The economic downturn has spurred a sudden interest in learning more about what happened in 1929 and during the Great Depression, at least judging by these Google Trends searches. It has also brought some iconic photos back into the light, along with the stories that go with them.
One of the best known photos from that era is Dorothea Lange’s portrait of Florence Owens Thompson, known as “Migrant Mother”. Lange at the time worked for the Farm Security Association, and some of her pictures were distributed for free to newspapers, bringing knowledge of the conditions of the poor to the broader public.
The picture would never have been taken, had not Thompson’s care broken down. Lange passed as they were waiting for repairs. She took six pictures, a collage of which can be found on the Florence Owens Thompson Wikipedia page.
CNN has published an interview with Katherine McIntosh, the girl to the left hiding her face behind her mother. She talks about her mother, the shame they felt and how the experiences during the depression has influenced her life. Her advice, now that the world is facing the worst downturn since the 1930s: save your money and don’t overextend yourself.
