Jack Delano was born in Kiev, Russia, in 1914. The family moved to the United States in 1923.

He was invited by Roy Stryker to join the the federally sponsored Farm Security Administration. This small group of photographers, including Esther Bubley, Marjory Collins, Mary Post Wolcott, Walker Evans, Russell Lee, Gordon Parks, Arthur Rothstein, Charlotte Brooks, John Vachon, Carl Mydans, Dorothea Lange and Ben Shahn.

In 1941 Delano moved to Puerto Rico where he worked as a photographer and composer of music.

Jack Delano died in Puerto Rico on 12th August, 1997.