The 1930s were undoubtedly a tough time in Mississippi. The entire country was feeling the effects of the Great Depression; not to mention the state was dealing with its own ongoing racial issues. Struggles plagued the daily lives of residents, which meant that the expansive estates that had become synonymous with Mississippi were no longer a priority. From desolate farm houses to cramped living quarters, these 15 homes will really open your eyes to how different (and difficult) times once were in Mississippi.

1. Taken in August of 1935, this spacious five-room Meridian home was definitely not standard at the time. In fact, many families were forced to live in much more restricted quarters.
Arthur Rothstein/Library of Congress
2. A Lauderdale County residence, complete with a garage, is photographed in 1935.
Arthur Rothstein/Library of Congress
3. This quaint home was photographed in Tupelo in the summer of 1935.
Arthur Rothstein/Library of Congress
4. Residents of a Hattiesburg home spend a summer afternoon on their front porch.
Arthur Rothstein/Library of Congress
5. Deteriorating homes, such as this Natchez dwelling, were not an uncommon sight at the time.
Ben Shahn/ Library of Congress
6. Taken during the midst of the Great Depression, this large Waveland home had probably seen better days.
Walker Evans/Library of Congress
7. During the 1930s, housing quarters, such as these in Vicksburg, were standard accommodations for many African-Americans.
Walker Evans/Library of Congress

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8. Although it may look dilapidated, the condition of this Tupelo home was typical of the time.
Walker Evans/Library of Congress
9. Lining a Vicksburg street, these small homes were the norm for many.
Walker Evans/Library of Congress
10. A Vicksburg plantation is in poor shape, which can most likely be attributed to the state of the economy.
Walker Evans/Library of Congress
11. The cabin of a cotton farmer sits in a desolate Delta field.
Dorothea Lange/Library of Congress
12. During the summer of 1937, a sharecropper’s wife is photographed in front of her home.
Dorothea Lange/ Library of Congress
13. In exchange for his labor, this farmer was provided with living accommodations and paid a rate of $1 a day.
Dorothea Lange/Library of Congress
14. An interior shot of a Laurel home serves as the perfect depiction of how simple times were.
Russell Lee/Library of Congress
15. Antioch resident Mot Tucker is photographed in the kitchen of his “corncrib” home.
Russell Lee/Library of Congress

What did you think of these vintage photos? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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