A week ago the Rose Scholars were visited by acclaimed author Jane Ziegelman who spoke to us about the time of the Great Depression and the importance of house wives during that troublesome situation. It was interesting how she began her talk by referring to the iconic photos of endless breadlines that would form for people to get food nationwide. Zielgelman explained that bread lines had been an iconic image in many European countries that were struggling with poverty as well. Also, it was shocking to note that many members of the middle class and upper middle class were opposed to receiving aid, especially in the form of rations or food stamps, because they felt embarrassed by it. Doctors, businessmen, and engineers were admirable professions of individuals that were suddenly out of a job because of the market crash and it lead to many family dynamic changes, from being well off to having just enough to survive. It caused me to wonder if the American mentality to always want more and be independent got in the way of people helping one another because they were too proud to receive help themselves. It is a very American mentality to be successful and take the credit all for oneself, which could have been why, even though half the country was struggling at the time, people were still embarrassed to ask for help in obtaining the simplest rations of food.

The Great Depression also brought about a new age of understanding what foods provided the most nutrients and could be preserved the longest. House wives were able to learn about various nutrition facts pertaining to healthy foods versus high caloric foods and learn the best ways to feed their families. I find it fascinating that usually, for there to be change in a community or nation, something has to occur that is typically harmful or inconvenient for everyone. Having an unemployment rate as high as 25% at one point, there was definitely reason for  people to seek out help from each other and the government to get through the state the country was in. Children were malnourished and adults could not find work to support their families. With this event however, proper eating habits, receiving the right amount of protein, and reaching out for help no matter what socioeconomic level someone is as all benefits that came about due to the Great Depression.

I was wonderful to have Ziegelman speak with us, especially seeing that she has really devoted much of her writing to capturing that time period in American history. I hope to read her novel one day to get a better look at what it was like for the people of the United States to overcome such adversities together. In a way, as distraught as our nation was at the time, it was a time period when everyone came together to help each other out, because there was nothing more that could be done but unite to overcome the harsh times.