"These are women of the American soil. They are a hardy stock. They are of the roots of our country...They are not our well advertised women of beauty and fashion...These women represent a different mode of life. They are of themselves a very great American style." Dorothea Lange speaking about the 1930's migrant workers in California, known as Okies.
The three photos above are from our family album.
The Dorothea Lange quote above is my absolute favorite. It brings tears to my eyes, because my love for their fashion is as complex as it is. I have always preferred cotton to silk, socks to stockings, and oxfords to heels. I like to think it is because of my Okie roots.
If you want to know more about this subject read or watch the Grapes of Wrath. I can't recommend it enough.
I love looking at the photos of those formidable women. They knew how to do things. One can imagine that those lovely ladies could skillfully operate a wringer washer, put up a pantry for winter, put down a chicken for the evening's supper and sew the family's clothing, all with a baby tucked in the crook of one arm. I have similar feelings about my WV roots. Amazing.
ReplyDeleteAwesome pics, so lovely that you have them. And I LOVE the old wooden wheelbarrow they're using for rides!
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