Description: This photograph shows African Americans in an adult literacy class in Toledo, Ohio, provided by the Works Progress Administration. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, which administered literacy and arts programs to help the unemployed learn new and valuable skills. One of the primary goals of the Federal Writers' Project was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B11F03_01_001
Subjects: Freedmen--United States; Adult education--Ohio--Columbus; Literacy programs--Ohio--Columbus; African Americans; Works Progress Administration; Ohio Federal Writers' Project
Places: Toledo (Ohio); Lucas County (Ohio)
 

Description: This photograph shows African Americans participating in an adult literacy class in Uhrichsville, Ohio, provided by the Works Progress Administration. The class probably took place in someone's home. This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, which administered literacy and arts programs to help the unemployed learn new and valuable skills. One of the primary goals of the Federal Writers' Project was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B11F03_03_001
Subjects: Freedmen--United States; Adult education--Ohio--Columbus; Literacy programs--Ohio--Columbus; African Americans; Works Progress Administration; Ohio Federal Writers' Project
Places: Uhrichsville (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: In this photograph, Alfred Murphy, an ex-slave, participates in an adult literacy class as an older man. The reverse of the photograph reads "People at work + play." This photograph is one of the many visual materials collected for use in the Ohio Guide. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration by executive order to create jobs for the large numbers of unemployed laborers, as well as artists, musicians, actors, and writers. The Federal Arts Program, a sector of the Works Progress Administration, included the Federal Writers’ Project, which administered literacy and arts programs to help the unemployed learn new and valuable skills. One of the primary goals of the Federal Writers' Project was to complete the America Guide series, a series of guidebooks for each state which included state history, art, architecture, music, literature, and points of interest to the major cities and tours throughout the state. Work on the Ohio Guide began in 1935 with the publication of several pamphlets and brochures. The Reorganization Act of 1939 consolidated the Works Progress Administration and other agencies into the Federal Works Administration, and the Federal Writers’ Project became the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio. The final product was published in 1940 and went through several editions. The Ohio Guide Collection consists of 4,769 photographs collected for use in Ohio Guide and other publications of the Federal Writers’ Project in Ohio from 1935-1939. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B10F08_025_001
Subjects: Freedmen--United States; Adult education--Ohio--Columbus; Literacy programs--Ohio--Columbus; African Americans; Works Progress Administration; Ohio Federal Writers' Project
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Reverse reads: "Citizens of several European nations mingle on the friendliest of terms in this WPA literacy class at Patrick Henry School, Cleveland, Ohio." This photo depicts a Works Progress Administration literacy class at Patrick Henry School in Cleveland, Ohio. The class appears to be mostly Europeans. The WPA created literacy and arts programs, such as the Federal Writers' Project, that helped the unemployed learn new and valuable skills. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B10F10_001_001
Subjects: Literacy programs--Ohio--Cleveland; Classrooms; Students; Naturalization--United States; Literacy; Reading; Ohio--History--Pictorial works; Federal Writers' Project
Places: Cleveland (Ohio); Cuyahoga County (Ohio)
 

Description: Caption reads: "Jefferson County - June, 1939. In a basement nook of the Steubenville public library, partly surrounded by books which they could only begin to read, a small literacy and citizenship class meets regularly to learn their a,b,c's. George Kozelnicky, extreme left, is the teacher and is himself a native of Czechoslovakia. Three of the pupils are natives of Yugoslavia, one of Poland and one of Czechoslovakia." Another caption reads: "Used in the Ohio Guide. Ident - B 9 to Illinois National Picture Book 1/9/41; Location - Steubenville, Ohio; Credit - Information Unit WPA in Ohio; Caption - Literacy and Citizenship Class." This photograph shows six people sitting around a table reading a book. The book on the table is titled "English for Coming Citizens by H. M. Coldberger" View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B08F06_021_001
Subjects: Literacy programs--Ohio--Steubenville; Naturalization--United States; Public libraries--Ohio; United States. Works Progress Administration
Places: Steubenville (Ohio); Jefferson County (Ohio)
 

