History - The Migrant Madonna - the ultimate photo of the Depression Era

[The Straight Story]

History - The Migrant Madonna
An Unwilling Icon Finds Vindication in Scotts Valley
By Phil Reader



It has been called the ultimate photo of the Depression Era. The famous image shows a careworn woman staring uncertainly into the distance while two children hide their faces in her shoulder. It was called "Migrant Mother," partly because photographer Dorothea Lange had never bothered to ask her name. To some it represents the extremes of despondency and hopelessness. Others have found it inspirational, the embodiment of strength, pride and dignity. But for its subject, Florence Owens Thompson, it was an object of shame and anguish for the rest of her life.

The image became iconic of the so-called "Okies" who fled the American Dust Bowl in the 1930s. But Thompson was not one of them. She was a full-blooded Cherokee who, although born in Oklahoma, had moved to California in the prosperous days of 1924.

At age 17 she had married Cleo Owens, a hard-working young man left frail by an early bout of pneumonia. Together with two of Cleo's brothers, they moved west to the sawmills of California in search of better wages. They settled first in the town of Porterville in the San Joaquin Valley, later moving to the mill town of Merced Falls. By that time they had five children.

In 1931 Cleo became a casualty of the Great Depression when he lost his job at the mill. The family moved to Oroville to work picking peaches. One day Cleo came home covered with peach fuzz, which agitated his delicate lungs. By next morning he had a high fever, and within a few days was dead.

(full story and her history at the link below)

http://www.thevalleyalmanac.com/article.php?id=78&PHPSESSID=a474dcc209342571f134826d2fed320c

They left their home, their state, to find a better life in another state.

Just saying...

[illinoisprogressive]

1. I am familar with the photo and story. History buff. lol.

[burrowowl]

2. K&R

I highly recommend photos of the Depression Era! Highlt informative! Google them! FDR's administration paid photographers to document the impact of the Depression!

[OneBlueSky]

3. that's a great photo . . . Dorothea Lange did some amazing work . . . n/t

.

[SeattleGirl]

4. One of my favorite pictures.

It mesmerizes me when I look at it.

I did not know the background of this woman. Thanks for the info.

[fed-up]

5. Oroville is now the meth capital of Butte County nt