Dust Bowl Scrapbook Project Outlin

8/7/2019 Dust Bowl Scrapbook Project Outlin

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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 haven¶t gotten back to you since I was sent to prison for killing a man. Well we got a lot

of catching up to do, don¶t we? Man, these times aren¶t 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 I¶m living with ma, pa, my brothers Noah, Al, and

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

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

It¶s 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 that¶s 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. It¶s 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 don¶t

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



Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


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

a job there.

I. Newspaper article describing harsh times

Picture of family migration westward to California

The dust storms have gotten so bad our gud old neighbor mrs. Wilson couldn¶t take it

anymore. The winds so strong with dust it killed her almost instantly. We¶re starting to

read a lot about these dust storms in the papers. The whole world knows what we¶re

going through by now.



Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


Dust storms have continually increased in frequency and strength. Many citizens are wondering

when these disasters will end. About 40 big storms swept through the Dust Bowl yeast year in1935, and this dust reduced visibility for people to less than a mile. The most destructive storms,



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12/13/10

Period A & B


often called ³black blizzards,´ carry tons of soil all the way to the East Coast. They arebeginning to cause great heat among residents, and some are predicting that the end of the world

is at hand. The filthy air is damaging people¶s lungs and causing illnesses such as ³dustpneumonia.´ 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 defeated by the dust storms and the poor economic conditions. A majority persists, however, and has gained the nickname ³stickers.´

Others left for new opportunities on the West Coast, where the poverty-stricken migrants fromOklahoma and other Midwestern states are not becoming known as ³Okies.´

Fortunately, the federal government has developed programs to aid Dust Bowl residents. The

Soil 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

Civilian Conservation Corps has started ³shelterbelt´ projects to break the force of the winds.Trees are planted in small groves from Childress, Texas, to the 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.



Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


It seems like everyone needs help now and is even asking the 1st

lady herself!

Walking home one day I found a pile of letters all over the ground. The mailmanmust have dropped a load by accident. I picked up a letter that caught my eye by a

person named A.L.C. This letter helped make me feel like my family wasn¶t the onlyone going through all this suffering. With the lack of money and food, I decided one

night to right the first lady a letter myself. I did so in secrecy, for if pa was to catchme asking for help, I would have been punished and he would have been humiliated.

Every night I added to my letter until one night I finally finished. Today I will sendmy letter to Mrs. Rosevelt! I hope she sends something back!



Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


Tulsa, OklahomaMarch. 9, 1936

Dear Mrs. Rosevelt:

I am 20 years old and will be 21 the 18 th of this month. I am shut in my house. I havebeen 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 thetable. We can only have two meals a day and the house is falling apart. Myparence's are very poor people. Im too ol for school, but nun of my siblings can goto school with 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 noplaces for a job. And if you want to cheer me up and make me one of the happiesmen in the world just send me some money to get a cheap raido. I have got proof bythe neighbors 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 coulduse a radio. I only ask for a cheep one.

Tom JoadTulsa, 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 tofinaly 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 aweek heart. And that keeps my heart broken all the time. I got nothing to amusemyself wit and no work.

thanks alot

Sikeston, Missouri

January 20, 1938



Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


Dear Mrs. Roosevelt,

I am writing this letter in hopes that you will answer in my favor.

My father H. C. has been in bed from a stroke for almost a year. We have no money

and my brother works but makes $3.00 a week and there are eight in our family.

My step-mother is very good to me and I try to help her. She takes in washings and I

have to walk for six or eight blocks and then carry the washings home. I have to go

of a morning before school and it has been very cold here. If you could send me a

bicycle to ride when I go after washings for her I shall appreciate it. I am in eighth

grade at school and work very hard to make passing grades. The Principal of the

school bought two of my sisters and me a pair of slippers so we would not have to

stay at home. If you would do this for me I shall be able to help my step-mother

more. If you send me one I would like a girls bicycle. I am about 4 feet 3 inches tall

so if you send me one you can judge as to what size.

Loving and appreciating-

A. L. C.

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



Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


Right now our family is looking at what cars to buy. After a few years of eating only 2 meals a

day and selling any extra crops we get, we have almost saved enough money for one of these

cars. We have almost saved up enough money to buy a jalopy. Hopefully we can get a car and

bargain at a good price to finally be on our way to California. I cannot wait to see what is in store

for us. We have narrowed it down to a few, but I picked out my favorite one from a ripped out

advertisement from a magazine. It looks a little bent out of shape, but it will run good and for a

long time. It¶s a sturdy one. After all, that¶s what it says on the paper!



Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B




Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


IV. R ecipe

- Apples, beans, canned beef, flour and pork products were distributed through local relief

channels

- Green Beans

o 1 -2 lb green beans

o 1 lb pork, ends

o salt

o 1 cup vinegar

o 1/2 onion

o water, 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 hours

Scoop 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 greenbeans keeps everyone filled until the next meal with the little food we have to eat. I would say

we have green beans 5 times a week and we cant complain. It¶s a really great meal!



Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B




Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


V. Moving to California Map



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 I¶m 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. 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

doesn¶t have a job is moving to the

west. I picked up this sheet of a job

position that¶s 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 there¶s still room for

me.



Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


VII. Relief



Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


Finally my dad let our family get relief from the local government aid centers. I guess enoughpeople were going through the same thing my family was

and so the president has decided to help us. At first, dadwouldn¶t let us get help from someone else because he

was a prideful farmer, but after we had starved for longenough, he had enough. I could see the look of defeat on

pa¶s face when he said we could go to the office and getour relief. Today me and pa go to the relief centers and

get our checks. Hopefully this will be enough to keep usalive long enough to make it to California.

VIII. Response to dust bowl and farm crisis-Roosevelt

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, it¶s hard to accept outside help. But we really need the help. I don¶t 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.



Eamon Barkhordarian

12/13/10

Period A & B


Dust Bowl Scrapbook Project Outlin

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