Great Depression

322 photos

Stranded in southern California. Belongings of Oklahoma drought refugees camped alongside the road

Cotton pickers camp. Kern County, California

Dust bowl refugee in California. "We was starved out and we live on perhaps. We could maybe find a little work if we could afford to roll"

Dust bowl refugees living in camps in California

U.S. Highway 101 which runs the full length of California, a main artery on which all travel. California, near King City

"Bum blockade." All heading north. South of King City, California. Difficult to get a record of this movement because these men wouldn't be photographed as a result of Los Angeles police activity

Oklahomians trying to make a new start in California. Near Los Angeles

Freight car converted into house in "Little Oklahoma," California

Shack in "Little Oklahoma." Lots 50 x 150, cost one hundred and twenty to two hundred dollars. Bought on hope and sold on promises. No work since last fall. A few get relief and "welfare," but they say they are not eligible in California

Street and homes in "Little Oklahoma." Forty families in this group. Tents, tent houses, shacks, freight cars converted into homes

House in "Little Oklahoma," California

Street and homes in "Little Oklahoma," California

Home in "Little Oklahoma," a community that has grown out of migrant potato and cotton workers. California

"Little Oklahoma," the community that grew out of the need for help in the potato and cotton fields. California

Shack in "Little Oklahoma," California

Freightcar converted into home in "Little Oklahoma," California

Grandmother from Oklahoma with grandson, working on quilt. California, Kern County

Grandmother from Oklahoma and her pieced quilt. California, Kern County

Grandmother from Oklahoma and her pieced quilt. California, Kern County

Grandmother from Oklahoma and her pieced quilt. California, Kern County

Housing for Oklahoma refugees. California, Kern County

Migrant camp in California during the pea harvesting. San Luis Obispo County, California

In one of the largest pea camps in California

Migrant pea pickers camp in the rain. California