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A picture really is worth more than one thousand words. This photograph represents the "great depression" of the 1930s. It is so relevant to history because it shows the spirit and the sadness that this historical period left in the regular American citizens. Looking at Ms. Ellie Mae Burroughs we can deduce that "hard times" were present at the time. The American economy had plummeted to the bottom and there were no jobs, therefore, hardly anything to eat. This picture is so representative of a bad economic time.

This website shows the face of Ms. Ellie Mae Burroughs. And, by just looking at her, we can see that first of all, she is not happy. Her face is thin, her chin is long, and the circles around her eyes show a sense of tiredness. Her yes say such much more than they can say. A hopeful woman in desperate times.

This link tells a bit about the American photographer, Walker Evans (1903-1975) who was best known for his photographs of American life between the world wars. Everyday objects and people-the urban and rural poor, abandoned buildings, storefronts, street signs, and the like-are encapsulated in his laconic images of the 1930s and 1940s.

What an honor it is to have someone donate money to name a academic department on your name. It is well known that Walker Evans did so much for the world, and if I am right in recalling, I can perhaps paraphrase was Evans said: 'Art lasts a long time, but the period of time that exposes the art, does not last long." What a profound meaning this statement has. And, indeed, Ms. Burroughs' picture has lasted a long time and now it is a part of history that tells us about an economical depression in the 1930s that is relevant to us. This picture will never leave our heads. Evans provided the world with so much insight in exposing "hungry times."

This source discusses a brief history of sharecropping and gives perspective of what sharecropping was like from the perspective of living in Arkansas. I chose to include this link because although it may provide more general information, it can give us insight into what the lives of those Walker Evans photographed were like.

The Historical Text Archive website publishes "articles, books, essays and documents on a broad range of historical subjects". This page deals with the rise and fall of the sharecropping system in America. Although the article is lengthy it has a particularly interesting section concerning the plight of sharecroppers during the Depression era .

This site summarizes human impact the Great Depression had on Americans. Many people have lost they jobs. This resulting in the increase of crime, prostitution and alcoholism as people tried to find an escape from their daily problems. Men were not getting married as often and birth rates decrease as to avoid the expense of feeding and caring for an additional person. Films and radio became very popular as a form of entertainment during these times.

This site provides a synopsis of President Roosevelt - gives brief details and accomplishments of his life growing up prior to winning the presidency. It summarizes how and why got elected - the promises he made to the American people. Finally, it list the programs he created to reform American during the Great Depression

This is great because it provides a summary of the Great Depression along with a timeline of events. The timeline highlights sufficient times during the 1930s, from the stock market crash, to the unemployment rates, ending with America's involvement in World War II. There is a tab that list the most influential people during the Great Depression such as President Roosevelt, which also summarize their active role during the Great Depression. There a section of photos which helps you get a glimpse into to what life was like during this time. Under the facts section, you are able to find statistics about the economy, unemployment and population during the 1930s

On October 29, 1929 the stock market crashed. This day is also known as "Black Tuesday". This was the beginning of the Geat Depression Era in America. During the Great Depression, many Americans were unemployed. President Roosevelt introduced the "New Deal" which offered work relief for the American people. America's entry into War World 2 helped supply jobs for the American people. During this time of war, the demand for supplies for war was high. This provided a growth in the economy as more people began to work.

This site provides a brief synopsis of the top 5 causes for the Great Depression that occurred during the 1930s. The stock market crashed, banks stop giving out loans, many people loss their wages because their funds were not secure in the banks. With high unemployment rates, people stopped stop shopping inventory began to accumulated. This caused a ripple effect to other businesses. The rise on import taxes reduced business transactions with foreign countries. This site mentions the drought in Mississippi Valley although it did not have a direct effect. However, it prevented people from paying their taxes and other debts. They also had to sell their farms for no profit to themselves.

Discusses the legacy of Walker Evans's and James Agee's collaboration in documenting what they saw in Hale County, Alabama. I liked this piece not only for the detail it gives in the controversy that surrounded this project, as well as its legacy, but how it felt from the perspective of the subjects and their descendants (specifically the controversy and sentiment in publishing their names). The piece shows the sort of embarrassment and shame the subjects felt in sharing with the world what their lives looked like, what dire poverty in America looked like during the great depression.

History of Walker Evans's journey into photographing what he saw during the great depression, how an assignment to photograph what he saw truly turned into sharing the truth of the hardship people were enduring as a result of the depression. This source shows us the significance in how Evans chose to document the poor who were suffering; Evans didn't portray his subjects in a light that might otherwise draw upon a viewer's sympathy (which this source goes into more detail), but the reality of the lives of those he photographed.

A very insightful website providing details in the issues associated with sharecropping and tenancy farming in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Poor whites suffered ridicule from both wealthy whites and fellow southern blacks, labeled as "white trash" and categorized in terms of labels such as "hillbilly". The signing of the "New Deal" isolated the south. A description of how the world war II began to put an end to such poverty among blacks and whites in the south is offered.

History.com's interpretation of the New deal. While it did little to end the great depression, it offered hope to society by offering projects and employment opportunities to society. The website includes a picture gallery of a struggling society in the 1930's and the projects that aimed to end it. The images are strong, including one that hits home; a photo of the Times Square Bread line. The North was the first to experience the effects of the great depression.

The Great depression forced many men out of work and out of money. Because of harsh times, men either left their families or sent the women to work, where many times, women were left feeling empowered. However, many men were left feeling worthless due to the dramatic changes, leading to further lack of work and income or worse, a broken home. With FDR's "new deal", aimed at providing employment to the poor, families had hope. However, African Americans were only pushed further into poverty as white males were the first to be hired for long term positions.

This essay by Amanda C. Burdan gives us a larger scope of Evans and his journey through photography while keeping the central point his iconic 'Alabama Cotton Tenant Farmer's Wife' photo.

This article breaks down the issue with classism and the research that has been constructed to battle the issue. This particular article is especially important because the author touches on the issue of society deeming poverty as an "only black or brown" issue, further empowering racism and neglecting the issue with economics and American society as a mixture of races and ethnicity. White poverty seems to go ignored or shut behind doors when it comes to scholarly work. he website states: "This fragmentation dilutes the possibility for class solidarity that is needed to push for health, housing, education, and employment reforms."

Socialism Today goes deeper into the world of photography, and offers us in-depth insight into the mindsets and meaning behind certain photos and photographers, including Evans and "the echoes of social reality."

A real treat, this YouTube video is a peek into the mind of Walker Evans and his photography during the 1930s. He speaks of his work, his journey, and hearing it come from his point of view and voice makes a huge impression.

Here, The Guardian presents a gallery of photos that Walker Evans took during his travel from Alabama to New York City while documenting life during the Great Depression. These photos are available in a solo exhibition until January 26, 2014 at the MoMA.