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Inflation. Almost too recent and painful to recall--dark days in America's 1930 depression. Men this side of the sign are assured of a five-cent meal--the rest must wait for generous passersby

Inflation. Almost too recent and painful to recall--dark days in Ameri...

Public domain photograph - United States during 1930s Great Depression, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Depression refugee family from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Arrived in California June 1936. Mother and three half-grown children; no father. "Anybody as wants to work can get by. But if a person loses their faith in the soil like so many of them back there in Oklahoma, then there ain't no hope for them. We're making it all right here, all but for the schooling, 'cause that boy of mine, he wants to go to the University"

Depression refugee family from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Arrived in California ...

Picryl description: Public domain photograph of farming, farmer, agriculture, 20th-century, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Corn crib on the owner-operated farm of Mary Lah, two hundred thirty acres. The farm, which has carried a small mortgage since the depression, lies west of Fowler, Indiana, near the Illinois state line

Corn crib on the owner-operated farm of Mary Lah, two hundred thirty a...

Public domain photograph of United States agriculture in the 1930s, country, farmer, farm, great depression, migration, dust bowl refugees, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

WPA Administrator appears before Senate Relief Committee. Washington, D.C., Mar. 17. Corrington Gill, Asst. WPA Administrator told the Senate Committee on relief today that large numbers of rural families are facing serious deprivation, Gill declared that at least 3,500,000 families. At more than one out of every four rural families has received public assistance at some time during the Depression, 3/4/38

WPA Administrator appears before Senate Relief Committee. Washington, ...

A black and white photo of a man sitting at a desk. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Drought and depression refugee from Oklahoma now working in the pea fields of California. Imperial Valley

Drought and depression refugee from Oklahoma now working in the pea fi...

Public domain photograph of a woman, female portrait, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

[Jordan River below Sheik Hussein. Showing depression through which Jordan flows]

[Jordan River below Sheik Hussein. Showing depression through which Jo...

Picryl description: Public domain image of a river or lake, forest, trees, water stream, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Note on "mobile housing." Car and homemade trailer on U.S. 101 near King City. Man and wife, middle-aged, from Wisconsin to California. "Old Man Depression sent us out on the road. Been out two years. You don't know anything about how many people are living in trailers, till you 'hit' Florida"

Note on "mobile housing." Car and homemade trailer on U.S. 101 near Ki...

Public domain photograph of California in 1930s, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

A shanty built of refuse near the Sunnyside slack pile, Herrin, Illinois Many residences in southern Illinois coal towns were built with money borrowed from building and loan associations. During the depression building and loan associations almost all went into receivership. Their mortgages were sold for whatever they would bring, and the purchasers demolished houses by the hundreds in order to salvage the scrap lumber. The result is a serious overcrowding and high rents in all the coal towns. A number of people can find no houses to rent, and are living in tents and shanties on the fringes of the town

A shanty built of refuse near the Sunnyside slack pile, Herrin, Illino...

Public domain photograph - United States during 1930s Great Depression, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Part of a cast-iron gate at the Cascade Dining Room of Timberline Lodge, built and furnished by Works Progress Administration laborers and artists during the Great Depression on the slopes of Mount Hood, Oregon

Part of a cast-iron gate at the Cascade Dining Room of Timberline Lodg...

Digital image produced by Carol M. Highsmith to represent her original film transparency; some details may differ between the film and the digital images. Title, date, and keywords provided by the photographer.... More

Part of an impoverished family of nine on a New Mexico highway. Depression refugees from Iowa. Left Iowa in 1932 because of father's ill health. Father an auto mechanic laborer, painter by trade, tubercular. Family has been on relief in Arizona but refused entry on relief roles in Iowa to which state they wish to return. Nine children including a sick four-month-old baby. No money at all. About to sell their belongings and trailer for money to buy food. "We don't want to go where we'll be a nuisance to anybody"

Part of an impoverished family of nine on a New Mexico highway. Depres...

Picryl description: Public domain image of children, kids, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

FORGET NATION'S BUSINESS FOR NATIONAL PASTIME. WASHINGTON, D.C. APRIL 18. CONGRESSIONAL BICKERING, THE REORGANIZATION BILL, AND THOUGHTS OF ANOTHER DEPRESSION WERE FAR FROM THE MINDS OF PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND VICE PRESIDENT GARNER TODAY AS THEY MET AT THE 1938 BASEBALL SEASON'S OPENER BETWEEN THE SENATORS AND THE PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS

FORGET NATION'S BUSINESS FOR NATIONAL PASTIME. WASHINGTON, D.C. APRIL ...

A group of men standing next to each other in front of a crowd. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Presidential conferences useless as means to stem recession. Washington, D.C., March 1. Robert W. Irwin, Grand Rapids, Mich., furniture manufacturer, appearing before the Senate Unemployment and Relief Committee today declared that conferences between the President and business leaders would fail to stem the recession. President Hoover tried the same plan to stem the 1929 depression, but entirely without beneficial results, Irwin added, 3/1/38

Presidential conferences useless as means to stem recession. Washingto...

A black and white photo of a man sitting in a chair. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Structure at Arthurdale, West Virginia, a planned community housing destitute families during the Great Depression

Structure at Arthurdale, West Virginia, a planned community housing de...

Arthurdale was built at the urging of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Digital image produced by Carol M. Highsmith to represent her original film transparency; some details may differ between the film and the dig... More

Map depicts significant story on pickup in American industry. Washington, D.C. March 30. Tow lines on this chart hanging in the office of Isador Lubin, Commissioner of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, tell a significant story of the pickup in American Industry since 1933. Mr. Lubin points to line no. 1 which represents the consumers or nondurable goods industries (food, clothing, etc.) it began to climb in 1933 and has been on the upgrade ever since. Line no. 2 represents durable goods or heavy industry (steel building materials, machinery). It was hardest hit by the depression, lagged far behind even during most of 1936. But line no. 2 is going almost straight up. By March 1, it has attained a level almost parallel with consumers goods. This means that for the first time since 1929, payrolls in vital heavy industries are once again in a normal relation to payrolls in the consumer industries.

Map depicts significant story on pickup in American industry. Washingt...

A man standing in front of a white board. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

"Depression" - A black and white photo of people sitting on a bench

"Depression" - A black and white photo of people sitting on a bench

Photograph shows men slouched on park bench. Public domain photograph - United States during 1930s Great Depression, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Sculpture depicting a Great Depression breadline at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Sculpture depicting a Great Depression breadline at the Franklin Delan...

Digital image produced by Carol M. Highsmith to represent her original film transparency; some details may differ between the film and the digital images. Title, date, and keywords provided by the photographer.... More

Newell post carved by WPA workers during the Great Depression at Timberline Lodge, midway up Oregon's soaring Mount Hood

Newell post carved by WPA workers during the Great Depression at Timbe...

Digital image produced by Carol M. Highsmith to represent her original film transparency; some details may differ between the film and the digital images. Title, date, and keywords provided by the photographer.... More

Uncompleted hotel on main street, started in 1929, never finished because of depression. Vincennes, Indiana

Uncompleted hotel on main street, started in 1929, never finished beca...

Picryl description: Public domain image of a department store, commercial building, downtown, shopping center, 19th-20th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT ADDRESSES SOCIAL WORKERS AT WHITE HOUSE. A TWO-DAY MEETING OF THE 1933 MOBILIZATION FOR HUMAN NEEDS WITH SOCIAL WORKERS FROM ALL THE COUNTRY ATTENDING WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED IN WASHINGTON TODAY WHEN PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT ADDRESSED THE GROUP ON THE THE GROUP ON THE LAWN OF THE WHITE HOUSE. NEWTON D. BAKER IS CHAIRMAN OF THE GROUP BUT WAS UNABLE TO ATTEND TODAY BECAUSE OF ILLNESS. THE CONFERENCE WAS INAUGURATED IN 1931 TO AID SOCIAL WORK GROUPS IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST THE DEPRESSION

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT ADDRESSES SOCIAL WORKERS AT WHITE HOUSE. A TWO-DAY...

Public domain historical photo, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Employment increased by 7,000,000, Washington, D.C. Oct. 3. John W. O'Leary, chairman of a special committee on employment of the United States Chamber of Commerce, reported to the directors of the chamber, now meeting in Washington today, that employment of worker in industry and private business has increased 7,000,000 from the low point of the depression. O'Leary is shown with Harper Sibley, president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as he made his report today

Employment increased by 7,000,000, Washington, D.C. Oct. 3. John W. O'...

Two men sitting at a table with papers. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Depression and drought struck towns as well as farms. Laborers, clerks, building tradesmen immigrated as well as farm people. Caddo, Oklahoma

Depression and drought struck towns as well as farms. Laborers, clerks...

Public domain photograph of car, historic place, automobile, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Son of depression refugee from Oklahoma now in California

Son of depression refugee from Oklahoma now in California

Public domain photograph - United States during the 1930s and 1940s, Farm Security Administration, New Deal, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Barn and silo on the owner-operated farm of two hundred thirty acres belonging to Mary Lah, widow. This farm, which has carried a small mortgage since the depression, lies west of Fowler, Indiana, near the state line of Illinois

Barn and silo on the owner-operated farm of two hundred thirty acres b...

Public domain photograph of life in the United States in the 1930s, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Chamber of Commerce reports employment Increased by 7,000,000, than during the low point of the depression. The report was made to the directors of U.S. C of C now meeting in WashingtonWashington, D.C. Oct. 3. After a four months survey which he has made in an effort to determine methods by which businesses may cooperate with the government in putting men back to work, John W. O'Leary, Chairman of a special committee on employment of the United States

Chamber of Commerce reports employment Increased by 7,000,000, than du...

A black and white photo of a man sitting at a desk. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Building on Theodore F. Frank farm near Anthon, Iowa. He was owner-operator and built up his one hundred sixty acre farm on his own earnings. Pressure of depression and drought made it necessary for him to mortgage his farm. The farm is now owned hy a loan company. The buildings are in excellent repair. Family without resources except those livestock necessary to keep on farming

Building on Theodore F. Frank farm near Anthon, Iowa. He was owner-ope...

Public domain photograph of farm, farmer, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Administration building of the Arthurdale planned community, a communal town built during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Arthurdale, West Virginia

Administration building of the Arthurdale planned community, a communa...

Digital image produced by Carol M. Highsmith to represent her original film transparency; some details may differ between the film and the digital images. Title, date, and keywords provided by the photographer.... More

Part of an impoverished family of nine on a New Mexico highway. Depression refugees from Iowa. Left Iowa in 1932 because of father's ill health. Father an auto mechanic laborer, painter by trade, tubercular. Family has been on relief in Arizona but refused entry on relief roles in Iowa to which state they wish to return. Nine children including a sick four-month-old baby. No money at all. About to sell their belongings and trailer for money to buy food. "We don't want to go where we'll be a nuisance to anybody"

Part of an impoverished family of nine on a New Mexico highway. Depres...

Public domain photograph of American trade card, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Son of depression refugee from Oklahoma now in California

Son of depression refugee from Oklahoma now in California

Public domain photograph - United States during the 1930s and 1940s, Farm Security Administration, New Deal, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Roadside camp near Bakersfield, California. "Come to California." The wordly posessions of refugees from Texas dust, drought and depression

Roadside camp near Bakersfield, California. "Come to California." The ...

Picryl description: Public domain image of military vehicle, automobile, tractor truck, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Negro cotton hoers are taken from the Delta cotton towns to the cotton fields. Most of them are displaced sharecroppers swept off the plantations by tractor farming, depression, crop reduction program, etc. Greenville, Mississippi

Negro cotton hoers are taken from the Delta cotton towns to the cotton...

Public domain photograph related to race relations, African Americans, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Depression breadline, F.D.R. Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Depression breadline, F.D.R. Memorial, Washington, D.C.

Digital image produced by Carol M. Highsmith to represent her original film transparency; some details may differ between the film and the digital images. Title, date, and keywords provided by the photographer.... More

Down the Jordan Valley from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. Jordan River below Sheik Hussein showing depression through which Jordan flows

Down the Jordan Valley from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. Jordan...

Picryl description: Public domain image of a river or lake, forest, trees, water stream, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

White section gang near King City, California. Before the depression this work was done entirely by Mexican labor

White section gang near King City, California. Before the depression t...

Public domain photograph of rural landscape, California, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Last minute huddle. Washington, D.C., April 20. Loaded down with facts and figures on President Roosevelt's $4,512,000,000 Recovery Drive, WPA Administrator Harry Hopkins (left) and his First Assistant Chief Aubrey Williams, await the opening of The House Appropriations Committee Hearing today where they made public plans for the Administration's new drive against The Depression, 4/20/38

Last minute huddle. Washington, D.C., April 20. Loaded down with facts...

A black and white photo of two men in suits. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

FIRST LADY EATS FIVE CENT MEAL. WASHINGTON, D.C. MAY 14. CLIMAXING A CONFERENCE OF 'DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN DEPRESSION,' MRS. FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT AND OTHER PROMINENT WOMEN TONIGHT ATE A FIVE CENT 'RELIEF' DINNER. THE FIVE CENT MEAL WAS BASED ON THE ACTUAL PER- MEAL PER-PERSON FOOD BUDGET OF THE AVERAGE WOMAN WORKING ON WPA. IT EXCEEDS BY 2 CENTS THE AVERAGE FOR RELIEF FAMILIES. SHOWN IN THE PICTURE, L TO R: MRS. HUGH EASLEY, ST. LOUIS, MO, TYPICAL MOTHER ON RELIEF; LITTLE ...BASLEY, 3 YEARS OLD; AND MRS. ROOSEVELT

FIRST LADY EATS FIVE CENT MEAL. WASHINGTON, D.C. MAY 14. CLIMAXING A C...

A group of people sitting at a table with plates of food. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Uncompleted hotel on main street, started in 1929, never finished because of depression. Vincennes, Indiana

Uncompleted hotel on main street, started in 1929, never finished beca...

Picryl description: Public domain photograph of lumber, lumberjack workers, 1930s, Great Depression, economic conditions, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Forty families of drought and depression refugees camped by the roadside beside an irrigated pea field. A freeze which destroyed the pea crop threw practically every family in this camp on emergency relief. Nine miles from Calipatria, California

Forty families of drought and depression refugees camped by the roadsi...

Picryl description: Public domain image of field, irrigation, agriculture, water, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

New sign, erected seven years after Howard Scott talked of a survey of North America and formation of energy units, which had widespread vogue in the early years of depression. Josephine County, Oregon

New sign, erected seven years after Howard Scott talked of a survey of...

Public domain photograph - historical image of Oregon, United States, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

White section gang near King City, California. Before the depression this work was done entirely by Mexican labor

White section gang near King City, California. Before the depression t...

Public domain photograph - 1930s California, United States, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Farmhouse on the owner-operated two hundred thirty acre farm of Mary Lah, widow. This farm, which has carried a small mortgage since the Depression, lies west of Fowler, Indiana, near the Illinois state line. Note the asbestos shingles, good fences and fine appearance of the yard

Farmhouse on the owner-operated two hundred thirty acre farm of Mary L...

Picryl description: Public domain image of a residential building, house, 19th-20th century architecture, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Washington, Yakima. Monument to Depression. Unfinished hotel standing in center of town. Construction abandoned after collapse of 1929

Washington, Yakima. Monument to Depression. Unfinished hotel standing ...

Picryl description: Public domain image of a department store, commercial building, downtown, shopping center, 19th-20th century, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Tilework at Timberline Lodge, constructed and decorated by W.P.A. artists during the Great Depression on Oregon's Mount Hood

Tilework at Timberline Lodge, constructed and decorated by W.P.A. arti...

Digital image produced by Carol M. Highsmith to represent her original film transparency; some details may differ between the film and the digital images. Title, date, and keywords provided by the photographer.... More

Down the Jordan Valley from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. Jordan River below Sheik Hussein showing depression through which Jordan flows

Down the Jordan Valley from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea. Jordan...

Picryl description: Public domain image of a river or lake, forest, trees, water stream, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

Chart: Employment Lost in Depression in Non-Agricultural Occupations

Chart: Employment Lost in Depression in Non-Agricultural Occupations

Public domain photograph of people in office, interior, the 1910s-1920s America, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Seventy-one years, or, My life with photography. Part IV, the depression years, 1931-1934

Seventy-one years, or, My life with photography. Part IV, the depressi...

Farmhouse on the heavily mortgaged farm of Theodore F. Frank. The family is practically destitute, near Anthon, Iowa. Frank formerly owned this farm, and built it up by himself until pressure of drought and depression necessitated mortgaging of land to a loan company into whose hands it has now passed

Farmhouse on the heavily mortgaged farm of Theodore F. Frank. The fami...

Public domain photograph of farm, farmer, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

A black and white photo of a mountain, Great Depression. FSA/OWI Photograph

A black and white photo of a mountain, Great Depression. FSA/OWI Photo...

Public domain photograph - United States during the 1930s and 1940s, Farm Security Administration, New Deal, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description