Description: Dated 1930-1939, this photograph shows first generation Americans in an Americanization course in Dover, Ohio, in Tuscarawas County. 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, one of the primary goals of which 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_B14F03_027_001
Subjects: Americanization; Citizenship--America; Education; Immigrants; Ohio Women; Working class women
Places: Dover (Ohio); Tuscarawas County (Ohio)
 

Description: This is a photo of a citizenship class that was taught by people who were employed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) agency. The photo shows several immigrant people (most likely of European dissent) who are seated, and most of them are women. The two women who are standing are presumed to be employed by the WPA. There is also a man seated in the back of the photo. He is also presumed to be employed by the WPA and could possibly be the actual instructor. Citizenship classes, also called Americanization classes, were focused on teaching immigrants how to speak, read, and write the English language to allow them to then find work and become active members in society. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B13F11_002_001
Subjects: Ohio--History--Pictorial works; Federal Writers' Project; United States. Works Progress Administration; Americanization; Citizenship--America; Fashion; Classroom environment; Immigrant women; Immigrant men; Working class women
Places: Toledo(Ohio); Lucas County(Ohio)
 

Description: This is a photo of a citizenship class that was taught by people who were employed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) agency. The photo shows several immigrant people, most likely of European dissent, who are seated, and most of them are women. The two women who are standing are presumed to be employed by the WPA. There is also a man seated in the back of the photo. He is also presumed to be employed by the WPA and could possibly be the actual instructor. The WPA was enacted in 1935 and was responsible for putting millions of unskilled people to work in public works projects throughout the country. The WPA is a New Deal agency and was dissolved in 1943 as a result from a massive amount of employment opportunities due to the need of workers during World War II. Citizenship classes, also called Americanization classes, were focused on teaching immigrants the English language to allow them to then find work and become active members in society. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B13F11_015_001
Subjects: Ohio--History--Pictorial works; Federal Writers' Project; United States. Works Progress Administration; Americanization; Citizenship--America; Fashion; Classroom environment; Immigrant women; Immigrant men; Working class women
Places: Toledo (Ohio); Lucas County (Ohio)
 

Description: This is a photo of several children playing outdoors while being watched by several women of varying ages. This is the Works Progress Administration (WPA) nursery group in Toledo, Ohio. The WPA was an agency born from the New Deal in 1935 and was renamed the Work Projects Administration (WPA) in 1939. This new agency had the task of employing unskilled workers to preform public works. The agency was done away with in 1943 as a result of the high demand for jobs that was created during World War 2. The WPA nursery program was established to take care of children, ages 2-4, for low-income families. Not only did this create jobs for teachers, but it also gave free time to the low-income families to find new work of their own. View on Ohio Memory.
Image ID: SA1039AV_B13F11_001_001
Subjects: Ohio--History--Pictorial works; Federal Writers' Project; Works Progress Administration of Ohio (U.S.); Nursery schools; Nursery school facilities; Working class women; 20th century fashion; Children playing outdoors--Ohio--1930-1940;
Places: Toledo (Ohio); Lucas County (Ohio)