In May 1942, during World War II, the town of Southington in Connecticut was selected by the War Department to be highlighted in a defense booklet called “Southington, CT—Microcosm of America”. At that time the small, farm-based town’s total population was just under 10,000. Of that 10,000, according to the Southington Observer, 1,591 residents were serving in World War II.

Photographers roamed the community taking photos of residents at work, at play and in their homes and churches. Among the chosen was Charles Fenno Jacobs, who had taken pictures for Time, Life, National Geographic, U.S. Camera and Fortune. His particular talent was in catching his subjects at their most revealing moments. Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Jacobs was recruited by Edward Steichen to join his Naval Aviation Photographic Unit, a special group established by the U.S. Navy to document and publicize its aviation activities.

The final publication of the booklet was intended to show friends and foes alike in Europe the typical American citizens and families, their traditions and values. Thousands of copies were dropped from military airplanes over Europe during the Nazi German Occupation.

Take a look at people’s life in Southington in 1942 through these 38 Vintage pictures taken by Jacobs: