Great Depression

Resources are listed in alphabetical order. More information can always be found by using our website search bar, or contacting a member of our staff.

A Community in Conflict

Digital Exhibit

1 item

1931

Many people lost their jobs during the Great Depression, making survival difficult. Local leaders established a relief office from which donations of cash, food, fuel, and other supplies were distributed to the unemployed and needy. But some demanded more.

Digital Exhibit

Articles

A small selection of Pages from our Past articles written by Bill Kemp

5 items

Bloomington home to world champion singing mouse

“The voice that spanned continents and oceans to win international acclaim is forever stilled,”...

Article

Brown’s delivered white-collar education

Business colleges played an important but often-overlooked role in American education. For the ...

Article

Charles Stephenson Jr., a Central Illinois Art Exposition committee member, eyes several canvasses being readied for hanging.

Depression-era art show one for the ages

In the spring of 1939, area residents flocked to the Bloomington Consistory to gaze upon painti...

Article

a large crowd is seen in front of Ensenberger Furniture store and the W.B.READ & CO buildings.

Spirits high for Depression-era Christmas

During the 1936 Christmas season, Americans faced an Ebenezer Scrooge writ large — the hard tim...

Article

14 light-skinned men stand and sit for a photograph. They all appear to be old, some elderly.

Taps for last Bloomington Civil War veteran in 1940

Today the median age of Korean War veterans is 88 years old, and as the ranks of these old sold...

Article

Biographies

2 items

Brown, Henry L.

Henry Brown was never afraid to learn new skills to overcome the challenges life threw at him. ...

Biography

Rayburn, Jennie

Jane “Jennie” Buttolph Rayburn was born May 11, 1858 in Middlebury, Vermont a daughter of Willi...

Biography

Blog

4 items

Big 4 Valley Storm Sewer Project Mid-1930s, Bloomington

During the Great Depression an infusion of federal dollars through New Deal “alphabet” agencies...

Blog Post

Depression-Era Skaters Bloomington, Circa 1930s

This lovely photo is a mystery. The year, location, and those pictured are unknown.If you can h...

Blog Post

McHistory: Depression-era post office mural chronicles development of Normal

U.S. society has largely moved away from the idea that public structures should symbolize eleme...

Blog Post

McHistory: When socialism really was socialism

Listen to the audio on WGLT's website hereMcHistory goes back in time to explore big momen...

Blog Post

Farming in the Great Corn Belt

Digital Exhibit

1 item

Government Aid and Programs

The U.S. government first provided loans and incentive programs to farmers for farm land and eq...

Digital Exhibit

Finding Aids

2 items

Clarke, Marguerite E.

Marguerite E. (Dobson) Clarke (1916-2007) was a lifelong resident of Bloomington. She received ...

Finding Aid

Exhibit: Journey through the Great Depression

Staff worked with guest curator Illinois State University professor Sandra D. Harmon to create ...

Finding Aid

Oral Histories

1 item

Howard and Elaine Bell

Early Bloomington family, WWII veteran, Depression era history, Elaine was active in community ...

Oral History

Working for a Living

Digital Exhibit

1 item

Railroad Workers Were Still in Demand

Despite the rising popularity of auto travel, rail transportation remained prominent. Laborers ...

Digital Exhibit