The archaeology of poverty and human dignity: charity and the work ethic in a 1930s Depression era itinerant's camp on the Toowoomba Range escarpment, Queensland
Article
Article Title | The archaeology of poverty and human dignity: charity and the work ethic in a 1930s Depression era itinerant's camp on the Toowoomba Range escarpment, Queensland |
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ERA Journal ID | 34892 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Barker, Bryce (Author) and Lamb, Lara (Author) |
Journal Title | Archaeologies: journal of the World Archaeological Congress |
Journal Citation | 5 (2), pp. 263-279 |
Number of Pages | 17 |
Year | 2009 |
Place of Publication | New York, USA |
ISSN | 1555-8622 |
1935-3987 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11759-009-9101-4 |
Web Address (URL) | http://springerlink.metapress.com/content/qt321u0l4813104k/fulltext.pdf |
Abstract | This paper outlines the ethnohistory and archaeology of a Great Depression camp for unemployed men, established at Toowoomba, Queensland, in 1932. The camp was self sufficient and highly ordered. We interpret the material signature of the camp as a symbol of main-stream middle-class Australian values. Thus the camp is also a material symbol of the work ethic central at this time to notions of human dignity, respect and the moral development of individuals. We conclude that the archaeology of the camp demonstrates a strong work ethic among the ‘inmates’ and a degree of visible charity enabled by the historical concept of the ‘deserving poor’. |
Keywords | Australia; Great Depression; deserving poor; work ethic; unemployment; homeless |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 439999. Other history, heritage and archaeology not elsewhere classified |
440107. Social and cultural anthropology | |
430302. Australian history | |
Public Notes | File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author. |
Byline Affiliations | School of Humanities and Communication |
Centre for Heritage and Culture |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/9z2z9/the-archaeology-of-poverty-and-human-dignity-charity-and-the-work-ethic-in-a-1930s-depression-era-itinerant-s-camp-on-the-toowoomba-range-escarpment-queensland
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