The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic collapse that took place during the 1930s, and Oregon was no different than anywhere else drastically affected by this hard point in history. These incredible images give us a glimpse into another time, a time that makes us realize how much easier we have it in modern society.
Economic historians usually attribute the start of the Great Depression to the sudden devastating collapse of U.S. stock market prices on October 29, 1929, known as Black Tuesday, However, some dispute this conclusion and see the stock crash as a symptom, rather than a cause, of the Great Depression.
These photos were taken between 1936-1939 by Dorothea Lange and Arthur Rothstein, and they are accompanied by their original captions.
1. Unemployed logger in August of 1939, in Marion County, Oregon.
2. Two young men in July of 1936, in Madras.
3. October of 1939, in Merril.
4. July of 1936, McMinnville.
5. June of 1936, in Jefferson.
6. Unhappy baby in October of 1939, Merrill.
7. Fresh haircut in August of 1939, Marion County.
Still have to look good, even when there's a depression.
8. Indian in July of 1936, Molalla, Clackamas.
9. A farm boy in July of 1936, McMinnville, Yamhill, Oregon.
10. Shot in Deschutes National Forest, July of 1936.
11. Fruit worker in Portland, July of 1936.
12. Fisherman on the Yachats River, June of 1936.
13. Baseball in Madras, July of 1936.
14. Kids in a tent October of 1939, Merrill.
15. Kids in August of 1939, West Stayton.
And here's a bonus photo of Koosah, because beautiful waterfalls in Oregon existed at this time too!
16. Koosah Falls on The Mckenzie, in June of 1936.
We'd like to thank this website photogrammar.yale.edu for all of these incredible images. Head over to their site to see around 60 or so more images from Oregon during the Great Depression.