Dust Bowl Scrapbook Project Outline

8/7/2019 Dust Bowl Scrapbook Project Outline

1/11

Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B

Navarro and Ichikawa

Great Depression Scrapbook Proposal

Character: Tom Joad

One page diary

- In early 30s

- Formerly in prison

- Lives with family, mother, father, brother, uncle, grandma, grandpa in dust bowl

- Harsh times in dust bowl

- Describe difficulties in living in dust bowl

o Crops dying out

o Bad weather

o Dust and sand storms almost daily. Each day need to clean out the dust

o Dust settles on food before we eat

o Can only have two meals a day with the little crops we grow

- Jail life is more promising for survival than living as a farmer

o Story of someone who went to jail because it was so bad

- Save up money to migrate west

Hey, I havent gotten back to you since I was sent to prison for killing a man. Well we got a lot

of catching up to do, dont we? Man, these times arent like they used to be. The 20s were

something, but 10 years late and I return from prison to this hell hole. Oklahoma aint too

beautiful no more. I just got out of prison and Im living with ma, pa, my brothers Noah, Al, and

Winfield, my sisters Rose of Sharon and Ruthie, uncle John, and grandpa and grandma. Its a big

family, and its gonna be hard for pa to feed all of us. Seems like were all gunna have to work.


2/11

Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


Its hard living in these times. The crops are all dying out because of the bad weather and the

regular dust storms. Heck, I think we have one of those at least once a day. Every morning ma

will call out to everyone to help broom out all the dust thats collected in the house. We can only

have 2 meals a day with the crops like this. Even after we clean it all out, the dust settles on our

food before we even eat it! Dust, dust, dust. Its so hard to make a living here that our old

neighbor Jack go to jail on purpose to have a roof under his heads and 3 meals a day he dont

gotta pay for! Sometimes I have second thoughts of going back to jail. Well the familys working

hard cuz were saving up our money enough to go to California. I hear its clean and everyone got

a job there.

I. Newspaper article describing harsh times

Picture of family migration westward to California

-https://reader009.{domain}/reader009/html5/0521/5b024beb1af46/5b024bed256ba.jpg

The dust storms have gotten so bad ur good old neighbor mrs. Wilson couldnt take it

anymore. The winds so strong with dust it killed her almost instantly. Here is the article

in the paper.

- http://www.historicalnews.com/ebay/Oct25BB1934DustBowl2.jpg
http://www.historicalnews.com/ebay/Oct25BB1934DustBowl2.jpghttp://www.historicalnews.com/ebay/Oct25BB1934DustBowl2.jpghttp://www.historicalnews.com/ebay/Oct25BB1934DustBowl2.jpg


3/11

Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


Dust storms have continually increased

in frequency and strength. Many citizensare wondering when these disasters will

end. About 40 big storms swept through

the Dust Bowl yeast year in 1935, andthis dust reduced visibility for people to

less than a mile. The most destructive

storms, often called black blizzards,carry tons of soil all the way to the East

Coast. They are beginning to cause great

heat among residents, and some arepredicting that the end of the world is at

hand. The filthy air is damaging peopleslungs and causing illnesses such as dustpneumonia. Piles of dirt have to be

shoveled out of houses and away from

barn doors. Cars and tractors are ruined.

Many Dust Bowl residents feel defeatedby the dust storms and the poor

economic conditions. A majority persists, however, and has


4/11

Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


gained the nickname stickers. Others left for new opportunities on the West Coast, where the

poverty-stricken migrants from Oklahoma and other Midwestern states are not becoming known

as Okies.

Fortunately, the federal government has developed programs to aid Dust Bowl residents. TheSoil Conservation Service, for instance, is teaching special methods of farming, such as contour

plowing, limited tillage, and terracing in order to

reduce erosion and protect the soil. The CivilianConservation Corps has started shelterbelt

projects to break the force of the winds. Trees are

planted in small groves from Childress, Texas, tothe Canadian border.

