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March 1937. "Four families, three of them related with 15 children, from the Dust Bowl in Texas in an overnight roadside camp near Calipatria, California." Photo by Dorothea Lange for the Resettlement Administration. View full size.
The little girl on mommy's lap looks more grumpy than heartbroken. For that matter, all the kids look like they need some quality time on that cot. Hope Ms. Lange didn't wake them up.
Calipatria in Summer is unbearably hot.
At an elevation of 184 feet (56 m) below sea level, Calipatria, California is the lowest elevation city in the western hemisphere.
Although most families displaced by the dustbowl and hard economic times had it rough, some apparently faired better than others. As opposed to other Shorpy submissions from the era, at least these boys are wearing shirts with their bib overalls and everyone has shoes!
The face of the little girl being held by her mother (sitting on the milkcan) is heartbreaking. It also looks like child #16 might be here soon.
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