Abigail Adams Reminds John Adams to "Remember the Ladies" (with text supports)
Gender and Sexuality
In this famous letter, Abigail Adams, already planning for the war's successful conclusion, admonishes her husband John Adams to consider inequality between men and women when developing laws for a newly independent nation.
Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams, "Abigail Adams to John Adams, March 31, 1776," letter, in <em>Adams Family Correspondence</em>, eds. L.H. Butterfield et al. (Cambridge, Mass.: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1963), vol 1: 369-371; from Massachusetts Historical Society, <em>Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive</em>, http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/.
American Social History Project / Center for Media and Learning
1776
English
Diary/Letter
Revolution and New Nation (1751-1815)
A Citizen Reports How the New Deal Has Impacted His Life (with text supports)
This letter was written to FDR after his Fireside Chat radio broadcast of June 28, 1934, in which he explained the "Three R's" of the New Deal: relief, recovery, and reform. While economic data showed that the nation was beginning to recover from the worst of the Depression, FDR also asked his listeners to answer four questions to determine if they personally were experiencing recovery. This letter was reproduced with all of the author's original spelling, syntax, and grammar.
John Pauer
Lawrence C. Levine and Cornelia R. Levine, eds., <em>The People and the President: America's Conversation with FDR</em>, (Boston: Beacon Press, 2002), 103.
American Social History Project / Center for Media and Learning
1934
1450, 1483
English
Diary/Letter
Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)
A Citizen Objects to New Deal Relief Programs (with text supports)
This letter was written to Harry Hopkins, the head of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. Between 1933 and 1935, the <strong>Federal Emergency Relief Administration</strong> gave the states $3.1 billion to distribute directly to the poor in the form of food, blankets, and construction projects to provide employment. This letter was reproduced with all of the author's original spelling, syntax, and grammar.
Unknown
McElvaine, Robert S., ed., <em>Down & Out in the Great Depression: Letters from the "Forgotten Man"</em>, (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1983), 125.
American Social History Project / Center for Media and Learning
1936
1450, 1483
English
Diary/Letter
Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)
A Clergyman Encourages a Bolder New Deal (with text supports)
In September 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a letter to clergyman across the United States, asking them whether conditions in their communities had improved since the start of the New Deal. He was particularly interested in people's thoughts on <strong>Social Security</strong>, the new program passed in August 1935 to provide guaranteed payments for the elderly, the unemployed, and the disabled. This was one of over 100,000 responses he received. This letter was reproduced with all of the author's original spelling, syntax, and grammar.
Armand Guerrero
Armand Guerrero, "Letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt," 11 October 1935; from The New Deal Network, http://newdeal.feri.org/clergy/cl028.htm.
American Social History Project / Center for Media and Learning
1935
1374, 733, 1450, 1483
English
Diary/Letter
Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)
A Clergyman Expresses Concerns about the New Deal (with text supports)
In September 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a letter to clergymen across the United States, asking them whether conditions in their communities had improved since the start of the New Deal. This was one of over 100,000 responses he received. This letter was reproduced with all of the author's original spelling, syntax, and grammar.
Fenimore E. Cooper
Fenimore E. Cooper, "Letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt," 26 September 1935; from <em>The New Deal Network</em>, http://newdeal.feri.org/clergy/c1021.htm.
American Social History Project / Center for Media and Learning
1935
1374, 732, 1450, 1483
English
Diary/Letter
Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)
A WPA Worker is Ready to Fight (with text supports)
Work
This letter was written to Harry Hopkins, who was then head of the Works Progress Administration. Between 1935 and 1943, when it was terminated, the W.P.A. was the nation's largest employer; in March 1936, W.P.A. rolls included over 3,400,000 people. In a little over eight years, W.P.A. workers completed over 1,410,000 projects, including the construction of schools, bridges, dams, roads, airports, and parks. This letter was reproduced with all of the author's original spelling, syntax, and grammar.
Anonymous
McElvaine, Robert S., ed., <em>Down & Out in the Great Depression: Letters from the "Forgotten Man"</em> (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1983), 195.
American Social History Project / Center for Media and Learning
1936
1450, 1483
English
Diary/Letter
Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)
A Utah Observer Praises the CCC (with text supports)
In this letter to a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) recruitment center in Salt Lake City, Utah, a local official describes the positive impact of the program on enrolled youth. This version includes text supports such as definitions.
Nobel L. Chamber
Nobel L. Chambers, "Letters, Cache County Department of Public Welfare," 9 March 1937, National Archives and Records Administration.
American Social History Project / Center for Media and Learning
1937
1383
English
Diary/Letter
Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)
A Citizen Sees Socialism and Communism in the New Deal (with text supports)
This letter to Senator Robert F. Wagner describes the author's fears that New Deal policies will lead the nation on the path to socialism, communism, or fascism. This version includes text supports such as definitions.
Anonymous
McElvaine, Robert S., ed., <em>Down & Out in the Great Depression: Letters from the "Forgotten Man"</em>, (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1983), 150.
American Social History Project / Center for Media and Learning
1934
1450, 1483
English
Diary/Letter
Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)
An African American Describes Why New Deal Relief Is Not Reaching the Black Community (with text supports)
Race and Ethnicity
In this letter, an African American in Georgia anonymously writes to Franklin D. Roosevelt to tell how discrimination in his community means that black citizens are not receiving the relief they are entitled to under New Deal programs. This version includes text supports such as definitions.
Anonymous
McElvaine, Robert S., ed., <em>Down & Out in the Great Depression: Letters from the Forgotten Man</em>, (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1983), 83.
American Social History Project / Center for Media and Learning
1935
1450, 1483
English
Diary/Letter
Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)
Workers Ask for the Continuation of the W.P.A. (with text supports)
Work
In this letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt, Works Progress Administration workers in Michigan ask him to continue the program, claiming that it makes them feel more American. This version includes tax supports.
W.P.A. Workers of Battle Creek
McElvaine, Robert S., ed., <em>Down & Out in the Great Depression: Letters from the "Forgotten Man"</em>, (Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1983), 127.
American Social History Project / Center for Media and Learning
1936
1450, 1483
English
Diary/Letter
Great Depression and World War II (1929-1945)