50 Amazing Vintage Photographs That Capture Daily Life of America's Farming Communities During the Great Depression

Born in New York City in 1915, Arthur Rothstein showed an early interest in photography. While studying at Columbia University, he met economics instructor Roy Stryker, who would later establish the photographic section of the Resettlement Administration (later the Farm Security Administration) in Washington, DC.

Appreciating Rothstein's technical proficiency and enthusiasm for photography, Stryker hired him in 1935 as the first staff photographer for the FSA. Rothstein spent the next five years creating some of the most iconic images of rural and small-town America during the Great Depression (1935-1940).

After leaving the FSA in 1940, Rothstein took a position as photographer for Look magazine; he remained there until 1971, ultimately serving as the magazine's director of photography.

Sharecropper's child suffering from rickets and malnutrition, Wilson cotton plantation, Mississippi County, Arkansas.

Son of a sharecropper, Mississippi County, Arkansas.

Swimming hole at the Dyess Colony, Mississippi County, Arkansas.

Daughter of sharecropper, Mississippi County, Arkansas.

Sharecropper and children in front of company house. Wilson cotton plantation, Mississippi County, Arkansas.

Demonstrating process of canning corn at community canning kitchen near Atkins, Arkansas.

Commercial canning kitchen near Huntsville, Arkansas.

Street scene at Clarksville, Arkansas.

Street scene at Clarksville, Arkansas.

Street scene at Clarksville, Arkansas.

Scene at Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Old stage coach tavern near Huntsville, Arkansas, now inhabited by rehabilitation client.

Wife of rehabilitation client, Washington County, Arkansas.

Farmer who supplements his income by selling ice, Huntsville, Arkansas.

Wife and children of sharecropper in Washington County, Arkansas.

Lunchtime, Pulaski County, Arkansas. Stortz cotton plantation.

Lunchtime, Pulaski County, Arkansas.

Wife of a sharecropper, Stortz cotton plantation, Pulaski County, Arkansas.

Cotton picking scene, Pike County, Mississippi.

Son of a cotton sharecropper, Lauderdale County, Mississippi.

Picking cotton, Lauderdale County, Mississippi.

Cotton sharecropper, Lauderdale County, Mississippi.

Truck dropping building materials, Grady County, Georgia.

Slaughtering a bull, Grady County, Georgia.

Blacksmith and foreman, Grady County, Georgia.

Children of resettled farmer who has been moved into a new house, Wolf Creek Farms, Grady County, Georgia.

Young farmer who has been resettled, Penderlea, North Carolina.

Wife and children of resettled farmer, Jackson County, Alabama

Wife and child of sharecropper, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.

Son of a successful rehabilitation client, Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.

Wife of sharecropper to be resettled on Skyline Farms, Alabama.

Children of resettlement farmer, Skyline Farms, Alabama.

Resettlement client.

Wife of resettled farmer, Pender County, North Carolina.

Fannie Corbin with some of her children, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

Postmaster at Old Rag, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

Child in Corbin Hollow, Virginia.

Eddie Nicholson who will be resettled on new land, Virginia.

Settlers weaving baskets, Virginia.

Two of the Nicholson children and their only cow, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

Fennel Corbin and two of his grandchildren, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

One of Dicee Corbin's children, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

Dicee Corbin with some of her children and grandchildren, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

Citizens of Nethers in front of post office, Virginia.

Two of Charlie Nicholson's children. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

Eddie Nicholson and some of his children. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

One of Eddie Nicholson's children. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

Children whose family will be resettled on new land. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

John Nicholson with some of the baskets he weaves. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

Adam Nicholson. Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.