Those who left

During the depression a new word entered the daily vocabulary of the American populous. Migrant. Used by some as a derogatory term and some as a title for the poor masses, the victims of an economy in decline. No matter what term was used, the life of a migrant was tough.

In that period when a person became a migrant, many times their family joined them. Here are some of the children of the migrants from Tennessee, and the places they ended up, sometimes just for the season, sometimes permanently.

Here are the children of Tennessee in far flung places.



The son of a migrant family from Tennessee, Belle Glade, Florida. 1937 Jan.


Wash day. The daughter of a migrant fruit worker from Tennessee, now encamped near Winter Haven, Florida. 1937 Jan.


Migrant family from Tennessee camped in field on outskirts of town, about two blocks from water supply. Berrien County, Michigan. 1940 July


Part of the family of a migrant fruit worker from Tennessee, camped near the packinghouse in Winter Haven, Florida 1937 Jan.


Two children of a migrant fruit worker from Tennessee, standing before their temporary home. This family of eight is camped in a field near the packinghouse at Winter Haven, Florida. 1937 Jan.


The family of a migratory fruit worker from Tennessee now camped in a field near the packinghouse at Winter Haven, Florida. 1937 Jan


Oldest child of migrant packinghouse worker's family from Tennessee fixing supper. Her mother and father both work during the day and sometimes until two and three in the morning, leaving the children alone. Belle Glade, Florida. 1939 Jan


Woman migrant packinghouse worker from Tennessee with four children and two relatives eating supper. Belle Glade, Florida. 1939 Jan


Daughter of migrant Tennessee coal miner. Living in American River camp near Sacramento, California. 1939 Jan.

This last image is almost haunting. Tired, or just emotionally wornout?