II. Letter to Eleanor

- Times are horrible

- Forcing people to leave

- Pay people to tear down houses

- http://www.okcc.state.ok.us/Home/stewardship/dust-bowl_photo.jpg

- Houses are in need of repair but not enough money

- No crops in bad weather wo no money

- We cannot make a living here

- Need government help

- Provide specific example

- Day before neighbors house completely flew apart in dust storm and baby died.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

March. 9, 1936
http://www.okcc.state.ok.us/Home/stewardship/dust-bowl_photo.jpghttp://www.okcc.state.ok.us/Home/stewardship/dust-bowl_photo.jpghttp://www.okcc.state.ok.us/Home/stewardship/dust-bowl_photo.jpg


5/11

Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


Dear Mrs. Rosevelt:

I am 20 years old and will be 21 the 18th of this month. I am shut in my house. I have

been sick ever since the 12 of January. Im living with ma, pa, my brothers Noah, Al,and Winfield, my sisters Rose of Sharon and Ruthie, uncle John, grandpa andgrandma. You see, I have a big family, and its really hard to always put food on the

table. We can only have two meals a day and the house is falling apart. My parence's

are very poor people. Im too ol for school, but nun of my siblings can go to schoolwith the money we gettin. And doubt if they can this year. I have nothing I can do

but sit around and I get so lonely I don't know what to do cuz there are no places for

a job. And if you want to cheer me up and make me one of the happies men in the

world just send me some money to get a cheap raido. I have got proof by theneighbors that I am sick and have nothing to do. My parence names is Mr. + Mrs.

Joad. My name is Tom. I live at Kismet. Many, many thanks if you would cheer me

up that way I wouldn't spend it for nothing but a radio. The whole family could use aradio. I only ask for a cheep one.

Tom Joad

Tulsa, Oklahoma

P.S.

I live in the dust bowl. We produced almost no crop this year. At first, pa wouldnttake goverment help since he had farmers pride. We had to nearly starve for him to

finaly give up. Now we have to live off of the releif and theres no injoyment out of

that. But were thankful for it. My ma is sick an Grapa lives very poorly. Hes got aweak heart. And that keeps my heart broken all the time. I got nothing to amuse

myself wit and no work.

thanks alot

III.Car Advertisement

- Jalopies

- http://murdercycles.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album35/jalopy_b_w.sized.jpg

- Cheap and efficient

- Get your dodge 21 today!

- Good used cars. Bargains. Clean, runs good
http://murdercycles.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album35/jalopy_b_w.sized.jpghttp://murdercycles.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album35/jalopy_b_w.sized.jpghttp://murdercycles.com/v-web/gallery/albums/album35/jalopy_b_w.sized.jpg


6/11


7/11

Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


o1 lb pork, ends

o salt

o1 cup vinegar

o1/2 onion

owater, to cover

Break beans in half and put in large kettle.Add rest of ingredients.

Bring to full boil.

Cover half way, lower heat to minimal and keep it for 3 hoursScoop out with slotted spoon or serve with broth.

Having only 2 meals a day, its important to have filling meals. My grandpas old recipe of green

beans keeps everyone filled until the next meal with the little food we have to eat. I would saywe have green beans 5 times a week and we cant complain. Its a really great meal!

V. Moving to California Map


8/11

Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


Finally got the car we wanted. It was the one I chose in the magazine. It has lasted up till now,

and Im confident it will last all the way to California. We got a big car to fit everyone in the

family. We have been stuffing all our possessions wherever there is room. The back is full of

beds, blankets, and personal items. We are planning to go through route 66 straight for Los

Angeles. Halfway there, we will stop for the night in New Mexico for a few nights and take a

rest. But otherwise we are headed in a straight route to California. We cant lose any time because

there is work waiting for us.

VI.VI. Advertisement for farmer

jobs

There is no work left in Oklahoma with the dust storms. The

crops are dying and the farmers are suffering. Dad is trying

his best to save up enough money but everyone that doesnt

have a job is moving to the west. I picked up this sheet of a

job position thats in Arizona. I hear there is a lot more

opportunity in California. On the way to California, we will

stop at Arizona and see if there are any spots still left for me

to work. Right now we can use all the money we can get.

One guy on the street said that the employers need 5000

people but send this sheet to 100,000. I hope theres

still room for me.


9/11


10/11

Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


centers and get our checks. Hopefully this will be enough to keep us alive long enough to make it

to California.

VIII. Response to dust bowl and farm crisis-Roosevelt


11/11

Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


Reading the paper today and I saw this article about the president. After all this suffering, we can

now get some help. When I showed this to pa, he threw the paper on the ground in shame. I

guess being a farmer, its hard to accept outside help. But we really need the help. I dont know

how much longer the family can last on 2 meals a day of green beans. I will try and convince pa

this is the best thing for our family. Until then, I can just sit around and wait.

Dust Bowl Scrapbook Project Outline

Documents

Transcript of Dust Bowl Scrapbook Project Outline