State Historical Society of Iowa

Children Reading the Sunday Newspaper in Dickens, Iowa, December 1936

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Children Reading the Sunday Newspaper in Dickens, Iowa, December 1936
Courtesy of Library of Congress, Lee, Russell, "Untitled photo, possibly related to: Children reading Sunday papers..." December 1936

Description

This photograph was taken in the 1930s, a couple of decades after the other images in this set. The photograph came from the U.S. Resettlement Administration and was taken during the Great Depression. The agricultural sector was an area of concern for the U.S. government during the Depression, and several programs were established to address rural issues.

Source-Dependent Questions

  • The full label with this photograph is "Untitled photo, possibly related to: Children reading Sunday papers, Rustan brothers' farm near Dickens, Iowa. Note convenience of running water in background. This farm was formerly owner operated but they are now tenants of Metropolitan Life." According to this label, what improvement to rural life did this photo document? What ongoing difficulty with rural life was identified in this label?
  • Does this image reflect a similar message as that of the Commission of Country Life? Explain your answer with evidence from the documents.
  • How do we know this is a rural home? In what ways could this be considered a modern home?

Citation Information 

Lee, Russell, "Untitled photo, possibly related to: Children reading Sunday papers, Rustan brothers' farm near Dickens, Iowa. Note convenience of running water in background. This farm was formerly owner operated but they are now tenants of Metropolitan Life," December 1936. Courtesy of Library of Congress