Dinner with the Wardlow Family in 1939

In October 1939, New Deal photographer Dorothea Lange travelled to Malheur County, Oregon. She met the Wardlow Family and documented a typical Sunday afternoon. 85 years later, you can view their day, complete with church, cooking, and dinner.

Mr. and Mrs. Wardlow at entrance to their dugout basement home

The Wardlow Family were Quakers. They belonged to the Friends Church. Mrs. Wardlow is the lady in the white hat.

All the members of the congregation

Mrs. Wardlow after church services.

Mrs. Wardlow preparing dinner.

The Wardlow family in their dugout basement home on Sunday. The youngest boy copies out a recipe for his mother.

Mrs. Wardlow has 500 quarts of food in her dugout cellar.

The Wardlow Family at dinner

These photos and more can all be found on the Library of Congress website. Click here: Library of Congress