21 Rare Photos Taken In Ohio During The Great Depression

After the stock market crashed in October of 1929, the United States faced its most economically difficult years. The state of Ohio was especially hurt. By 1932, Ohio’s unemployment rate reached 37.3 percent. The following collection of photos showcase the life and landscape of Ohio during the Great Depression— and serve to remind us of all that we have to be thankful for today.

1. “Typical squalid homes”

Library of Congress/Carl Mydans/LC-USF33-T01-000328 Hamilton County, December 1935

2. Cincinnati neighborhood

Library of Congress/Carl Mydans/LC-USF347-002765 Cincinnati, December 1935

3. “Rehabilitation client’s wife”

Library of Congress/ Theodor Jung/LC-DIG-fsa-8a14199 Jackson County, April 1936

4. The most common source of water supply

Library of Congress/Theodor Jung/LC-USF33-004115 Jackson, April 1936

5. “Street scene, Sunday afternoon”

Library of Congress/Theodor Jung/LC-DIG-fsa-8a14280 Jackson, April 1936

6. An 83-year-old settler to be resettled, near Chillicothe

Library of Congress/Theodor Jung/LC-USF33-004139 Chillicothe, April 1936

7. Part of a family of 10 to be resettled on the Ross-Hocking Land Project near Chillicothe

Library of Congress/Theodor Jung/LC-USF33-004142 Chillicothe, April 1936

8. Workmen going home from work in Greenhills

Library of Congress/Russell Lee/LC-USF34-010240 Greenhills, February 1937

9. Gas station and gospel mission in Cleveland

Library of Congress/John Vachon/LC-USF34-015614 Cleveland, August 1937

10. Eshelman’s feed mill in Circleville

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF33-006406 Circleville, 1938

11. Main and Court Streets in Circleville

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF3301-006415 Circleville, 1938

12. Dwellers of Circleville’s “Hooverville”

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF33-006576 Circleville, 1938

13. Child playing in Circelville’s “Hooverville”

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-DIG-fsa-8a18464 Circleville, 1938

14. William A. Swift, a farmer before he became a resident of Circleville’s “Hooverville.”

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-DIG-ppmsca-15603 The photographer writes: “When he returned from the war he went West. ‘Made awful good money jobbin’ around.’ "

15. Men sitting on a bench in Springfield

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF3301-006419 Springfield, 1938

16. The Thaxton family, near Mechanicsburg

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF3301-006467 Mechanicsburg, 1938

17. Saturday afternoon in London, “the other side of the tracks”

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-DIG-fsa-8a18003 London, 1938

18. World War Veterans’ homecoming and carnival in London

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF3301-006476 1938, London

19. Bus station in Marion

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-DIG-fsa-8a18302 Marion, 1938

20. Scene at Buckeye Lake Amusement Park

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF33-006597 Columbus, 1938

21. Main Street in Lancaster

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF3301-006390 Lancaster, August 1938

What do you know about the Great Depression in Ohio? We would love to hear any stories you might have to share. Please feel free to pass along your thoughts and stories in the comments below.

Library of Congress/Carl Mydans/LC-USF33-T01-000328

Hamilton County, December 1935

Library of Congress/Carl Mydans/LC-USF347-002765

Cincinnati, December 1935

Library of Congress/ Theodor Jung/LC-DIG-fsa-8a14199

Jackson County, April 1936

Library of Congress/Theodor Jung/LC-USF33-004115

Jackson, April 1936

Library of Congress/Theodor Jung/LC-DIG-fsa-8a14280

Library of Congress/Theodor Jung/LC-USF33-004139

Chillicothe, April 1936

Library of Congress/Theodor Jung/LC-USF33-004142

Library of Congress/Russell Lee/LC-USF34-010240

Greenhills, February 1937

Library of Congress/John Vachon/LC-USF34-015614

Cleveland, August 1937

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF33-006406

Circleville, 1938

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF3301-006415

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF33-006576

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-DIG-fsa-8a18464

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-DIG-ppmsca-15603

The photographer writes: “When he returned from the war he went West. ‘Made awful good money jobbin’ around.’ "

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF3301-006419

Springfield, 1938

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF3301-006467

Mechanicsburg, 1938

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-DIG-fsa-8a18003

London, 1938

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF3301-006476

1938, London

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-DIG-fsa-8a18302

Marion, 1938

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF33-006597

Columbus, 1938

Library of Congress/Ben Shahn/LC-USF3301-006390

Lancaster, August 1938

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