American Made: Stories of Work from the WPA

During the Great Depression, out-of-work writers—including Ralph Ellison and other now famous authors— were hired to interview over 10,000 workers about their jobs and lives. The arrangement, funded by the New Deal’s Federal Writers Project (a subset of the Works Progress Administration), gave us one of the most comprehensive looks ever into working conditions of the American people, especially blue-collar workers. From meatpackers in Chicago to fishermen in Massachusetts, farmers in Nebraska, and construction workers building the New York City subway, these workers met with writers at kitchen tables, in break rooms, and in union halls. The results—most of which have never been published—were candid, compelling life histories. 

At a time when much is being said about bringing jobs back to the United States, American Made offers a curated selection of these accounts from back in the “good old days,” many of them from immigrants with stories of perilous journeys to the country to match their stories of work. Their words put into relief how America has—and has not—changed since. With a preface by Kim Kelly, author of Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor. 

“A panoramic portrait of a changing nation.” — Kirkus Reviews