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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
Eamon Barkhordarian
12/13/10
Period A & B
Navarro and Ichikawa
gotta pay for! Sometimes I have second thoughts of going back to jail. Well the family’s working
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
Navarro and Ichikawa
Eamon Barkhordarian
12/13/10
Period A & B
Navarro and Ichikawa

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 in
1935, and this dust reduced visibility for people to less than a mile. The most destructive storms,
often called “black blizzards,” carry tons of soil all the way to the East Coast. They are
beginning to cause great heat among residents, and some are predicting that the end of the world
Eamon Barkhordarian
12/13/10
Period A & B
Navarro and Ichikawa
is at hand. The filthy air is damaging people’s lungs and causing illnesses such as “dust
pneumonia.” 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 “stickers.”
Others left for new opportunities on the West Coast, where the poverty-stricken migrants from
Oklahoma and other Midwestern states are not becoming known as “Okies.”

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 “shelterbelt” 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.

It seems like everyone needs help now and is even asking the 1st lady herself!
Eamon Barkhordarian
12/13/10
Period A & B
Navarro and Ichikawa

Walking home one day I found a pile of letters all over the ground. The mailman
must 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 only
one 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 catch
me 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 send
my letter to Mrs. Rosevelt! I hope she sends something back!
Eamon Barkhordarian
12/13/10
Period A & B
Navarro and Ichikawa

Tulsa, Oklahoma
March. 9, 1936

Dear Mrs. Rosevelt:

I am 20 years old and will be 21 the 18th of this month. I am shut in my house. I have been
sick ever since the 12 of January. I’m living with ma, pa, my brothers Noah, Al, and
Winfield, my sisters Rose of Sharon and Ruthie, uncle John, grandpa and grandma. You see,
I have a big family, and its really hard to always put food on the table. We can only have two
meals a day and the house is falling apart. My parence's are very poor people. Im too ol for
school, but nun of my siblings can go to 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 no places for a job. And if you want to cheer me up and make me one of the
happies men in the world just send me some money to get a cheap raido. I have got proof by
the 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 could use a radio. I only ask for
a cheep one.

Tom Joad
Tulsa, Oklahoma

P.S.

I live in the dust bowl. We produced almost no crop this year. At first, pa wouldn’t take
goverment help since he had farmers pride. We had to nearly starve for him to finaly 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. He’s got a week heart. And that
keeps my heart broken all the time. I got nothing to amuse myself wit and no work.

thanks alot

Sikeston, Missouri

January 20, 1938

Dear Mrs. Roosevelt,


Eamon Barkhordarian
12/13/10
Period A & B
Navarro and Ichikawa
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
Navarro and Ichikawa
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
Navarro and Ichikawa
Eamon Barkhordarian
12/13/10
Period A & B
Navarro and Ichikawa
IV. Recipe
- 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 green
beans 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
Navarro and Ichikawa
Eamon Barkhordarian
12/13/10
Period A & B
Navarro and Ichikawa
V. Moving to California Map

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
Eamon Barkhordarian
12/13/10
Period A & B
Navarro and Ichikawa
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
Navarro and Ichikawa

VII. Relief

Finally my dad let our family get relief from the local
government aid centers. I guess enough people were
going through the same thing my family was and so the
president has decided to help us. At first, dad wouldn’t let
us get help from someone else because he was a prideful
farmer, but after we had starved for long enough, he had
enough. I could see the look of defeat on pa’s face when
he said we could go to the office and get our relief. Today
me and pa go to the relief centers and get our checks.
Hopefully this will be enough to keep us alive long
enough to make it to California.
Eamon Barkhordarian
12/13/10
Period A & B
Navarro and Ichikawa

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
Navarro and Ichikawa

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