Federal Writers' Project Collection

Title

Federal Writers' Project Collection

Subject

Federal Writers' Project
Farms
Greek-Americans
Illinois--Chicago
Illinois
Architecture
New Deal (1933-1939)
Matsoukas, Nick John
Social history
Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Illinois

Description

The Federal Writers' Project began in 1935 as part of the United States Work Progress Administration created under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal program. The Federal Writers' Project provided employment opportunities for historians, teachers, writers, librarians, and other white-collar workers. Initially the project produced guidebooks entitled American Guide on several regions of the country with an emphasis on the the country's scenic, historical, cultural, and economic resources. The Illinois Writers' Project, the state office for the Federal Writers' Project, produced state-wide guidebooks as well as regional publications which included work by Richard Wright, Saul Bellow, Margaret Walker, and Louis "Studs" Terkel.

The photographs contained in this collection include images of farm life in southern Illinois, Chicago architecture, Greek-American life in Chicago's Greektown, and historic buildings and architecture throughout the state. Photographer Nick John Matsoukas' images are featured in this collection and appear with their original photo captions.

Collection Items

Steam Threshing
Photo caption: "Threshing oats with a traditional old-style steam outfit, a method being replaced by tractor power."

Steam Threshing
Photo caption: "View from tender of steam threshing machine."

Steam Threshing
Photo caption: "View from rear of steam threshing machine showing self-feeder and 'separator man'."

Self Feeder
Photo caption: "Close-up of self-feeder and revolving knives, bundels of oats carried in on canvas roller."

Grain Spout
Photo caption: "Wagon boy at grain spout loading wagon."

Turkey Farm
Photo caption: "A field scene, turkey ranch."

Turkey Farm
Photo caption: "A field scene, turkey ranch."

Turkey Farm
Photo caption: "A field scene, turkey ranch."

Turkey Farm
Photo caption: "A field scene, turkey ranch."

Turkey Farm
Photo caption: "A field scene, turkey ranch."

Corn Shocks
Photo caption: "Corn in shocks, typical Illinois landscape, farm buildings in background."

Seed Corn Drying
Photo caption: "Handpicked seed corn drying for storage for next season."

Seed Corn Storage
Photo caption: "Elevating seed corn into storage bin."

Hybrid Corn Inspection
Photo caption: "A hybrid corn field day inspection tour by members of a growers' association."

Hybrid Corn Inspection
Photo caption: "Hybrid corn field day inspection tour by members of an association."

4-H Farm Boy
Photo caption: "Farm boy and hybrid ear of corn."On verso: "Box 370; Farm Pix (4H); Picture To MEM."

Mechanical Corn Picker
Photo caption: "Mechanical corn picker is supplanting the husking peg."

Field Crib
Photo caption: "Elevating corn into field crib."

4-H Club County Champion
Photo caption: "A 4-H Club county champion in the O. I. C. Chester White pig class exhibits his prize entry. Occasion is annual picnic and stock judging of county 4-H Club."

4-H Club Pig Show
Photo caption: "4-H Club boys must spend weeks grooming and training pigs to be handled for exhibition according to show ring rules."

4-H Dairy Class Contest
Photo caption: "4-H Club boys prepare for the dairy class contest."

4-H Judgment Day
Photo caption: "Judgment day - Livestock experts review dairy cow entries from 4-H boys and girls."

4-H Farm Girl and Cow
Photo caption: "Farm girl and her Brown Swiss heifer (4-H Club)."

Future Dairy Stock
Four young cows are tied to a line behind a metal bucket.Photo caption: "Future dairy stock produced under 4-H Club auspices."

4-H Club Picnic Exhibit
Spectators examine displays of produce on long tables behind a row of cars.Photo caption: "4-H Club picnic exhibit of products of slower and vegetable gardens."
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