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Great Depression

A Community in Conflict

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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

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

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

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

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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

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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

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

Oral History