Florence Owens Thompson
1903 – 1983

Florence Owens Thompson

Native-American farm worker, subject of Dorothea Lange's famous photo Migrant Mother (1903-1983)

farmworker
Born
1903-09-01, Indian Territory
Died
1983-09-16
Birthplace state
Oklahoma

Biography

Florence Owens Thompson was an American woman who was the subject of Dorothea Lange's photograph Migrant Mother (1936), considered an iconic image of the Great Depression. The Library of Congress titled the image: "Destitute pea pickers in California. Mother of seven children. Age thirty-two. Nipomo, California." Thompson was called the "Mona Lisa of the 1930s."

Occupation

Florence Owens Thompson is recorded as a farmworker, born in Oklahoma (1903–1983).

Connections to Oklahoma

Florence Owens Thompson was born in Indian Territory, Oklahoma in 1903. Explore other notable figures from Oklahoma, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Everything a full report reveals about Indian Territory

Florence Owens Thompson came from Indian Territory. A full Aubrey report on Indian Territory pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Florence Owens Thompson

Who was Florence Owens Thompson?
Florence Owens Thompson was Native-American farm worker, subject of Dorothea Lange's famous photo Migrant Mother (1903-1983), born in Oklahoma (1903 – 1983).
When and where was Florence Owens Thompson born?
Florence Owens Thompson was born on 1903-09-01 in Indian Territory.
When did Florence Owens Thompson die?
Florence died on 1983-09-16.
What was Florence Owens Thompson known for?
Florence Owens Thompson is recorded as a farmworker.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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