About this project
During the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration hired famous writers such as Nelson Algren, Zora Neale Hurston, Eudora Welty and Ralph Ellison to write about Americans and their foodways as part of the America Eats project. The Library of Congress has four boxes of original materials that have been tucked away since then.
We want to send Michigan State University food historian Dr. Helen Veit to Washington, D.C., to digitize these materials so that we can share them in an online archive as part of our America Eats Today webseries.
We are eager to explore these hidden treasures. We know the boxes contain articles, photographs and recipes that the America Eats contributors gathered in their travels across the country during the Thirties. Our project is both a treasure hunt and a scholarly quest to capture and share important stories and information from the era. Your funding will pay for Helen's travel expenses to spend the time necessary to begin capturing and sharing these unique materials.
FAQ
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America Eats was a program funded by the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression that funded writers to produce articles about people and their food and foodways. The America Eats Today project is an initiative involving Michigan State University and the non-profit group Sustainable Farmer that updates the project for today, including the digitizing of the original materials from the America Eats Project of the Thirties that are currently located at the Library of Congress.
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
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Funding Unsuccessful
This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on September 25, 2011.
Pledge $1 or more Pledge $1 or more
Website & Recipes - We put your name on our webpage as a contributor, and you receive access to our America Eats Today online recipes
Pledge $10 or more Pledge $10 or more
Heirloom Tomato Seeds, Website & Recipes - In addition to having your name on the website and gaining access to the recipes, we send you a special packet of America Eats Today heirloom tomato seeds.
Pledge $25 or more Pledge $25 or more
America Eats Tote Bag, Heirloom Tomato Seeds, Website & Recipes - In addition to your name on the website, access to the recipes and a packet of America Eats Today heirloom tomato seeds, we send you a really cool tote bag with our America Eats logo on it so that you can use it when you shop for food.
Pledge $50 or more Pledge $50 or more
T-Shirt, Tote Bag, Heirloom Tomato Seeds, Website & Recipes - In addition to your name on the website, access to the recipes, a packet of America Eats Today heirloom tomato seeds, and the really cool tote bag, we give you an America Eats t-shirt as well.
Project By
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Bonnie Bucqueroux is executive director of the non-profit organization Sustainable Farmer. She and Dr. Geri Zeldes of Michigan State University's School of Journalism are collaborating with MSU food historian Dr. Helen Veit on the new America Eats Today project.
