Homesteaders Show Off Their Claim Shacks

Just Me, My Shack, and My Guitar

Personalized postcards became a fad in the early 20^th century; you could get any photo printed on photo paper stock and send it in the mail. The following are postcards of homesteaders in front of their new residences in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana, taken between 1907 to 1920. The subjects are dressed in their finest garments; they sent the cards to family members in other parts of the country to show off their new lives.

Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.
A Humble, but Solid Home

The Homestead Act enabled Americans to claim 160 acres of undeveloped public land for free if they could live there for five years and “improve” it. Improving it required building something. Most chose to construct tar paper shacks because they were cheap and easy to build. Others turned to sod because it was plentiful and free.

Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.
Opportunities for Women

Homesteading created an opportunity for women to own property for the first time. Many even built their own homes. Out West on these big, undeveloped expanses of land, they could start over, relatively free from scrutiny. “There are stories of lesbians going on homesteads together,” says Michael Williams, who has collected thousands of homesteader postcards over the years. “It was this really unusual gathering of people.”
Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.
A Postcard From a Teacher

The message on the back of this card reads:

“Dear Friend, Your card received but did not know your address. I heard you were back teaching in W.B. I am teaching in my second school [sic] already. They offered me more in Nowlin so I took it. This is Maud’s place and my cows and horses. Yours sincerely, Harriet.”

Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.
Lonely Handsome Man, Side A

“Here in this little house I have lived in almost five years all alone ha ha. This is a picture of my little homestead house and me on my honey and also my little colt, …”

(You can see the front of this card in the next slide.)

Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.
Lonely Handsome Man, Side B

“But I am sorry to say you cannot see my handsome face,” the message goes on. “The picture is to [sp] dark you see. I will send you a good picture of myself soon as I can.”

Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.
Home on the Prairie, Side A

“This is my home on the Prairie. What do you think of the picture and what I call home?”

Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.
Home on the Prairie, Side B

These images are all printed on the same type of paper, but the photos are of variable quality. Some were likely taken by professional, traveling photographers while others were taken by family members with the new low-cost Brownie cardboard box camera, which made photography more accessible.

Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.
A Terrible Winter

The message on the back of this card reads:

“We are having a terrible winter. Snow! Snow! And from 20 to 60 below zero. We are having a fierce blizzard now that has raged for 72 hr’s and no sign of letting up yet. We are all well and have lots to eat and will just wait till the snow settles. Write soon.”

Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.
Mansion Is a Relative Term

“Arthur by his ‘mansion’ on the plains of Wyo.”

Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.
Another Proud Homesteader Circa 1909

Homesteading offered an unusual opportunity for laborers and recent immigrants to acquire property. But many could not afford to “improve” the property and homesteading was not as successful an experiment as had been anticipated, at least during its first few decades. More land was acquired via homesteading in the 20^th century than in the 19^th.

Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.
Sitting for a Formal Snapshot

Williams, the collector, explains that while these images are technically snapshots, taking the picture was not a casual experience. “This is like a formal portrait for a lot of these people … many of them may have never had a picture taken before and they want to line their chickens up and wear their best clothes.”

Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.
Building a Claim

Posing for a photo back then was a strange experience. People had not had an opportunity to figure out their good side. They were generally just focused on standing still.

Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.
Fighting Loneliness

Dogs were common companions of homesteaders.

Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.
A Natural in Front of the Camera

“There’s such as soulful element [to the photos],” says Williams. “And each one reflects the person’s personality.”

Collection of Michael Williams/courtesy Michael Williams.