State Historical Society of Iowa

Heavy Black Clouds of Dust Over Texas Panhandle, March 1936

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, Rothstein, Arthur, "Heavy black clouds of dust rising over the Texas Panhandle, Texas," March 1936

Description

This 1936 photograph taken by Arthur Rothstein on the Texas panhandle depicts a very heavy black cloud of dust behind a single car driving on a country road with its headlights on. The Texas panhandle was one of the areas most severely impacted by the Dust Bowl.

Source Dependent Questions

  • Look closely at the photo. What are the most significant features? How do these features help you understand the Dust Bowl?
  • What could you compare the approaching dust storm to? How/Why? Explain your comparison using evidence from the photo.
  • What type of emotional response did the photographer intend to evoke with this photo? What about this photo makes it especially powerful? Use evidence from the photo to explain your thinking.
  • Create your own caption for this well-known photo. Justify your creation using evidence from the photo.
  • Select one headline from the "Dust Storm Headline Montage" that fits best with this photo. Use evidence from the photo to justify your selection.

Citation Information

Rothstein, Arthur, "Heavy black clouds of dust rising over the Texas Panhandle, Texas," March 1936. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress