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The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn to grip the country, starting in October 1929 and lasting for almost a decade. After the stock market crashed, Chicagoans dealt with vast unemployment, food shortages and rampant homelessness. In this photo, panic ensued as hundreds of investors milled about the New York Stock Exchange (the building is at right) after the stock market crashed Oct. 29, 1929.
The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn to grip the country, starting in October 1929 and lasting for almost a decade. After the stock market crashed, Chicagoans dealt with vast unemployment, food shortages and rampant homelessness. In this photo, panic ensued as hundreds of investors milled about the New York Stock Exchange (the building is at right) after the stock market crashed Oct. 29, 1929.
Men wait in a soup line during the Great Depression in the 1930s.
Men wait in a soup line during the Great Depression in the 1930s.
The homeless sleep under West Adams Street in 1931 Chicago.
The homeless sleep under West Adams Street in 1931 Chicago.
An unemployment march heads past Sangamon and Monroe streets in 1932 Chicago.
An unemployment march heads past Sangamon and Monroe streets in 1932 Chicago.
Wilfred Holmes takes a bath, feet first, in an area dubbed “Hoboland” in 1931 Chicago.
Police on horseback keep crowds moving past the New York Stock Exchange building in October 1929 as the market suffered losses leading to the Great Depression.
Police on horseback keep crowds moving past the New York Stock Exchange building in October 1929 as the market suffered losses leading to the Great Depression.
Police were called to keep order in New York's financial district on Oct. 30, 1929, after speculators lost billions of dollars on a record-breaking day of crashing prices.
Police were called to keep order in New York’s financial district on Oct. 30, 1929, after speculators lost billions of dollars on a record-breaking day of crashing prices.
Depression-stricken residents on South State Street lined up in front of a butcher shop for free meat, bread and potatoes, circa 1931.
Depression-stricken residents on South State Street lined up in front of a butcher shop for free meat, bread and potatoes, circa 1931.
A group of unemployed people meet at Monroe and Sangamon streets in January 1932 during the Great Depression.
A group of unemployed people meet at Monroe and Sangamon streets in January 1932 during the Great Depression.
The scene at a lodging house on North Union Avenue in November 1930, where homeless men were grateful for cots and floor space as the Chicago temperatures dropped near zero.
The scene at a lodging house on North Union Avenue in November 1930, where homeless men were grateful for cots and floor space as the Chicago temperatures dropped near zero.
Employees of the Board of Education apply for payment of their salaries in scrip in 1931. Janitors, engineers, teachers, clerks and building contractors clamored for a chance to fill out their applications for the paper, over which long and bitter battles were waged. The applications were received in temporary quarters in the Steuben Club Building.
Employees of the Board of Education apply for payment of their salaries in scrip in 1931. Janitors, engineers, teachers, clerks and building contractors clamored for a chance to fill out their applications for the paper, over which long and bitter battles were waged. The applications were received in temporary quarters in the Steuben Club Building.
A sale of cakes, pies and pastries at Eli Whitney School was held to raise $300 for a Chicago School Children's Aid Society drive to buy shoes during the Great Depression. All the food was donated by the parents of the students.
A sale of cakes, pies and pastries at Eli Whitney School was held to raise $300 for a Chicago School Children’s Aid Society drive to buy shoes during the Great Depression. All the food was donated by the parents of the students.
A crowd of children and the unemployed march to the office of Chicago Public Schools Superintendent William Bogan demanding free food in 1932. Approximately 400 people congregated March 26, 1932, at Congress Street near State Street, opposite the Kelly Building in which the school board had its offices. They bore signs labeled: “We want bread,” and there was some singing and shouting. Bogen said he sympathized with the men but declared that the school board was powerless to do anything about the unemployment situation.
H. Hendricks, an unemployed veteran, earns money on Wells Street selling apples for a nickel to Miss Mary Bolan in December 1930. That year, the International Apple Shippers Association had an oversupply of fruit and decided to empty its warehouses by selling apples on credit to the unemployed. Vendors with crates of apples on city street corners became common during The Great Depression.
H. Hendricks, an unemployed veteran, earns money on Wells Street selling apples for a nickel to Miss Mary Bolan in December 1930. That year, the International Apple Shippers Association had an oversupply of fruit and decided to empty its warehouses by selling apples on credit to the unemployed. Vendors with crates of apples on city street corners became common during The Great Depression.
The Immanuel Baptist Church provides meals to the unemployed on Thanksgiving Day in 1929.
The Immanuel Baptist Church provides meals to the unemployed on Thanksgiving Day in 1929.
A group of more than 10,000 marched through the Loop in March 1934 seeking work relief. A delegation was later sent to City Hall with a petition.
A group of more than 10,000 marched through the Loop in March 1934 seeking work relief. A delegation was later sent to City Hall with a petition.
These men were among 200 put to work in November 1933 to make improvements to Clinton and Hohman streets as part of a public works project.
These men were among 200 put to work in November 1933 to make improvements to Clinton and Hohman streets as part of a public works project.
Two men eat cake and coffee at a 10 cent flop house at 616 W. Adams St. in Chicago in 1931.
Two men eat cake and coffee at a 10 cent flop house at 616 W. Adams St. in Chicago in 1931.
The cold weather made the street sleepers rush to the Desplaines Street police station Nov. 30, 1929, to seek warmth, even though the floor was hard. Approximately 400 men slept at the station.
The cold weather made the street sleepers rush to the Desplaines Street police station Nov. 30, 1929, to seek warmth, even though the floor was hard. Approximately 400 men slept at the station.
Thousands of unemployed people parade through the Loop and gather at Grant Park to hear speakers in October 1932.
Thousands of unemployed people parade through the Loop and gather at Grant Park to hear speakers in October 1932.
An unemployment rally at Sangamon and Monroe streets in 1932 Chicago.
An unemployment rally at Sangamon and Monroe streets in 1932 Chicago.
Formerly unemployed men from a shelter put seeds in packets at 330 S. Market St. on May 11, 1932, to be distributed to relief stations throughout the city, where they will be given to those who plant gardens. Twelve thousand pounds of onion sets were purchased at cost by the Joint Emergency Relief Fund and are being sorted into packets.
Formerly unemployed men from a shelter put seeds in packets at 330 S. Market St. on May 11, 1932, to be distributed to relief stations throughout the city, where they will be given to those who plant gardens. Twelve thousand pounds of onion sets were purchased at cost by the Joint Emergency Relief Fund and are being sorted into packets.
People rally for jobs and in support of unions in Chicago in 1930.
People rally for jobs and in support of unions in Chicago in 1930.
Mayor William Hale Thompson poses next to baskets of Christmas cheer for the poor at Polk Street and Marshfield Avenue in December 1930. The baskets were donated by Joseph Savage and the 25th Ward Republican Club.
Mayor William Hale Thompson poses next to baskets of Christmas cheer for the poor at Polk Street and Marshfield Avenue in December 1930. The baskets were donated by Joseph Savage and the 25th Ward Republican Club.
Coffee and frankfurters were fed to Chicago's unemployed at the Mission of the Holy Cross in January 1930. Food was donated by Anton J. Cermak, then president of the Cook County Board. The mission was at Des Plaines and Randolph streets.
Coffee and frankfurters were fed to Chicago’s unemployed at the Mission of the Holy Cross in January 1930. Food was donated by Anton J. Cermak, then president of the Cook County Board. The mission was at Des Plaines and Randolph streets.
Unemployed men staying at a lodging house on West Austin Street forgot their troubles briefly when they joined radio entertainers in song for a special program.
Unemployed men staying at a lodging house on West Austin Street forgot their troubles briefly when they joined radio entertainers in song for a special program.
Jack Harris, 10, left, and Truman “Pat” Kirkpatrick, 16, of the Oak Park Boy Scouts, play music in their tree fort as they compete for the tree sitting endurance record in July 1930. The boys spent 115 hours in an oak tree in Kilpatrick’s backyard, which earned them $4.50 each during the Great Depression.
The needy are served at the Chicago United Mission at 34 S. Desplaines St. in 1931 Chicago.
The needy are served at the Chicago United Mission at 34 S. Desplaines St. in 1931 Chicago.
Men employed by the Civil Works Administration cheered as the U.S. flag was lowered at the close of their workday in Chicago in 1934.
Men employed by the Civil Works Administration cheered as the U.S. flag was lowered at the close of their workday in Chicago in 1934.
Unemployed men from Highland Park and Highwood are given an opportunity to work on a woodpile maintained by a social service organization in 1933, during the Great Depression. They were given groceries, clothing and other necessities in return for the wood they cut.
Unemployed men from Highland Park and Highwood are given an opportunity to work on a woodpile maintained by a social service organization in 1933, during the Great Depression. They were given groceries, clothing and other necessities in return for the wood they cut.
A Chicago police officer patrols a line of eager job seekers at the Humboldt Park registration station at the Civil Works Administration in the dark and jobless days of 1933.
A Chicago police officer patrols a line of eager job seekers at the Humboldt Park registration station at the Civil Works Administration in the dark and jobless days of 1933.
Veterans of World War I who waited for the government to furnish them jobs turned to selling apples to survive during the Great Depression in 1930.
Veterans of World War I who waited for the government to furnish them jobs turned to selling apples to survive during the Great Depression in 1930.
The crowd exceeded 5,000 unemployed people during an August 1933 hunger march in Chicago's Loop, where people demanded work instead of relief. (Chicago Herald and Examiner photo)
The crowd exceeded 5,000 unemployed people during an August 1933 hunger march in Chicago’s Loop, where people demanded work instead of relief. (Chicago Herald and Examiner photo)