Unemployed Collection

Jarrow Crusade
Unemployed from Jarrow during their Hunger march to London Date: October 1936

An unemployed lumberjack with his wife in a migrant workers camp for the bean harvest, Marion County, Oregon
OREGON: LUMBERJACK, 1939. An unemployed lumberjack with his wife in a migrant workers camp for the bean harvest, Marion County, Oregon. The man has his social security number tattooed on his arm

Labour Candidates
Labour candidates. - A postcard with a dual meaning, both a satire on potential Labour Party MPs and three down and out men all of whom are good candidates as labourers. Date: circa 1900s

Unemployed miners, Cilfynydd, Pontypridd
Unemployed miners at Cilfynydd near Pontypridd in South Wales. They watch the buckets tipping slag in case any lumps of coal can be found. Date: circa 1936

Salvation Army elevator
Men at work sorting waste paper in a Salvation Army Elevator. Elevators, which aimed to help the unskilled or unemployed, combined a factory space together with hostel accommodation for those working

The Bottle, 1847. Artist: George Cruikshank
The Bottle, 1847; showing an interior domestic scene with the father sitting in front of the fire smoking having been discharged from his employment because of his drunkeness

Gladstone out of a Job
Defeated in the July 1886 election because of his backing for Irish Home Rule, Gladstone and his supporters find themselves among the unemployed, eating Irish stew

A young man applying for a job
5616097 A young man applying for a job; (add.info.: Illustration depicting a young man applying, unsuccessfully, for a job. Dated 19th Century. 01/01/1890); Universal History Archive/UIG.

Here and There: Or, Emigration a Remedy': Cartoon from 'Punch', London, 1848
527865 Here and There: Or, Emigration a Remedy': Cartoon from 'Punch', London, 1848, contrasting the misery of the poorly paid or unemployed British worker with the happiness

The Poor Man's Friend': Cartoon by John Leech from 'Punch', London, February 1845
527863 The Poor Man's Friend': Cartoon by John Leech from 'Punch', London, February 1845, showing Death as the friend of the old or sick unemployed manual labourer

Green Park, London, 1908 (pastel on board)
650733 Green Park, London, 1908 (pastel on board) by Shinn, Everett (1876-1953); 35.6x45.7 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Green Park, London. Everett Shinn (1876-1953). Pastel on board

Soup vouchers being given out to the unemployed of London. 1886 (engraving)
5615931 Soup vouchers being given out to the unemployed of London. 1886 (engraving); Universal History Archive/UIG.

The Unemployed in the mid 19th century. From Bibby's Annual published 1910
2638476 The Unemployed in the mid 19th century. From Bibby's Annual published 1910.; Private Collection; Photo © Hilary Morgan.

The Back Wynd (#48), Printed 1900. Creator: Thomas Annan
The Back Wynd (#48), Printed 1900

Distress in London - Unemployed waiting at a Soup Kitchen, 1886. Creator: Unknown
Distress in London - Unemployed waiting at a Soup Kitchen, 1886. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 33. January to June, 1886"

The Distress in the East End of London, 1886. Creator: Unknown
The Distress in the East End of London, 1886. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 33. January to June, 1886"

Trafalgar Square during the meetings of the Unemployed and the Social Democrats, 1886. Creator: Unknown
Trafalgar Square during the meetings of the Unemployed and the Social Democrats, 1886. From "The Graphic. An Illustrated Weekly Newspaper Volume 33. January to June, 1886"

Jacob General Coxey Speaking On The Steps of Capitol, 1914. Creator: Harris & Ewing
Jacob General Coxey Speaking On The Steps of Capitol, 1914. US politician Jacob S. Coxey Sr. led "Coxey's Army", a march to Washington, D.C

Warehouse used as distributing office for FSA relief grants, Bakersfield, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Warehouse used as distributing office for Farm Security Administration (FSA) relief grants of commodities to destitute farm labor families. Bakersfield, California

Two families of migrants from Missouri looking for work in the pea fields, California, 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Two families of migrants from Missouri looking for work in the pea fields. California

Texas tenant farmers who have been displaced from their land by tractor farming, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Texas tenant farmers who have been displaced from their land by tractor farming

Family of four to be returned to Oklahoma by the Relief Administration, Holtville, California, 1937
Family of four to be returned to Oklahoma by the Relief Administration. "They won't go until they get so hungry that there's nothing else for them to do

Waiting for relief checks, Calipatria, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Waiting for relief checks. Calipatria, California

Men on "Skid Row", Modesto, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Men on "Skid Row." Modesto, California

Destitute farm labor families come to FSA distributing depot... Kern County, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Destitute farm labor families come to Farm Security Administration (FSA) distributing depot to apply for food grant. Kern County, California

