DB 6 - Documenting the great depression

The Great Depression is remembered by the immense crash of the stock markets causing numerous, countless amount of families to change their living conditions almost instantly.

The Farm Security Administration was created in the Department of Agriculture in 1937. The FSA and its predecessor, the Resettlement Administration (RA), were New Deal programs designed to assist poor farmers during the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression.

In addition, The Office of War Information (OWI) was created in 1942 and served as an important U.S. government propaganda agency during World War II. During 1942 and 1943, the OWI contained two photographic units: (1) a section headed by Roy Emerson Stryker and (2) the News Bureau (the units were merged during 1943). The photographers in both units documented America's mobilization during the early years of World War II, concentrating on such topics as aircraft factories and women in the workforce.

The people of the Great Depression were desperate and needed any source of assistance therefore the impact of the project had a huge influence. Families were documented through photography capturing the shared struggles of each social class creating some sort of togetherness of those who were affected by the depression.

In the case of the Migrant Mother photograph in the period or great depression, her role demonstrated the life of a struggling single mom whose only job was to protect, feed, and care for her children. During that time, it was frowned upon for women to engage in the workforce while the men were viewed as the predominant figure in providing for the family. Now-a-days, women in the workplace are increasing and are encouraged to strive in almost all areas of profession traditionally overuled by men.