What Dinner Was Like During and Shortly After The Great Depression (10 Photos)

By | June 28, 2016

Times were hard, jobs were few, yet people remained positive and creative. If there's one thing we learned from The Great Depression of the 1930s, it's just how resilient we can be as a society.

“Preparing dinner for the six hundred fifty flood refugees encamped at Tent City near Shawneetown, Illinois.” (1937)
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Photo: Photogrammar / Russell Lee

“Preparing dinner in migrant camp, Berrien County, Michigan.” (1940)
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Photo: Photogrammar / John Vachon

“The chef at the Rimrock Camp in the central Oregon land development project gets ready to go into action on the dinner gong. Oregon.” (1936)
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Photo: Photogrammar / Arthur Rothstein

“Camp cook blowing dinner horn, at camp near Effie, Minnesota.” (1937)
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Photo: Photogrammar / Russell Lee

“Cowhand washing for dinner. Quarter Circle 'U' Ranch, Montana.” (1939)
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Photo: Photogrammar / Arthur Rothstein

“Cowboy dishing up chili at noonday dinner. Cattle ranch near Marfa, Texas.” (1939)
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Photo: Photogrammar / Russell Lee

“Christmas dinner in home of Earl Pauley. Near Smithfield, Iowa. Dinner consisted of potatoes, cabbage and pie.” (1936)
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Photo: Photogrammar / Russell Lee

“The Faro Caudill eating dinner in their dugout, Pie Town, New Mexico.” (1940)
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Photo: Photogrammar / Russell Lee

“Lumberjacks eating dinner at camp near Effie, Minnesota.” (1937)
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Photo: Photogrammar / Russell Lee

“After dinner coffee, restaurant, Lufkin, Texas.” (1939)
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Photo: Photogrammar / Russell Lee