2020NebraskaBookAwardAsaNewDealprogram,theFederalWriters’Project(FWP)aimedtoputunemployedwriters,teachers,andlibrarianstowork.Thecontributorsweretocollectinformation,writeessays,conductinterviews,andeditmaterialwiththegoalofproducingguidebooksineachofthethenforty-eightstatesandU.S.territories.Projectadministratorshopedthattheseguides,knownastheAmericanGuideSeries,wouldpromoteanationalappreciationforAmerica’shistory,culture,anddiversityandpreservedemocracyatatimewhenmilitarismwasontheriseandpartsoftheworldweredominatedbyfascism.MarilynIrvinHoltfocusesontheNebraskaproject,whichwasoneofthemostprolificbranchesofthenationalprogram.Bestrememberedforitsstateguideandseriesoffolkloreandpioneerpamphlets,theprojectalsoproducedtownguides,publishedavolumeonAfricanAmericansinNebraska,andcreatedanethnicstudyofItaliansinOmaha.InNebraskaduringtheNewDealHoltexaminesNebraska’scontributiontotheproject,bothintermsofitsplacewithinthenationalFWPaswellasitsoperationincomparisontootherstateprojects.
teachers DEAL NEW PROJECT TEACHERS TERRITORIES
