Evaluating migratory camps and cultural landscapes from the age of displacement, 1930–1945

Abstract

The 1930s was a time of strife, uncertainty, and movement in the United States. As a result of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl, impromptu communities – both lasting and fleeting – seemingly appeared overnight in much of the country’s western and southwestern regions. Increased demand for housing forced the government to fund migratory camps for the destitute. Although some settlements were ephemeral and abandoned after this age of displacement, others continue to retain their integrity and convey their significance today. These camps stand as testaments to the thousands of migrants who sought refuge in their shelters and communities during an epoch of increased individualism. Using two Farm Security Administration (FSA) camps as case studies, this paper examines the history of the Dust Bowl migration, the proliferation of migratory camps, and the nuances of their potential eligibility. Arvin Federal Migratory Labor Camp retains integrity, conveys its significance, and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places and California Register of Historical Resources. Contrastingly, Shafter Federal Migratory Camp has been dramatically altered over the last eight decades. The only remnants of this camp are the concrete foundations alluding to a double-hexagonal plan. The different conditions of these camps evidence the need for preservation stewardship.