Migrant workers to Barrien, Michigan made the best of their lives under difficult living conditions in 1940. These photographs taken by photo/journalists John Vachon reveal what their lives were like. Photographs show migrant agricultural workers, and families from Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas harvesting cherries and strawberries. They lived in miserable housing in company shacks, cabins, tents, trucks, abandoned farm buildings, small children in fields with parents. A nursery school was operated by the Women’s Council for Home Missions.

Teacher telling story to migrant children in nursery school run by Women’s Council for Home Missions. Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Children of migrant fruit workers in nursery school run by Women’s Council for Home Missions. Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Old barn on property of fruit grower is used as a bunkhouse for migrant cherry pickers. Berrien County, Michigan

Migrant family from Tennessee camped in field on outskirts of town, about two blocks from water supply. Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Migrant fruit worker and sons living in rear of truck during cherry picking season. Berrien County, Michigan 1940

 

Pump for migrant fruit workers living in nine one-room cabins adjoining packing house. Berrien County, Michigan 1940

 

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Mother of migrant fruit picking family doing family wash in roadside camp where fifteen farmers are living. Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Migrant couple living in one room of abandoned house on property of fruit grower. Berrien County, Michigan 1940

About twelve single men, migrant fruit workers, live in this old barn on property of Berrien County, Michigan, fruit grower 1940

Interior of one-room cabin occupied by migrant fruit pickers and packing house workers. Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Migrant girls working in cherry canning plant, Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Migrant girls working in cherry canning plant, Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Migrant girls working in cherry canning plant, Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Migrant girls working in cherry canning plant, Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Migrant fruit workers in town on Saturday night. Millburg, Michigan

Migrant fruit workers in town on Saturday night. Millburg, Michigan 1940

 

Migrant fruit workers come to town on Saturday night for a free open air movie sponsored by the local merchants who remain open for business. Millburg, Michigan 1940

Migrant fruit workers watching open air movie given by local merchants who remain open for business. Millburg, Michigan 1940

Two policemen on the main street Saturday night when all the migrants come to town. Millburg, Michigan 1940

Children of migrant fruit workers. Berrien County, Michigan. Children of this age are an asset to parents during berry picking season 1940

Migrant fruit workers. Berrien County, Michigan. One family has been on the road eighteen years, the other the past five years 1940

Rear of truck occupied by three children of migrant family from Arkansas. The parents sleep in a small tent. Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Daughter of migrant fruit worker in cabin (one room) which rents for one dollar and seventy-five cents a week. Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Migrant fruit worker from Arkansas. He says his oldest boy can do as much in a day picking cherries as a man. Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Migrant fruit worker. He has a toothache, and is using an ice-pack made of old inner-tube. Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Migrant father and sons living in back of truck in fruit pickers camp. Berrien County, Michigan. The two older boys work with their father picking cherries 1940

Old barn used as bunkhouse for migrant fruit pickers from the South. This grower employed only unmarried blacks. Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Migrant fruit worker living in cabin owned by packing house for which he works. Rent one dollar and seventy-five cents a week. Berrien County, Michigan 1940

Wife of migrant fruit picker. They live in a one-room windowless shack on property of grower. Berrien County, Michigan

Wife of migrant fruit picker. They live in a one-room windowless shack on property of grower. Berrien County, Michigan

Faith and Courage: A Novel of Colonial America (Tapestry of Love) (Volume 2) by author Donna R Causey

In this action packed novel depicting true events the family saga continues with Ambrose Dixon’s family. Faith and Courage presents the desperate means for survival on the Eastern Shore of Virginia and the religious persecution of Quakers in Pre-Revolutionary War days of America