Great Reading: Bookmark It!

Volume 31, Number 1, October 2003.

Kate Mitchoff

The Great Depression

Riding the Rails
PBS’ American Experience presents the story of 250,000 teenagers on the road during the Great Depression. The site includes a full transcript of the program, stories from seven teenage hobos and audio of several hobo songs. A special section details the added obstacles faced by African-American teenage hobos during this time. Includes a timeline, maps and a teacher’s guide.

We Made Do – Recalling the Great Depression
High school juniors in Mooresville, IN, interviewed senior citizens about their experiences during the Great Depression. The site includes transcripts from those interviews and price indices for various domestic products in 1930 and 1933. Visitors are encouraged to e-mail the school with their own Great Depression stories to be posted on the site.

The New Deal Network
This educational resource from the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute honors the public works and arts projects of the New Deal. Hundreds of primary documents, from speeches to letters, as well as thousands of photographs, illustrate the magnitude and importance of these projects to America’s history and culture. Educational resources abound, including an opportunity for classes to partner with the institute to create interactive projects online.

The Wall Street Crash
This BBC-sponsored site highlights the key events that contributed to the 1929 stock market crash. The site provides historical context for the actions taken, or not taken, to stabilize the American economy, and outlines FDR’s aggressive New Deal plan to stimulate economic growth and create jobs.