Kansas and the Great Depression

The above picture was taken by Rothstein, Arthur, 1915-, photographer for the Farm Security administration during the Dust Bowl/Great Depression. During this period the US government hired photographers to document American life during Great Depression. Many of these photographers captured everyday activities of average Americans. Many of these pictures chronicle everything from migrant workers in the fields of California to soup kitchen lines in New York. The picture above captures one such Great Depression activity. But what is actually going on? Please contemplate the questions below while you analyze the photo.

1. What possible activity is taking place in this photo? List a few possibilities.

2. Who is being helped and who is the one giving assistance?

3. What are they discussing? Develop a possible dialog for the two individuals using call outs.

Citation: Farmer signing a wind erosion agreement. He will receive twenty cents an acre for listing a certain percentage of his total acreage. Dodge City, Kansas.
Digital ID: fsa 8b27108 Source: intermediary roll film

To use this in class you the potential teacher will need to prepare the students with the necessary background knowledge of the Great Depression and conversely the Dust Bowl. Upon completion of this task you could bring in this picture and others taken from the Library of Congress covering the Great Depression/Dust Bowl website and have students critically analyze them for different information. Alternatively, you could use this picture to introduce a lesson or unit on the Great Depression or Dust Bowl.