Calipatria Collection

CALIFORNIA: DOCTOR, 1939. A traveling public health doctor conducting a well-baby clinic in local school in Calipatria, California

CALIFORNIA: PEA FIELD, 1939. Workers weighing bushels of peas in a field near Calipatria, California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, 1939

FARM RELIEF, 1939. Migrant farmers standing outside the Farm Security Administration grant office during the pea harvest in Calipatria, California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, February 1939

MIGRANT CAMP, 1939. A daughter and son of an ex-tenant farmer from Oklahoma living in an emergency camp for migrant workers in Imperial Valley, Calipatria, California

MIGRANT CAMP, 1939. A farmer cooking a meal for his family inside a tent at an emergency camp for migrant workers in the pea fields, Calipatria, California

MIGRANT WORKER, 1939. A grandmother from Oklahoma working in the pea fields in Imperial Valley, Calipatria, California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, February 1939

MIGRANT WORKER, 1939. A paymaster on the edge of the pea fields pays a quarter for every hamper of thirty pounds brought to the scale by migrant workers, Imperial Valley, Calipatria, California

MIGRANT CAMP, 1937. A woman washing clothes in a washbin at a camp for migrant workers near Calipatria, Imperial Valley, California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, 1937

PEA PICKERS, 1939. Idle pea pickers discussing prospects for work on a street corner in Calipatria, Imperial Valley, California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, February 1939

PEA PICKERS, 1939. Migrant pea pickers on a farm near Calipatria, California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, February 1939

PEA PICKERS, 1939. A field of migrant workers picking peas on a farm near Calipatria, California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, February 1939

SQUATTERS CAMP, 1937. An open basin from an irrigation ditch is the water supply for a squatters camp near Calipatria, California. Photograph by Dorothea Lange, March 1937

MIGRANT CAMP, 1937. Forty families of migrant farmers from the dust bowl, camped near pea fields along a country road near Calipatria, California, waiting for work

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"Calipatria: A Glimpse into California's Past" Step back in time to 1939, where a traveling public health doctor diligently conducts well-baby check-ups in Calipatria, California. This dedicated physician ensures the health and wellbeing of the community's youngest members. Meanwhile, nearby in a pea field, hardworking workers meticulously weigh bushels of peas. Their laborious efforts contribute to the agricultural prosperity and its surrounding areas. In another scene, migrant farmers stand outside the Farm Security Administration seeking much-needed relief. These resilient individuals have left their homes behind in search of better opportunities for themselves and their families. Within a migrant camp, we witness the struggles faced by an ex-tenant farmer from Oklahoma as his daughter and son adapt to this new way of life. Despite challenges, they persevere with hope for a brighter future. Amidst these hardships, we find moments of unity within migrant camps. A farmer selflessly cooks a meal inside his tent for his family – love transcends even difficult circumstances. The pea fields become an unlikely workplace for people like a grandmother from Oklahoma who works tirelessly alongside her fellow migrants. Her determination exemplifies the resilience found within these communities. A paymaster on the edge of the pea fields symbolizes both hope and uncertainty as he distributes meager wages to hardworking individuals striving to make ends meet. Life at these camps is far from easy; however, simple tasks like washing clothes in washbins bring solace amidst adversity – reminding us that dignity can be found even under challenging conditions. Idle conversations among pea pickers on street corners reveal their shared aspirations and dreams while awaiting prospects for work – forging connections despite uncertain futures. Finally, vast fields filled with migrant workers picking peas paint a vivid picture of collective effort shaping Calipatria's agricultural landscape. Their dedication fuels not only local economies but also embodies perseverance against all odds.