times. We had to put him down when he was 19 human years old. My daughter when she was 4 asked me.. What happened to that dead dog grandma used to keep in the bathroom. B then Tramp spent most of his days napping.

Tramp was a hero, he was a companion, a protector of property, a friend to the lonely, and travelers, he was a mutt, but was also the kind of dog that if he were human you would say he was a handsome man who had a flair with the women.. a little bit of tramp belonged to everyone, but he was a part of our family just as much as my siblings were a part of our family. We always talk about him when we have family gatherings.. IF dogs have souls we will meet again, I know