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From Dust They Came: Government Camps and the Religion of Reform in New Deal California
The untold story of the federal government’s Depression-era effort to redeem Dust Bowl refugees in rural California through religion
In the midst of the Great Depression, punished by crippling drought and deepening poverty, hundreds of thousands of families left the Great Plains and the Southwest to look for work in California’s rich agricultural valleys. In response to the scene of destitute white families living in filthy shelters built of cardboard, twigs, and refuse, reform-minded New Deal officials built a series of camps to provide them with shelter and community.
Using the extensive archives of the federal migratory camp system, From Dust They Came tells the story of the religious dynamics in and around migratory farm labor camps in agricultural California established and operated by the Resettlement Administration and the Farm Security Administration. Jonathan H. Ebel makes the case that the camps served as mission sites for the conversion of migrants to more modern ways of living and believing. Though the ideas of virtuous citizenship put forward by the camp administrators were framed as secular, they rested on a foundation of Protestantism. At the same time, many of the migrants were themselves conservative or charismatic Protestants who had other ideas for how their religion intended them to be.
By looking at the camps as missionary spaces, Ebel shows that this New Deal program was animated both by humanitarian concern and by the belief that these poor, white migrants and their religious practices were unfit for life in a modernized, secular world. Innovative and compelling, From Dust They Came is the first book to reveal the braiding of secularism, religion, and modernity through and around the lives of Dust Bowl migrants and New Deal reformers.
In the midst of the Great Depression, punished by crippling drought and deepening poverty, hundreds of thousands of families left the Great Plains and the Southwest to look for work in California’s rich agricultural valleys. In response to the scene of destitute white families living in filthy shelters built of cardboard, twigs, and refuse, reform-minded New Deal officials built a series of camps to provide them with shelter and community.
Using the extensive archives of the federal migratory camp system, From Dust They Came tells the story of the religious dynamics in and around migratory farm labor camps in agricultural California established and operated by the Resettlement Administration and the Farm Security Administration. Jonathan H. Ebel makes the case that the camps served as mission sites for the conversion of migrants to more modern ways of living and believing. Though the ideas of virtuous citizenship put forward by the camp administrators were framed as secular, they rested on a foundation of Protestantism. At the same time, many of the migrants were themselves conservative or charismatic Protestants who had other ideas for how their religion intended them to be.
By looking at the camps as missionary spaces, Ebel shows that this New Deal program was animated both by humanitarian concern and by the belief that these poor, white migrants and their religious practices were unfit for life in a modernized, secular world. Innovative and compelling, From Dust They Came is the first book to reveal the braiding of secularism, religion, and modernity through and around the lives of Dust Bowl migrants and New Deal reformers.
- GenresHistory
448 pages, Hardcover
Published October 24, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 24, 2023
"From Dust They Came: Government Camps and the Religion of Reform in New Deal California" by Jonathan H. Ebel is a meticulously researched and eye-opening account of a little-known aspect of the Great Depression era in the United States. The book sheds light on the federal government's efforts to redeem Dust Bowl refugees in rural California through religion.
During the Great Depression, hundreds of thousands of families from the Great Plains and the Southwest migrated to California in search of work and relief from poverty caused by crippling drought. In response to the destitute living conditions of these families, the New Deal officials established a series of camps to provide them with shelter and community.
Drawing from the extensive archives of the federal migratory camp system, Jonathan H. Ebel explores the religious dynamics in and around these migratory farm labor camps. He argues that the camps became mission sites for the conversion of migrants to more modern ways of living and believing. While the camp administrators presented their ideas of virtuous citizenship as secular, they were deeply rooted in Protestantism. On the other hand, many of the migrants themselves were conservative or charismatic Protestants, and they held different ideas about their religious practices.
By examining the camps as missionary spaces, Ebel unveils the complex interplay between secularism, religion, and modernity during the New Deal era. The book presents a fascinating juxtaposition of humanitarian concern and the belief among reformers that the religious practices of these poor white migrants were not suitable for a modernized, secular society.
