A look back at the 1930s in South Carolina is a somber view of life during and after the Great Depression. Life was both hard and hardening in this era in the Palmetto State. Some people may remember that time, while others only hear the stories of hardship that have been passed down through generations. Below are some rare and candid photos that document the decade.
- A fisherman on the dock oils his pants to help make then waterproof.
Photogrammar/Marion Post Wolcott/LOC/LC-USF34-050749 Charleston. Christmas Day, 1938.
- A store front in a sad state of disrepair in Charleston.
Photogrammar/Walker Evans/LOC/LC-USF342-T01-008046 Charleston, 1936.
- Children on a fence watching as the farm hogs are tended to.
Photogrammar/Marion Post Wolcott/LOC/LC-USF34-051929 Summerton, June, 1939.
- A candid shot of a sharecropper in the Upstate.
Photogrammar/Dorothea Lange/LOC/LC-USF34-018135 Chesney, 1937.
- A group of people strolling through Middleton Plantation.
YouTube/Daniel Reynolds Charleston, 1930s.
- Men loading tobacco.
Facebook/The South Carolina Historical Society Conway, 1938.
- The men of the CCC hard at work building Oconee State Park.
Facebook/Oconee History Museum Date: mid-1930s.
- Trying to make the best of a lazy afternoon.
Photogrammar/Dorothea Lange/LOC/LC-USF34-018113 Gaffney, 1937.
- A shack with advertising posted on the side.
Photogrammar/Marion Post Wolcott/LOC/LC-USF34-050574 Summerville, December, 1938.
- A man calling out along the street that he has fresh shrimp for sale.
YouTube/Daniel Reynolds Charleston, 1930s.To see some rare footage of Charleston in the 1930’s watch this vintage video from YouTube user Daniel Reynolds:
Do you have memories from this era, or do you recall tales passed down through generations in your family? Feel free to share them in our comments!
Photogrammar/Marion Post Wolcott/LOC/LC-USF34-050749
Charleston. Christmas Day, 1938.
Photogrammar/Walker Evans/LOC/LC-USF342-T01-008046
Charleston, 1936.
Photogrammar/Marion Post Wolcott/LOC/LC-USF34-051929
Summerton, June, 1939.
Photogrammar/Dorothea Lange/LOC/LC-USF34-018135
Chesney, 1937.
YouTube/Daniel Reynolds
Charleston, 1930s.
Facebook/The South Carolina Historical Society
Conway, 1938.
Facebook/Oconee History Museum
Date: mid-1930s.
Photogrammar/Dorothea Lange/LOC/LC-USF34-018113
Gaffney, 1937.
Photogrammar/Marion Post Wolcott/LOC/LC-USF34-050574
Summerville, December, 1938.
Charleston, 1930s.To see some rare footage of Charleston in the 1930’s watch this vintage video from YouTube user Daniel Reynolds:
For more rare photos from South Carolina’s past, keep reading with this photo archive of South Carolina’s cotton mill history and these 21 photos from the Great Depression.
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