On the steps of the bank in the public square, Memphis, Texas, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
On the steps of the bank in the public square. Memphis, Texas

Men on "Skid Row", Modesto, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Men on "Skid Row." Modesto, California

Idle men attend the morning movies, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Idle men attend the morning movies. There are three such movies in one block. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. ['Air cooled cinema showing "Desert Guns" starring Conway Tearle

Destitute farm families, FSA distributing depot, Bakersfield, Kern County, California, 1938. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Destitute farm families come to FSA (Farm Security Administration) distributing depot to apply for food grant. Bakersfield, Kern County, California

Employment agency, San Francisco, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Employment agency. San Francisco

Unemployed men on Howard Street, San Francisco, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Unemployed men on Howard Street. San Francisco, California

Unemployed men on Howard Street, San Francisco, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Unemployed men on Howard Street. San Francisco, California

Scene along "Skid Row", Howard Street, San Francisco, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Scene along "Skid Row." Howard Street, San Francisco, California

Skid Row, Howard Street, San Francisco, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Skid Row. Howard Street. San Francisco, California

Skid Row, Howard Street, the street of the unemployed in San Francisco, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Skid Row. Howard Street, the street of the unemployed in San Francisco, California

Employment agency on Howard Street, San Francisco, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Employment agency on Howard Street. San Francisco, California

Howard Street, called "Skid Row, " the street of the unemployed in San Francisco, California, 1937
Howard Street, called "Skid Row, " the street of the unemployed in San Francisco, California

Skid Row, Howard Street, San Francisco, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Skid Row. Howard Street, San Francisco, California

Skid Row, Howard Street, San Francisco, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Skid Row. Howard Street, San Francisco, California

Unemployed men sitting on the sunny side of the San Francisco Public Library, California, 1937. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Unemployed men sitting on the sunny side of the San Francisco Public Library. California

On the sun side of the shed, Transient men, San Francisco, California, 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
On the sun side of the shed. Transient men, San Francisco, California

Migrant family from Oklahoma in Texas, alongside the road, 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Migrant family from Oklahoma in Texas. A family of six alongside the road. An example of how they fall between the relief agencies

Migrant family from Oklahoma in Texas, alongside the road, 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Migrant family from Oklahoma in Texas. A family of six alongside the road. An example of how they fall between the relief agencies

Migrant family from Oklahoma in Texas, alongside the road, 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Migrant family from Oklahoma in Texas. A family of six alongside the road. An example of how they fall between the relief agencies

Shack in "Little Oklahoma", California, 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Shack in "Little Oklahoma." Lots 50 x 150, cost one hundred and twenty to two hundred dollars. Bought on hope and sold on promises. No work since last fall

Destitute family, American River camp, near Sacramento, California. 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Destitute family. American River camp. Five children aged two to seventeen. Near Sacramento California. [Sign: "I must have work or food"]

Destitute family, American River camp, Sacramento, California. 1936. Creator: Dorothea Lange
Destitute family. American River camp, Sacramento, California. Five children, aged two to seventeen years

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"Unemployed: A Historical Perspective on Struggles and Resilience" In the midst of economic turmoil, the Jarrow Crusade emerged as a symbol of hope. Unemployed men from Jarrow marched to London in 1936, demanding jobs and justice for their community. The haunting image captured by Dorothea Lange in 1939 portrays an unemployed lumberjack and his wife seeking refuge in a migrant workers camp during the bean harvest. His tattooed social security number serves as a constant reminder of their struggle for survival. Labour candidates have long championed the rights individuals, recognizing their plight. The sight miners in Cilfynydd, Pontypridd reminds us that entire communities were affected by joblessness. During times of despair, organizations like the Salvation Army provided support systems. Their elevators lifted spirits along with providing practical assistance to those facing unemployment. A glimpse into Little Italy's Mulberry Street circa 1890 reveals how even immigrant communities faced unemployment challenges. Yet amidst adversity, they found strength through unity and resilience. George Cruikshank's artwork "The Bottle" from 1847 depicts one man's descent into alcoholism due to unemployment—a stark reminder that joblessness can lead to devastating consequences if left unaddressed. Even prominent figures like Gladstone experienced periods without employment. This serves as a reminder that no one is immune to economic downturns or unexpected career setbacks. Inter-war military posters emphasized the importance of re-employment after service—an issue faced by many veterans returning home after conflict ended—highlighting society's responsibility towards its heroes' livelihoods. Liverpool during Victorian times witnessed high levels of unemployment among its population. These struggles paved the way for future labor movements fighting for fair wages and better working conditions. People's March for Jobs petitions in 1981 and Midlands People Campaigns in 1982 demonstrated collective efforts against rising unemployment rates during Thatcher-era Britain. These movements demanded government action and support for the jobless.