Ebel's research and analysis offer a fresh perspective on the New Deal program, highlighting how it sought to shape the lives of Dust Bowl migrants through both religious and secular lenses. The author's thorough exploration of historical documents and primary sources adds depth and credibility to the narrative, making "From Dust They Came" an important contribution to the understanding of this period in American history.
One of the book's strengths is its ability to bring attention to an overlooked chapter in the Great Depression narrative, exposing readers to the complexities of government relief efforts and their impact on vulnerable populations. Additionally, Ebel's writing style is engaging and accessible, making this scholarly work approachable for a broader audience interested in history, sociology, and religious studies.
However, it's worth noting that due to the book's specific focus on the religious dynamics of the New Deal era, it may be more appealing to readers with an academic interest in the subject. Those seeking a broader overview of the Great Depression or a more general historical account may find the book's narrow focus less engaging.
Overall, "From Dust They Came" is a significant and enlightening work that unearths the intertwining of religion, government relief efforts, and societal transformation during the Great Depression. Jonathan H. Ebel's meticulous research and insightful analysis make this book an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the complex web of influences that shaped the lives of Dust Bowl migrants and the broader impact of the New Deal in California.
During the Great Depression, hundreds of thousands of families from the Great Plains and the Southwest migrated to California in search of work and relief from poverty caused by crippling drought. In response to the destitute living conditions of these families, the New Deal officials established a series of camps to provide them with shelter and community.
Drawing from the extensive archives of the federal migratory camp system, Jonathan H. Ebel explores the religious dynamics in and around these migratory farm labor camps. He argues that the camps became mission sites for the conversion of migrants to more modern ways of living and believing. While the camp administrators presented their ideas of virtuous citizenship as secular, they were deeply rooted in Protestantism. On the other hand, many of the migrants themselves were conservative or charismatic Protestants, and they held different ideas about their religious practices.
By examining the camps as missionary spaces, Ebel unveils the complex interplay between secularism, religion, and modernity during the New Deal era. The book presents a fascinating juxtaposition of humanitarian concern and the belief among reformers that the religious practices of these poor white migrants were not suitable for a modernized, secular society.
Ebel's research and analysis offer a fresh perspective on the New Deal program, highlighting how it sought to shape the lives of Dust Bowl migrants through both religious and secular lenses. The author's thorough exploration of historical documents and primary sources adds depth and credibility to the narrative, making "From Dust They Came" an important contribution to the understanding of this period in American history.
One of the book's strengths is its ability to bring attention to an overlooked chapter in the Great Depression narrative, exposing readers to the complexities of government relief efforts and their impact on vulnerable populations. Additionally, Ebel's writing style is engaging and accessible, making this scholarly work approachable for a broader audience interested in history, sociology, and religious studies.
However, it's worth noting that due to the book's specific focus on the religious dynamics of the New Deal era, it may be more appealing to readers with an academic interest in the subject. Those seeking a broader overview of the Great Depression or a more general historical account may find the book's narrow focus less engaging.
Overall, "From Dust They Came" is a significant and enlightening work that unearths the intertwining of religion, government relief efforts, and societal transformation during the Great Depression. Jonathan H. Ebel's meticulous research and insightful analysis make this book an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the complex web of influences that shaped the lives of Dust Bowl migrants and the broader impact of the New Deal in California.
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May 13, 2024From our pages (winter/24): During the Great Depression, thousands of families from the Great Plains and Southwest sought work in California. New Deal government officials built camps to provide shelter and community; they also used the camps to reinforce the values of modern citizenship. Though rooted in Protestantism, these values were often at odds with the migrants’ more conservative Protestant beliefs and revivalist practices. Considering the camps as missionary spaces, religion professor Jonathan H. Ebel asks how secularism, religion, and modernity became enmeshed after this migration.
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https://mag.uchicago.edu/university-n...
September 5, 2025
Spatial organization!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews