All five of the photographs were taken as part of the Works Progress Administration program to capture America during the Depression. All photographs are from the Library of Congress.
Complete the following worksheet about the photographs and life history
WPA Photographs and Life History.pdf
The life history here is from the WPA and is also housed at the Library of Congress.
Depression Life Histories Mrs. Martin.pdf
"Christmas dinner in home of Earl Pauley. Near Smithfield, Iowa. Dinner consisted of potatoes, cabbage and pie"
Photographer: Russell Lee
Date December 1936
"Woman and child, flood refugees in schoolhouse, Sikeston, Missouri"
Photographer: Russell Lee
Date January 1937
"Children of May's Avenue Camp, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Their father is a trasher and they are playing with some of the things he picked up."
Photographer: Russell Lee
Date July 1939
Dorothea Lange, photographer.
Imperial Valley, California, February and March 1937
Eighteen-year-old mother from Oklahoma, now a California migrant.
Dorothea Lange, photographer.
Imperial Valley, California, February and March 1937
Migratory Mexican field worker's home on the edge of a frozen pea field.