Oklahoma Farm Family on Highway between Blythe and Indio, California, August 1936

This image shows a family of three - father, mother and young son - waiting on the side of the road. According to the title, they are relocating to California.

Courtesy of Library of Congress, Lange, Dorothea, "Example of self-resettlement in California. Oklahoma farm family on highway between Blythe and Indio," August 1936

Description

This photograph is an example of self-resettlement in California. This Oklahoma farm family is waiting along a highway between Blythe and Indio. Forced by the drought of 1936 to abandon their farm, they set out with their children to drive to California. They picked cotton in Arizona for a day or two at a time to give them enough money for food and gas to continue. On this day, they were within a day’s travel of their destination, Bakersfield, California. Their car had broken down en route and was abandoned.

Source-Dependent Questions

This family moved from Oklahoma in their car, which broke down before reaching their final destination. Why would they be waiting on the side of the road?
How do you suppose this family feels about relocating? What emotions would you feel if you were the father, the mother or the children?
Why do you suppose this family is moving? How did this family respond to the Dust Bowl?

Citation Information

Lange, Dorothea, "Example of self-resettlement in California. Oklahoma farm family on highway between Blythe and Indio," August 1936. Courtesy of Library of Congress