15 Rare Photos Taken in Louisiana During the Great Depression

Recently, a staff writer here at Only In Your State stumbled upon this amazing treasure trove of photographs from across Louisiana during the Great Depression World War II era. They will truly knock your socks off and take you right back to the past! You’ll be amazed by how much has changed and how much has stayed exactly the same. We’re going to do the work for you and find the most amazing photos of the bunch. Here’s a start!

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1. Construction workers eating in cafe in Alexandria, Louisiana. photogrammar.yale.edu/records Photographer Marion Post Wolcott 2. Farm boy sitting on cartons in general store. Jarreau, Louisiana photogrammar.yale.edu/records Photographer Russell Lee, October 1938 3. Musicians in car playing accordion and washboard and singing. Near New Iberia, Louisiana photogrammar.yale.edu Photographer Russell Lee, October 1938 4. Fighting fire of rice straw stack in rice field near Crowley, Louisiana photogrammar.yale.edu Photographer Russell Lee, September 1938 5. Girls from the Cajun country at Raceland, Louisiana photogrammar.yale.edu Photographer Russell Lee, September 1938 6. Captured Bear, New Orleans, LA Photo by Ben Shahn, October 1935 I would love to know the story behind this one! 7. Scene in Jackson Square, New Orleans, LA photogrammar.yale.edu Photo by Ben Shahn, October 1935 8. Roadhouse, Raceland, LA photogrammar.yale.edu Photographer Russell Lee, September 1938 9. Spanish trapper hanging muskrats up to dry their fur before skinning. photogrammar.yale.edu/ Delacroix Island, Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana Photograph by Marion Post Wolcott, January 1941 10. W.E. Smith, farmer near Morganza, Louisiana, in his home photogrammar.yale.edu Photographer Russell Lee 11. Mother with two children with popcorn, National Rice Festival, Crowley, Louisiana photogrammar.yale.edu/ Photographer Russell Lee, October 1938 12. Barrels of perique tobacco during process of aging, St. James Parish. photogrammar.yale.edu Photographer Russell Lee, September 1938 13. Migrant cane chair maker on U.S. 90 near Jeanerette, Louisiana photogrammar.yale.edu/records Photographer Russell Lee, October 1938 14. Church near Krotz Springs, Louisiana photogrammar.yale.edu Photographer Russell Lee, October 1938 15.Farmers sitting on bags of rice, state mill, Abbeville, Louisiana photogrammar.yale.edu/records Photographer Russell Lee, September 1938

What did you think of those photos? Which one was your favorite? Let us know in the comments below! Bonus points to you if you can recognize where exactly some of these photos were taken—for example, does anyone know if that church is still standing in Krotz Springs? Thanks so much for reading!