Kentucky has been through plenty of ups and downs as a state, including the trying times of the Great Depression. A simple task like providing food for the family during that era was a challenge, much less anything recreational. All across the Bluegrass State, residents suffered, endured and survived… for the most part. Many of our ancestors suffered through this horrible time in U.S. history, and their sacrifices shouldn’t be forgotten.

Here are 20 photos of Kentucky during the Great Depression, to remind us what our ancestors overcame:

20. A sign painted on a building circa 1935, asking residents to help keep Covington safe.
John Vachon
19. Unhappy faces take a smoke outside a local grocery in 1935.
Ben Shahn
18. Towns folk looking for food and work in Middlesboro 1935.
Bill Shahn
17. Tiny mining shacks in Jenkins where entire families lived.
Bill Shahn
16. People line up in breadlines just to get a loaf of bread during 1937 in Louisville.
Baruch Cuny
15. Men relax in front of an Irvington store in 1938.
Russell Lee
14. Farmers waiting in a wagon in Owensboro 1938 at a liquid feed loading station
Russell Lee
13. Farmers line up for liquid feed during the 1930s in Owensboro.
Russell Lee
12. People line up in Louisville for food during the Great Depression and the flood of 1937.
Time
11. Farmers relaxing on the running board of a car while waiting in a liquid feed loading station in Owensboro, 1938.
Russell Lee

Related Stories

Most People Have Never Seen These 18 Photos Taken During WWII In Kentucky

Most People Have Never Seen These 18 Photos Taken During WWII In Kentucky

 The 11 Most Insane Things That Happened In Kentucky In 2015

The 11 Most Insane Things That Happened In Kentucky In 2015

 These 25 Houses In Kentucky From The 1930s Will Open Your Eyes To A Different Time

These 25 Houses In Kentucky From The 1930s Will Open Your Eyes To A Different Time
10. Coal miners heading to work the pit in Jenkins, 1937
Ben Shahn
9. An empty buggy sits in front of a circus advertisement in 1935.
Ben Shahn
8. A mix of farmers and white collar workers in Middlesboro during 1935.
Ben Shahn
7. A young boy, probably playing some Bluegrass during the Depression.
Traviasuite
6. Some of the most stricken during the Great Depression were the people of the Appalachians.
News Forage
5. A wagon waiting outside a shop in Smithland, 1935.
Ben Shahn
4. A father works with his son on the railroad to earn money. There were no child labor laws during those years.
Daily Mail
3. A farmer waiting in his truck to take care of business in the 1930s.
Russell Lee
2. A family stands outside a shop in 1935. Their faces show the feeling of the era.
Ben Shahn
1. A family stands on their porch during the 1930s.
Pastreunited

My Father was a child that endured the Great Depression, and he shared many a story. It was a sad time for Kentuckians and America in general. I realize this article lacks words, but I felt like the expressions of the people in the images spoke in volumes. One can see the despair in their eyes as they struggled with everyday life to support their loved ones. Do you have any ancestral photos from the Great Depression?

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore Kentucky