Marble
University of Notre Dame
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Dust Storm, Cimarron County, Oklahoma

Date

1936

Creator

Arthur Rothstein

Location

Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

The Farm Security Agency (FSA) was one of President Roosevelt’s New Deal programs during the Great Depression. One of its initiatives was the production of photographs to publicize the facts of rural poverty and government efforts to improve the lives of suffering Americans. Roy Stryker headed a photographic division in Washington, D.C., where the young Arthur Rothstein set up developing and printing laboratories. The FSA supplied a small group of photographers with equipment, materials and travel funds, sending them out to gather images of the country life. Selected FSA images became freely available for publication, and appeared in government pamphlets and reports. While exploring the central plains Rothstein was chatting with farmer Art Cobel when the wind came up. He had time to snap this one image which conveyed the reality of the Dust Bowl to millions of Americans as verbal descriptions could not. from Touchstones of the Twentieth Century: A History of Photography at the University of Notre Dame (exhibition, 2020-21)

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The Farm Security Agency (FSA) was one of President Roosevelt’s New Deal programs during the Great Depression. One of its initiatives was the production of photographs to publicize the facts of rural poverty and government efforts to improve the lives of suffering Americans. Roy Stryker headed a photographic division in Washington, D.C., where the young Arthur Rothstein set up developing and printing laboratories. The FSA supplied a small group of photographers with equipment, materials and travel funds, sending them out to gather images of the country life. Selected FSA images became freely available for publication, and appeared in government pamphlets and reports. While exploring the central plains Rothstein was chatting with farmer Art Cobel when the wind came up. He had time to snap this one image which conveyed the reality of the Dust Bowl to millions of Americans as verbal descriptions could not. from Touchstones of the Twentieth Century: A History of Photography at the University of Notre Dame (exhibition, 2020-21)
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  • The Farm Security Agency (FSA) was one of President Roosevelt’s New Deal programs during the Great Depression. One of its initiatives was the production of photographs to publicize the facts of rural poverty and government efforts to improve the lives of suffering Americans. Roy Stryker headed a photographic division in Washington, D.C., where the young Arthur Rothstein set up developing and printing laboratories. The FSA supplied a small group of photographers with equipment, materials and travel funds, sending them out to gather images of the country life. Selected FSA images became freely available for publication, and appeared in government pamphlets and reports. While exploring the central plains Rothstein was chatting with farmer Art Cobel when the wind came up. He had time to snap this one image which conveyed the reality of the Dust Bowl to millions of Americans as verbal descriptions could not. from Touchstones of the Twentieth Century: A History of Photography at the University of Notre Dame (exhibition, 2020-21)
  • The Farm Security Agency (FSA) was one of President Roosevelt’s New Deal programs during the Great Depression. One of its initiatives was the production of photographs to publicize the facts of rural poverty and government efforts to improve the lives of suffering Americans. Roy Stryker headed a photographic division in Washington, D.C., where the young Arthur Rothstein set up developing and printing laboratories. The FSA supplied a small group of photographers with equipment, materials and travel funds, sending them out to gather images of the country life. Selected FSA images became freely available for publication, and appeared in government pamphlets and reports. While exploring the central plains Rothstein was chatting with farmer Art Cobel when the wind came up. He had time to snap this one image which conveyed the reality of the Dust Bowl to millions of Americans as verbal descriptions could not. from Touchstones of the Twentieth Century: A History of Photography at the University of Notre Dame (exhibition, 2020-21)
Arthur Rothstein (American, 1915 - 1985)
1936
Photographs
Gelatin silver print
1975.031.004
duststorms
fathers
Great Depression (global economic event, 1929-1939)
sons
© Arthur Rothstein Estate
Not on view, please request access
10 x 7 3/4 in. (25.4 x 19.7 cm)
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel J. Schatz, by Exchange

Our collection information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. If you have spotted an error, please contact Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at RMMACollections@nd.edu.