Ticker Tape Worksheet ARCHIVE-1929
Ticker Tape Tally
October 1929: Market Analysis Report
Case No.
63436-DS
Investigator:
Date:
I. The Rapid Decline
Observe the stock values for three major companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Calculate the total loss for an investor who held 100 shares of each company.
Company Name Peak Value (Sept '29) Crash Value (Oct 29) Loss Per Share Radio Corp of America (RCA) $114.75 $26.00 U.S. Steel $261.75 $150.00 General Motors $73.00 $36.00
Calculation & Scratchpad:
Total Loss for 300 total shares:
II. Confession of a Clerk
"The ticker tape was running two hours behind. We were shouting orders into the phones, but the prices on the screen were already dead."
— Wall Street Clerk, 1929
Investigative Task:
Imagine you are a Minnesotan who invested $1,000. Write a telegram to your family explaining the collapse.
Telegram Form 12-A
III. The Grain Chain
"Why did a stock market crash in NYC cause the price of wheat in Minnesota to drop from $1.20 a bushel to $0.40?"
Bank Failure
Low Demand
Broken Trust
Visual Analysis: Draw an arrow diagram showing how a stock broker's loss leads to a farmer's struggle.
© 1929 North Star Archive Services
Penny Auction Analysis Penny Auctions
Day 3: Rural Activism & The Farm Holiday
FORECLOSURE SALE
The Scene: Madison, MN (1933)
A local family farm is being sold by the bank. Hundreds of neighbors have gathered. They aren't here to buy—they are here to stop the sale through collective resistance.
How a Penny Auction Worked
The Sheriff starts the bidding for a $500 tractor. Neighbors bid one penny .
Outside bidders are "persuaded" by the silent, staring crowd to leave without bidding.
The auction ends with a tiny total ($1.50). The community returns the farm to the family.
A. Community Solidarity: Why was it essential that EVERY neighbor agreed to bid only pennies? What is the risk to a neighbor who bids higher?
B. The "Farmer's Holiday": Why did rural activists think stopping food flow to cities would force the government to help them?
C. Ethical Dilemma: Is a "Penny Auction" a form of stealing from the bank, or a form of moral justice? Support your argument with evidence.
A Letter to the Governor (1933)
"Governor Olson, the banks are burying our hope. If the law won't protect our homes, we will protect them ourselves with our own hands and our own unity."
Historical Note: Governor Floyd B. Olson halted all foreclosures in 1933.
Madison County Historical Archive
Name: ______________________ FILE: MN-FARM-33
CCC Enrollee Application Civilian Conservation Corps
Enrollee Application & Project Proposal
APPROVED: MN-DISTRICT 7
Applicant Personnel File
Full Name:
Age (18-25):
Home City:
Family Dependents:
The Terms of Service
Enrollees receive $30.00 a month . Mandatory allocation:
$25.00 sent to family.
$5.00 personal allowance.
Policy Analysis:
Explain the economic goal of forcing enrollees to send 83% of their wages home to their families.
Project Site: Gooseberry Falls
Trail Clearing
Stone Masonry
Reforestation
Project Proposal: Select one task. How will this labor benefit Minnesota's landscape and future economy?
The Personal Transformation
"Before I joined the CCC, I was standing on street corners with no future. Now, I have skills, discipline, and I've planted thousands of trees for my state."
Reflection: Beyond the paycheck, what psychological benefits did the CCC provide for the 'lost generation' of young men?
U.S. Federal Government Official Form
Conservation · Relief · Pride
Urban Survival Budget St. Paul Survival
Urban Poverty Case Study: 1932
Location: Seventh St. St Paul, MN
Subject: Family Budget Crisis
Head of Household:
Date:
The Situation
It is 1932. Your family of five has a total weekly income of $12.00 . Failure to pay rent ($4.50) will result in immediate eviction.
Price List (1932)
<table class="w-full text-[11px] border-collapse"><tbody><tr class="border-b border-[#d1ccc0]"><td class="py-1.5 font-bold">Rent (Mandatory)</td><td class="py-1.5 font-bold text-right">$4.50</td></tr><tr class="border-b border-[#d1ccc0]"><td class="py-1.5 italic">Coal (Heating)</td><td class="py-1.5 text-right">$1.25</td></tr><tr class="border-b border-[#d1ccc0]"><td class="py-1.5 italic">Bus Fare (Jobs)</td><td class="py-1.5 text-right">$0.60</td></tr><tr class="border-b border-[#d1ccc0]"><td class="py-1.5">Loaf of Bread</td><td class="py-1.5 text-right">$0.07</td></tr><tr class="border-b border-[#d1ccc0]"><td class="py-1.5">Dozen Eggs</td><td class="py-1.5 text-right">$0.18</td></tr><tr class="border-b border-[#d1ccc0]"><td class="py-1.5">Quart of Milk</td><td class="py-1.5 text-right">$0.10</td></tr><tr class="border-b border-[#d1ccc0]"><td class="py-1.5">1 lb. Beef</td><td class="py-1.5 text-right">$0.12</td></tr><tr class="border-b border-[#d1ccc0]"><td class="py-1.5">1 lb. Potatoes</td><td class="py-1.5 text-right">$0.02</td></tr><tr class="border-b border-[#d1ccc0]"><td class="py-1.5">Shoes (1 pair)</td><td class="py-1.5 text-right">$1.50</td></tr></tbody></table>
Survival Math
Scratchpad / Grocery List:
Total Income: $12.00
Total Spent:
REMAINING:
Reflections on the Breadline
1. Sacrifice: What is one item you had to skip this week? Explain the consequence of missing it.
2. The "Hooverville" Option: If you can't pay rent, what becomes your new housing plan?
3. Dignity: How does having to choose between milk for your children and coal for the stove affect a parent's spirit?
Case Study MN-HS-1932
