"Mrs. Melvin Rivers, some of her children and her father-in-law in their new relocation corporation farm to which they have moved just recently, near Orwell, New York."
I wonder where was Mr. Rivers? If he was lucky, perhaps he was newly employed at that corporation farm with a weekly paycheck to put food in their belly and shoes on their feet.
The great depression had dragged on into its 12th year, due in great part to the economic distortions under the New Deal enacted by President Roosevelt(D). Millions were still out of work. The economy was somewhat stabilized, but struggling. Soup kitchens and shanty towns were real hardships. There was no end in sight.
In Europe, the war was in its 2nd year. The German army & luftwaffe raged across the continent with impunity. Guys like my Dad had just turned 18. Their mothers were terrified they'd be drafted into another European war and killed.
Even though Roosevelt had promised to stay neutral in this conflict, they'd heard that lie 25 years earlier from Woodrow Wilson(D) before their own husbands, brothers, and fathers were shipped off to die in the trenches and forests of WWI.
Though no one knew for sure, many suspected war would soon again be a terrible reality for the USA. In just 2 short months from when this picture was made, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7th, and 5 days later, Germany declared war on the USA.
You see, in October 1941, no one demanded a safe space in which to transition into their sister's dress, then cry about the haters on twitter. They had other concerns.
(Medium format negative by Jack Delano)
More images at https://www.shorpy.com/
