IMAGO International History, 250 years USA, Great Depression, Poverty 1929-1939

May 14, 2026

The following photos have been selected for you by the IMAGO picture desk on this topic. For more pictures please use the search function.

Shelter during the Great Depression, 1935-42 (b w photo) 5242371 Shelter during the Great Depression, 1935-42 (b w photo) by American Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Unidentified American location). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 5242371
Children of coal miner in West Virginia, 1938 (b w photo) 4072591 Children of coal miner in West Virginia, 1938 (b w photo) by Wolcott, Marion Post (1910-90); Private Collection; (add.info.: Monongalia County--Pursglove. ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 4072591
Refugee families encamped near Holtville, California, 1937 (b w photo) 3740297 Refugee families encamped near Holtville, California, 1937 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection. Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3740297
Man preparing meal at a migrant workers camp, outskirts of Marysville, California, 1935 (b w photo) 3740290 Man preparing meal at a migrant workers camp, outskirts of Marysville, California, 1935 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: The new migratory camps now being built by the Resettlement Administration will remove people from unsatisfactory living conditions such as these and substitute at least the minimum of comfort and sanitation ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3740290
Mother and two children on the road, 1939 (b w photo) 3738878 Mother and two children on the road, 1939 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tulelake, Siskiyou County, California.). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738878
Ten year old son of tobacco sharecropper at harvest time, North Carolina, 1939 (b w photo) 3738871 Ten year old son of tobacco sharecropper at harvest time, North Carolina, 1939 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Ten year old son of tobacco sharecropper can do a hand s work at tobacco harvest time. Granville County, North Carolina). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738871
Tent interior in a pea pickers camp, California, 1939 (b w photo) 3738862 Tent interior in a pea pickers camp, California, 1939 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Food supply and household equipment. Santa Clara County, California ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738862
Turpentine worker at DuPont, Georgia, 1937 (b w photo) 3738845 Turpentine worker at DuPont, Georgia, 1937 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection. Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738845
Sharecropper s cabin near Jackson, Mississippi, 1937 (b w photo) 3738841 Sharecropper s cabin near Jackson, Mississippi, 1937 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sharecropper s cabin, cotton and corn, near Jackson, Mississippi ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738841
Braiding hair, 1936 (b w photo) 3738833 Braiding hair, 1936 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: United States--Arkansas--Crittenden County--Earle. ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738833
Sharecroppers families gathering needs for their 4th of July celebration, Mississippi, 1936 (b w photo) 3738827 Sharecroppers families gathering needs for their 4th of July celebration, Mississippi, 1936 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sharecroppers families gathering needs for their 4th of July celebration, whites and blacks together. Hill House, Mississippi ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738827
Turpentine worker s family near Cordele, Alabama, 1936 (b w photo) 3738825 Turpentine worker s family near Cordele, Alabama, 1936 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Father s wages one dollar a day. This is the standard of living the turpentine trees support). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738825
Young family, penniless, hitchhiking on U.S. Highway 99, California, 1936 (b w photo) 3738805 Young family, penniless, hitchhiking on U.S. Highway 99, California, 1936 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: The father, twenty-four, and the mother, seventeen, came from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, early in 1935. Their baby was born in the Imperial Valley, California, where they were working as field laborers). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738805
Lunchtime in the pea field near Calipatria, California, 1939 (b w photo) 3738770 Lunchtime in the pea field near Calipatria, California, 1939 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Camp in background. Near Calipatria, California. ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738770
Rest time in the nursery at Shafter Camp, California, 1939 (b w photo) 3738765 Rest time in the nursery at Shafter Camp, California, 1939 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Shafter FSA Camp, California ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738765
Part of the daily lineup outside the State Employment Service Office. Memphis, Tennessee, 1938 (b w photo) 3738757 Part of the daily lineup outside the State Employment Service Office. Memphis, Tennessee, 1938 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Part of the daily lineup outside the State Employment Service Office. Memphis, Tennessee ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738757
Cotton sharecropper family in Macon County, Georgia, 1937 (b w photo) 3738756 Cotton sharecropper family in Macon County, Georgia, 1937 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection. Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738756
Cotton hoers leaving the fields for lunch in Georgia, 1937 (b w photo) 3738753 Cotton hoers leaving the fields for lunch in Georgia, 1937 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Cotton hoers leaving the fields for lunch. Farmer s daughter and laborers, whites and blacks. Georgia ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738753
Sharecropper boy in South Carolina, 1937 (b w photo) 3738751 Sharecropper boy in South Carolina, 1937 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Chesnee, South Carolina ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738751
Sleeping on Skid Row , San Francisco, 1937 (b w photo) 3738736 Sleeping on Skid Row , San Francisco, 1937 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Howard Street, called Skid Row, the street of the unemployed in San Francisco, California). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738736
Section of Kern migrant camp, California, 1936 (b w photo) 3738730 Section of Kern migrant camp, California, 1936 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection. Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738730
Alabama tenant farmer and children near Anniston, 1936 (b w photo) 3738720 Alabama tenant farmer and children near Anniston, 1936 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Alabama tenant farmer and children. Family labor in cotton. Near Anniston, Alabama ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738720
Motherless migrant children who work in Californian cotton fields, 1935 (b w photo) 3738717 Motherless migrant children who work in Californian cotton fields, 1935 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection. Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738717
The camp nurse introduces doctor at Merrill FSA camp unit, Klamath County, Oregon, 1939 (b w photo) 3738698 The camp nurse introduces doctor at Merrill FSA camp unit, Klamath County, Oregon, 1939 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: The camp nurse introduces doctor to mother of sick baby. Merrill, Klamath County, Oregon. FSA (Farm Security Administration) camp unit). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738698
Mr. and Mrs. Wardlow at entrance to their dugout basement home, Oregon, 1939 (b w photo) 3738687 Mr. and Mrs. Wardlow at entrance to their dugout basement home, Oregon, 1939 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Dead Ox Flat, Malheur County, Oregon ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738687
Family living in tent while building the house around them, near Klamath Falls, Oregon, 1939 (b w photo) 3710102 Family living in tent while building the house around them, near Klamath Falls, Oregon, 1939 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Klamath county, Oregon). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3710102
One of Chris Adolph s younger children at an FSA rural rehabilitation camp in Washington State, 1939 (b w photo) 3710092 One of Chris Adolph s younger children at an FSA rural rehabilitation camp in Washington State, 1939 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Washington, Yakima Valley, near Wapato. One of Chris Adolph s younger children at a FSA rural rehabilitation camp for migrants ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3710092
North Carolina farm boy in doorway of tobacco barn, 1939 (b w photo) 3710082 North Carolina farm boy in doorway of tobacco barn, 1939 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: North Carolina farm boy in doorway of tobacco barn. Person County, North Carolina ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3710082
Children of Oklahoma drought refugee in migratory camp in California, 1936 (b w photo) 3710054 Children of Oklahoma drought refugee in migratory camp in California, 1936 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection. Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3710054
Daughter of migrant Tennessee coal miner living in migrant camp, 1936 (b w photo) 3697040 Daughter of migrant Tennessee coal miner living in migrant camp, 1936 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Daughter of migrant Tennessee coal miner. Living in American River camp near Sacramento, California). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3697040
Migrant family who traveled by freight train to Yakima Valley, 1939 (b w photo) 3697012 Migrant family who traveled by freight train to Yakima Valley, 1939 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Washington, Toppenish, Yakima Valley ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3697012
