The publication of Migrant Mother immediately advanced the federal Resettlement Administration’s goal of using photography to generate public support for government relief efforts. First published in the San Francisco News on March 11, 1936, alongside an editorial calling attention to the desperate conditions of migrant pea pickers, the photograph helped persuade federal authorities to send 20,000 pounds of food to the camp where the photograph had been taken. Between 1936 and 1940 the image appeared in more than a dozen newspapers and magazines, bringing widespread attention to the hardships faced by Depression-era migrant workers. It is one of the most-published photographs in American history and an enduring symbol of resilience in the face of hardship.
verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies.
Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style