Today in History: Great Depression
Today in History–July 8–the Library of Congress features the Great Depression, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell to its lowest point on this day in 1932. During the Great Depression many families lost their homes because they could not pay their mortgages so they sought alternative forms of shelter. Groups of these makeshift houses were often referred to as Hoovervilles (see image above), named after President Hoover, who was blamed for the problems that led to the depression. Learn more about the Library’s depression-era resources by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access even more resources.
Background
- American Memory Timeline: Great Depression and World War II 1929-1945, includes select primary sources & teaching activities
- The Stock Market Fell To Its Lowest Point During the Depression July 8, 1932 from America’s Library
- Immigration: Mexican – Depression and the Struggle for Survival
Primary source collections
- Voices from the Dust Bowl: the Charles L. Todd and Robert Sonkin Migrant Worker Collection 1940-1941
- Voices from the Thirties: Life Histories from the Federal Writer’s Project (suggested search terms: Depression, work, unemployed, job)
- Great depression books & articles
- Great depression films & webcasts
- “Sunny California” song
- “Textile Life” poem
- Herblock depression-era cartoons
- Depression images
- Hooverville images
- Historical newspaper coverage: economic depression through 1922
Online exhibits
- African American Mosaic: WPA
- African American Odyssey: The Depression, The New Deal, and World War II
- Bound for Glory: 1939-1943
Teaching resources
Outside resources
- Great Depression vs. ‘Great Recession’ from CNN Money
- Economic history resources beyond the Library
Related primary source collections