Migrant agricultural worker s family, 1936 (b w photo) 3696980 Migrant agricultural worker s family, 1936 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Part of the Migrant Mother series Florence Thompson, 32-year-old migrant worker, with her children in Nipomo, California, destitute in pea picker s camp because of the failure of the early pea crop. They had just sold their tent in order to buy food. Of the twenty-five hundred people in this camp most of them were destitute Florence Owens Thompson (1903-83) with two of her children at a peapickers camp, Nimpomo, California. Seven hungry children. Mother aged thirty-two. Father is native Californian. Experimental pose for Migrant Mother .). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3696980
Migrant farm worker s family in Nipomo, California, 1936 (b w photo) 1249076 Migrant farm worker s family in Nipomo, California, 1936 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Migrant agricultural worker s family. Seven hungry children. Mother aged thirty-two. Father is native Californian. Nipomo, California. Experimental pose for Migrant Mother .). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 1249076
all Drought Victims in isolated Mountain Community, receiving Food Orders from American Red Cross, Floyd County, Kentucky, USA, Lewis Wickes Hine, American National Red Cross Collection, 1930 Copyright: xCircaxImagesx ghi-circa09175
Young Boys, all Drought Victims in isolated Mountain Community, receiving Food Orders from American Red Cross, Floyd County, Kentucky, USA, Lewis Wickes Hine, American National Red Cross Collection, 1930 Copyright: xCircaxImagesx ghi-circa09171
Grapefruit for Drought Beneficiaries, supplied by the American Red Cross, being served to Five Children in School, Mound Bayou, Mississippi, USA, Lewis Wickes Hine, American National Red Cross Collection, 1930 Copyright: xCircaxImagesx ghi-circa09165
Unemployed miners at Scott s Run, West Virginia, March 1937. They are probably at a meeting of the Workers Alliance Council, an outreach program of leftist organizations such as the Communist and Socialist parties. Photo by Lewis Hine. - (BSLOC_2015_1_17 For usage credit please use; PUBLICATIONXNOTxINxCANxCHNxFRAxITAxJPNxNORxPOLxRUSxESPxUKxUSA Copyright: xCourtesyxEverettxCollectionx HISL039 EC453
Family traveling from South Texas to Arkansas seeking work in cotton fields, 1936. They are penniless with no food and three gallons of gas in the tank. The father is on the ground repairing a tire. Photo by Dorothea Lange. (BSLOC_2013_7_24) Courtesy Everett Collection PUBLICATIONXNOTxINxCANxCHNxFRAxITAxJPNxNORxPOLxRUSxESPxUKxUSA Copyright: xCourtesyxEverettxCollectionx HISL035 EC650
Destitute family walking from Idabel to Krebs, Oklahoma, June 1938. The father lost his tenant farm when ill with pneumonia, was unable to get WPA work, and refused county relief. Photo by Dorothea Lange. (BSLOC_2013_7_23) Courtesy Everett Collection PUBLICATIONXNOTxINxCANxCHNxFRAxITAxJPNxNORxPOLxRUSxESPxUKxUSA Copyright: xCourtesyxEverettxCollectionx HISL035 EC649
A destitute family with their old car in Ozark Mountains during the Great Depression. Oct. 1935 photo by Ben Shahn. Courtesy Everett Collection PUBLICATIONXNOTxINxCANxCHNxFRAxITAxJPNxNORxPOLxRUSxESPxUKxUSA Copyright: xCourtesyxEverettxCollectionx HISL032 EC274
Unemployed New Yorkers demonstrate with signs in front of Emergency Relief Building in 1935. Signs demand clothing, pay at union wages, and jobs for youths. Courtesy Everett Collection PUBLICATIONXNOTxINxCANxCHNxFRAxITAxJPNxNORxPOLxRUSxESPxUKxUSA Copyright: xCourtesyxEverettxCollectionx HISL019 EC119
Detroit, distribution of bread and soup to unemployed workers Detroit, distribution of bread and soup to unemployed workers 1930 United States Copyright: xPhoto12 ArchivesxSnarkx DFS09A10_062
Child of white migrant worker playing with automobile tools near Harlingen, Texas by Russell Lee, 1903-1986, dated 19390101. WHA !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! Copyright: WHA UnitedArchivesWHA_039_0877
Son of white migrant worker near Harlingen, Texas. By Russell Lee, 1903-1986, dated 19390101 Feb. WHA !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! Copyright: WHA UnitedArchivesWHA_039_0849
Near Holtville, Imperial Valley, California. Migratory labour housing during carrot harvest. This field owned by proprietor of adjoining grocery and general store who allows workers to camp here rent-free. Approximately sixty families were living in camp by Dorothea Lange 1895-1965, dated 19390101 WHA !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! Copyright: WHA UnitedArchivesWHA_039_0720
Housing of migratory field workers (Mexican) across road from Farm Security Administration camp (FSA). Near Calipatria, Imperial Valley, California by Dorothea Lange 1895-1965, dated 19390101 WHA !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! Copyright: WHA UnitedArchivesWHA_039_0712
Housing typical of that afforded Mexican field workers of the Imperial Valley. These people are not migrants, but live on the edge of the ranches and work in peas and melons by Dorothea Lange 1895-1965, dated 19370101 WHA !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! Copyright: WHA UnitedArchivesWHA_039_0650
Migratory Mexican field worker s home on the edge of a frozen pea field. Imperial Valley, California by Dorothea Lange 1895-1965, dated 19380101 WHA !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! Copyright: WHA UnitedArchivesWHA_039_0642
Wash day. The daughter of a migrant fruit worker from Tennessee, now encamped near Winter Haven, Florida 19370101 WHA !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! Copyright: WHA UnitedArchivesWHA_039_0613

