This rare 1957 photograph is significant as an illustration of the cultural impact of atomic energy in the wake of the Second World War. While atomic science offered new, more economic, ways to create energy it also had a darker side. The horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were still firmly embedded in 1950s America which was also in the middle of a nuclear 'Cold War' with Russia. The canned water in this photograph is significant in its clear illustration of the level of these concerns in the United States. Civil Defence units were set up to help people in the wake of a nuclear event and this canned water marked Â?CDÂ? was to be stored and used in such an event.

Geoff Barker, Curatorial 2012

Photographer unknown for the Associated Press. Photograph taken in 1957

This photo was acquired from a collection which went on sale in September 2011. They are all original press photographs from the United States and come from collections of original AP, UPI and various other news service photos. It includes editors marks and back-stamps with dates and some additional information.

Verso, adhered to the back top right side, a newspaper cutting 'LATEST IN CANS - About / to imbibe water poured from / a can is H. H. Hearfield a civilian defense aid at Sebastaopol, Calif. Doing the / pouring is William Overstreet manager of the can- / nery where a small quantity / of water was canned as an / experiment. If successful, / the program will be cont- / tinued and canned water / will be stockpiled for emer-'

Black and white photographic print showing two men posed behind stacked cans. The stacked cans are labeled 'EMERGENCY DRINKING WATER CD'. One of the men stands centre back (William Overstreet, cannery manager). He is pouring water from one of the cans into a glass held by the other man who is seated on the right side of the photograph (H. H. Hearfield, civilian defense aide)

Photographed: 1957

Verso, adhered to the back top right side, a newspaper cutting 'LATEST IN CANS - About / to imbibe water poured from / a can is H. H. Hearfield a civilian defense aid at Sebastaopol, Calif. Doing the / pouring is William Overstreet manager of the can- / nery where a small quantity / of water was canned as an / experiment. If successful, / the program will be cont- / tinued and canned water / will be stockpiled for emer-' The last sentence of the newspaper clipping is marked up with blue pencil crossing out the word 'canned' and circling the word 'water'.
Also on the back template stamps filled in in pencil 'SIZE {illeg. obscured by newspaper cutting} / NAME {illeg. obscured by newspaper cutting} / SLUG Water / TIME WANTED {illeg. obscured by newspaper cutting} / DATE Mon / News Drawer" A second similar stamp 'SIZE 2 col + 4 3/4 / NAME / SLUG Water / TIME WANTED 8am / DATE Friday'. Also stamped a faint stamp titled 'PLEASE CREDIT / United Press Photo" followed by an illegible paragraph of writing'. Stamped across the surface are various ink stamp marks 'JAN 29 1957 P 4', 'APR 24 1961 1800', '1961 APR 19 PM 3:19', 'MAG PAGE', 'ART DEPT'. Top left corner a sticker is printed with 'aay 925' and hand written '2 x 4 3/4'

2012/91/2

1957

230 mm

180 mm