Black and white photograph of prisoners gathered together after hearing the head of Belomorkanal Camp speak. The prisoners were headed out to make a major breakthrough on the construction of the canal, and the camp chief had spoken to them to try to raise their morale.

Black and white photograph of the entrance gate to Pechorlag Camp showing a guard with rifle standing at right. Gate posts and camp interior feature Soviet art work and symbols.

Color sketch from Evfrosiniia Kersnovskaia's self-illustrated memoirs of one female prisoner defending another. In the accompanying text, Kersnovskaia describes an episode when one of the guards decided to insult female prisoners. They forced the women to lay in the dirt when they heard them talking and shouted, "lay down or we will fire." Women began to lie down on the ground, except for Kersnovskaia who decided to oppose the command. The guard lifted a gun and suddenly a small female prisoner stood up to protect Kersnovskaia. Within minutes, other women stood up in defiance and solidarity.

Black and white photograph of shockworkers and two officials from the Belomorkanal Camp visiting the forest in Valdai posing in front of a banner that reads: "Labor in the USSR is a Matter of Honor, Glory, Valor and Heroism."

Color sketch from Evfrosiniia Kersnovskaia's self-illustrated memoirs depicting guards searching the contents of a truck for prisoners trying to escape. Guards were ever vigilant about escape, as successful escapes could lead to guards being charged with crimes and becoming prisoners.

Color sketch from Evfrosiniia Kersnovskaia's self-illustrated memoirs of camp guard beating her. In the accompanying text, Kersnovskaia recalls how guards took her through the camp's zone to the office of the camp chief. She resisted and one of the guards beat her. She lost consciousness for a moment and when she got up she was told to be present at the camp warden's office.

Rudakov painting completed while a prisoner in Kotlas, showing a Gulag guard suffering in the cold.

Photograph of a group of guards with backs to camera pointing rifles as if ready to shoot. This is a group of soldiers of Primorskaia army in the fights at Lake Chasan, Mongolia. 1938. Image taken from the magazine "Our Country"

Black and white photograph of Matvei Berman, the Head of the construction of Belomorkanal (seated in the center) during his inspection trip to the canal, July 1932.

Black and white photograph of a group of the leading and technical officers at 2nd Boeuchastka of Belomorkanal Camp 1932.