As a child, I visited the beautiful brick school my grandfather was helping build as a WPA carpenter. As an adult I've visited incredible lodges in our national parks, built by WPA workers. I've also read political cartoons making fun of the program and studied the concept in history classes. It wasn't until another writer turned me on to a different part of the program that I discovered many authors were also employed by the WPA. One of their projects was to interview and record the lifestyles, culture and history of people from all over the country from 1936 to 1940 Those records are in the Smithsonian but are available on line, arranged by state. The address is www/rs6.loc.gov/anmem/wpaintro/wpahome.html
I've been reading the stories told by the people of Oregon in their own words and discovered they are fascinating and rich with history not taught in the classroom.

For Oregon Readers
Join Jane Kirkpatrick, esteemed Oregon author, for Brunch at 10:00 on March 8, 2008 as she does a special presentation honoring Women in History at the Eugene Hilton, 66 E. 6th Ave. Eugene, Oregon. For reservations, send a check made out to AAUW to A. Hinman, 236 Greenvale Dr., Springfield, OR 97477 by March 1. The cost is $18.00. This special event is sponsored by the Eugene-Lane Branch of the American Association of University Women.