Images in this collection

Shelter during the Great Depression, 1935-42 (b w photo) 5242371 Shelter during the Great Depression, 1935-42 (b w photo) by American Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Unidentified American location). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 5242371

Children of coal miner in West Virginia, 1938 (b w photo) 4072591 Children of coal miner in West Virginia, 1938 (b w photo) by Wolcott, Marion Post (1910-90); Private Collection; (add.info.: Monongalia County--Pursglove. ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 4072591

Refugee families encamped near Holtville, California, 1937 (b w photo) 3740297 Refugee families encamped near Holtville, California, 1937 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection. Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3740297

Mother and two children on the road, 1939 (b w photo) 3738878 Mother and two children on the road, 1939 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Tulelake, Siskiyou County, California.). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738878

Turpentine worker at DuPont, Georgia, 1937 (b w photo) 3738845 Turpentine worker at DuPont, Georgia, 1937 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection. Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738845

Braiding hair, 1936 (b w photo) 3738833 Braiding hair, 1936 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: United States--Arkansas--Crittenden County--Earle. ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738833

Rest time in the nursery at Shafter Camp, California, 1939 (b w photo) 3738765 Rest time in the nursery at Shafter Camp, California, 1939 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Shafter FSA Camp, California ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738765

Cotton sharecropper family in Macon County, Georgia, 1937 (b w photo) 3738756 Cotton sharecropper family in Macon County, Georgia, 1937 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection. Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738756

Sharecropper boy in South Carolina, 1937 (b w photo) 3738751 Sharecropper boy in South Carolina, 1937 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection; (add.info.: Chesnee, South Carolina ). Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738751

Section of Kern migrant camp, California, 1936 (b w photo) 3738730 Section of Kern migrant camp, California, 1936 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection. Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738730

Motherless migrant children who work in Californian cotton fields, 1935 (b w photo) 3738717 Motherless migrant children who work in Californian cotton fields, 1935 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection. Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3738717

Children of Oklahoma drought refugee in migratory camp in California, 1936 (b w photo) 3710054 Children of Oklahoma drought refugee in migratory camp in California, 1936 (b w photo) by Lange, Dorothea (1895-1965); Private Collection. Copyright: xBridgemanxImagesx 3710054

all Drought Victims in isolated Mountain Community, receiving Food Orders from American Red Cross, Floyd County, Kentucky, USA, Lewis Wickes Hine, American National Red Cross Collection, 1930 Copyright: xCircaxImagesx ghi-circa09175

Young Boys, all Drought Victims in isolated Mountain Community, receiving Food Orders from American Red Cross, Floyd County, Kentucky, USA, Lewis Wickes Hine, American National Red Cross Collection, 1930 Copyright: xCircaxImagesx ghi-circa09171

Grapefruit for Drought Beneficiaries, supplied by the American Red Cross, being served to Five Children in School, Mound Bayou, Mississippi, USA, Lewis Wickes Hine, American National Red Cross Collection, 1930 Copyright: xCircaxImagesx ghi-circa09165

A destitute family with their old car in Ozark Mountains during the Great Depression. Oct. 1935 photo by Ben Shahn. Courtesy Everett Collection PUBLICATIONXNOTxINxCANxCHNxFRAxITAxJPNxNORxPOLxRUSxESPxUKxUSA Copyright: xCourtesyxEverettxCollectionx HISL032 EC274

Detroit, distribution of bread and soup to unemployed workers Detroit, distribution of bread and soup to unemployed workers 1930 United States Copyright: xPhoto12 ArchivesxSnarkx DFS09A10_062

Child of white migrant worker playing with automobile tools near Harlingen, Texas by Russell Lee, 1903-1986, dated 19390101. WHA !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! Copyright: WHA UnitedArchivesWHA_039_0877

Son of white migrant worker near Harlingen, Texas. By Russell Lee, 1903-1986, dated 19390101 Feb. WHA !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! Copyright: WHA UnitedArchivesWHA_039_0849

Housing of migratory field workers (Mexican) across road from Farm Security Administration camp (FSA). Near Calipatria, Imperial Valley, California by Dorothea Lange 1895-1965, dated 19390101 WHA !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! Copyright: WHA UnitedArchivesWHA_039_0712

Housing typical of that afforded Mexican field workers of the Imperial Valley. These people are not migrants, but live on the edge of the ranches and work in peas and melons by Dorothea Lange 1895-1965, dated 19370101 WHA !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! Copyright: WHA UnitedArchivesWHA_039_0650

Migratory Mexican field worker s home on the edge of a frozen pea field. Imperial Valley, California by Dorothea Lange 1895-1965, dated 19380101 WHA !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! Copyright: WHA UnitedArchivesWHA_039_0642

Wash day. The daughter of a migrant fruit worker from Tennessee, now encamped near Winter Haven, Florida 19370101 WHA !ACHTUNG AUFNAHMEDATUM GESCHÄTZT! Copyright: WHA UnitedArchivesWHA_039_0613