Description: Original description reads: "Preparing for citizenship by learning to read and write in a WPA literacy class in the South Side Settlement House, Columbus, Ohio." On April 8, 1935, the United States Congress passed the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal, which was hoped would allow Americans to cope with the Great Depression. Creation of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was the most important accomplishment of this Act. This government office hired unemployed Americans to work on various government projects. During its existence, the WPA constructed more than 600,000 miles of roads and built or repaired more than 124,000 bridges, 125,000 public buildings, 8,000 parks, and 850 airport runways. The WPA also included programs to support education and the arts, providing employment opportunities for out of work educators and artists of all varieties. Although the United States Congress reduced funding for the program in 1939, the WPA remained in operation until June 30, 1943. South Side Settlement House, one of the oldest settlements in Columbus, Ohio, was founded in 1899 to help people deal with problems in their daily lives and to help them achieve their aspirations for a better future. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B12F08_044_001
Subjects: Literacy programs--Ohio--Columbus; Naturalization--United States; United States. Works Progress Administration
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Original description reads: "Jewish Refugees from Nazi Germany in a WPA literacy class in the offices of the Jewish Educational Alliance of 10616 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, preparing for American citizenship under the direction of Instructor Harry Taber." On April 8, 1935, the United States Congress passed the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal, which was hoped would allow Americans to cope with the Great Depression. Creation of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was the most important accomplishment of this Act. This government office hired unemployed Americans to work on various government projects. During its existence, the WPA constructed more than 600,000 miles of roads and built or repaired more than 124,000 bridges, 125,000 public buildings, 8,000 parks, and 850 airport runways. The WPA also included programs to support education and the arts, providing employment opportunities for out of work educators and artists of all varieties. Although the United States Congress reduced funding for the program in 1939, the WPA remained in operation until June 30, 1943. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B12F08_045_001
Subjects: Literacy programs--Ohio--Cleveland; Naturalization--United States; Jewish refugees--Ohio--Cleveland; United States. Works Progress Administration
Places: Cleveland (Ohio); Cuyahoga County (Ohio)
 

Description: Original description reads: "A native of Hungary tries a reading lesson before a circle of critical friends in a WPA literacy class, 8637 Buckeye Road, Cleveland, Ohio." On April 8, 1935, the United States Congress passed the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal, which was hoped would allow Americans to cope with the Great Depression. Creation of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was the most important accomplishment of this Act. This government office hired unemployed Americans to work on various government projects. During its existence, the WPA constructed more than 600,000 miles of roads and built or repaired more than 124,000 bridges, 125,000 public buildings, 8,000 parks, and 850 airport runways. The WPA also included programs to support education and the arts, providing employment opportunities for out of work educators and artists of all varieties. Although the United States Congress reduced funding for the program in 1939, the WPA remained in operation until June 30, 1943. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B12F08_046_001
Subjects: Literacy programs--Ohio--Cleveland; Naturalization--United States; United States. Works Progress Administration
Places: Cleveland (Ohio); Cuyahoga County (Ohio)
 

Description: Reverse reads: "Never too old to learn! That's the slogan of Alfred Murphy, 105-year- old ex-slave, a pupil in a literacy class conducted by the WPA in Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Murphy lived 33 years in slavery, spent two years in the Con- federate Army, throwing up breastwork. He was at Richmond when General Lee surrendered. Unemployed teachers, hired by the WPA, are teaching 9,000 Ohioans to read and write. Ohio has 320,000 illiterates, America 3,200,000." View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B10F08_006_001
Subjects: Literacy programs--Ohio
Places: Columbus (Ohio); Franklin County (Ohio)
 

Description: Reverse reads: "Nursery School, Toledo." This is a photo of a group of children reading at a small table at a nursery school in Toledo, Ohio during a W.P.A. literacy class. On April 8, 1935, the United States Congress passed the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal, which was hoped would allow Americans to cope with the Great Depression. Creation of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was the most important accomplishment of this Act. This government office hired unemployed Americans to work on various government projects. During its existence, the WPA constructed more than 600, 000 miles of roads and built or repaired more than 124, 000 bridges, 125, 000 public buildings, 8, 000 parks, and 850 airport runways. The WPA also included programs to support education and the arts, providing employment opportunities for out of work educators and artists of all varieties. Although the United States Congress reduced funding for the program in 1939, the WPA remained in operation until June 30, 1943. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B12F06_006_001
Subjects: Children; Reading; Teachers; Nursery schools; Children's literature; Literacy; Literacy programs--Ohio--Toledo; Ohio--History--Pictorial works; Federal Writers' Project
Places: Toledo (Ohio); Lucas County (Ohio)