Our second visit with this family, with ten of their eleven children, now ready for their close-up.
February 1939. Brawley, Imperial County, California. “In Farm Security Administration migratory labor camp. Family of mother, father and eleven children, originally from near Mangrum, Oklahoma, where he had been tenant farmer. Came to California in 1936 after the drought. Since then has been traveling from crop to crop in California, following the harvest. Six of the eleven children attend school wherever the family stops long enough. Five older children work along with the father and mother. February 23, two of the family have been lucky and ‘got a place’ (a day’s work) in peas on the Sinclair ranch. Father had earned about $1.73 for ten-hour day. Oldest daughter had earned $1.25. From these earnings they had to provide their transportation to the fields 20 miles away. Mother wants to return to Oklahoma, father unwilling.” Photo by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.

February 1939. Brawley, Imperial County, California. “In Farm Security Administration migrant labor camp during pea harvest. Family from Oklahoma with eleven children. Father, eldest daughter and eldest son working. She: ‘I want to go back to where we can live happy, live decent, and grow what we eat.’ He: ‘I’ve made my mistake and now we can’t go back. I’ve got nothing to farm with’.” Photo by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration.

October 1939. “He brought his family to the West in a homemade trailer from Texas five months ago. Photograph made after supper. Boy sick. Father has work now in potato field. Merrill, Klamath County, Oregon. In mobile unit, FSA camp.” Photo by Dorothea Lange for the Farm Security Administration.