The WPA History of the Negro in Pittsburgh

The monumental American Guide Series, published by the Federal Writers' Project, provided work to thousands of unemployed writers, editors, and researchers in the midst of the Great Depression. Featuring books on states, cities, rivers, and ethnic groups, it also opened an unprecedented view into the lives of the American people during this time. Untold numbers of projects in progress were lost when the program was abruptly shut down by a hostile Congress in 1939. One of those, "The Negro in Pittsburgh," lay dormant in the Pennsylvania State Library until it was microfilmed in 1970. The WPA History of the Negro in Pittsburgh marks the first publication of this rich body of information. This unique historical study of the city's black population features articles on civil rights, social class, lifestyle, culture, folklore, and institutions from colonial times through the 1930s. In The 1930s, The Wpa's Federal Writers' Project Provided Work To Thousands Of Unemployed Writers, Editors, And Researchers Of All Races. The Monumental American Guide Series Featured Books On Stats, Cities, Rivers, And Ethnic Groups, Opening An Unprecedented View Into The Lives Of The American People. University Of Pittsburgh English Professor J. Ernest Wright Was Selected To Compile And Edit The Negro In Pittsburgh. He Assembled An Impressive, Racially Mixed Team Of Writers And Other Professionals - Including Newspaper Editors, Teachers, Preachers, And Social Workers - But When A Hostile Congress Abruptly Terminated Funding For The Program In 1939, The Nearly Completed Project Languished, Almost Forgotten In The Depths Of The Pennsylvania State Library. Never Before Published, The Wpa History Of The Negro In Pittsburgh Combines The Original Texts With An Introduction And Explanatory Notes By Historian Laurence Glasco. The Essays In This Pioneering History Of African Americans In Pittsburgh Were Written Before World War Ii And The Economic Recovery That Followed The Great Depression; Before The Civil Rights Movement Of The 1960s And Desegregation: Before The Destruction Of A Black Cultural Locus In The Lower Hill District. The Book, Therefore, Not Only Tells The History Of African Americans In Pittsburgh From Colonial Times To The 1930s, But Also Captures The Perspective Of The Period In Which It Was Created.--jacket. Introduction To The Published Volume -- Original Table Of Contents -- The Shadow Of The Plantation -- The Negro On The Frontier -- The Early Community, 1804-1860 -- Abolition Years -- Civil Rights -- The Negro Wage Worker -- Church, School And Press -- The Later Community -- Folkways -- Arts And Culture -- The People Speak -- Appendix 1: Memorial Of Pittsburgh's Free Citizens Of Color, 1837 -- Appendix 2: Lewis Woodson's Birthday Memorandum Of 1856 -- Appendix 3: Two Poems By George B. Vashon: Vincent Ogé And A Life Day -- Appendix 4: Transcriptions Of Selected Newspaper Items. Edited By Laurence A. Glasco. First Publication Of The Unfinished Manuscript The Negro In Pittsburgh Produced By The Federal Writer's Project In Pennsylvania. A John D.s. And Aida C. Truxall Book. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 398-406) And Index. "In the 1930s, the WPA's Federal Writers' Project provided work to thousands of unemployed writers, editors, and researchers of all races. The monumental American Guide Series featured books on stats, cities, rivers, and ethnic groups, opening an unprecedented view into the lives of the American people. University of Pittsburgh English professor J. Ernest Wright was selected to compile and edit "The Negro in Pittsburgh." He assembled an impressive, racially mixed team of writers and other professionals - including newspaper editors, teachers, preachers, and social workers - but when a hostile Congress abruptly terminated funding for the program in 1939, the nearly completed project languished, almost forgotten in the depths of the Pennsylvania State Library. Never before published, The WPA History of the Negro in Pittsburgh combines the original texts with an introduction and explanatory notes by historian Laurence Glasco." "The essays in this pioneering history of African Americans in Pittsburgh were written before World War II and the economic recovery that followed the Great Depression; before the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and desegregation: before the destruction of a black cultural locus in the lower Hill District. The book, therefore, not only tells the history of African Americans in Pittsburgh from colonial times to the 1930s, but also captures the perspective of the period in which it was created."--BOOK JACKET. The monumental American Guide Series, published by the Federal Writers'Project, provided work to thousands of unemployed writers, editors, and researchers in the midst of the Great Depression. Funded by the Works Progress Administration and featuring books on states, cities, rivers, and ethnic groups, it also opened an unprecedented view into the lives of the American people during this time. Untold numbers of projects in progress were lost when the program was abruptly shut down by a hostile Congress in 1939. One of those, “The Negro in Pittsburgh,” lay dormant in the Pennsylvania State Library until it was microfilmed in 1970. The WPA History of the Negro in Pittsburgh marked the first publication of this rich body of information. This unique historical study of the city's Black population, although never completed, features articles on civil rights, social class, lifestyle, culture, folklore, and institutions from colonial times through the 1930s. Editor Laurence A. Glasco's introduction and robust bibliography contextualizes the articles and offers a history on the manuscript itself, guiding contemporary readers through this remarkable work.

The monumental American Guide Series, published by the Federal Writers' Project, provided work to thousands of unemployed writers, editors, and researchers in the midst of the Great Depression. Featuring books on states, cities, rivers, and ethnic groups, it also opened an unprecedented view into the lives of the American people during this time. Untold numbers of projects in progress were lost when the program was abruptly shut down by a hostile Congress in 1939.

One of those, "The Negro in Pittsburgh, " lay dormant in the Pennsylvania State Library until it was microfilmed in 1970. The WPA History of the Negro in Pittsburgh marks the first publication of this rich body of information. This unique historical study of the city's black population features articles on civil rights, social class, lifestyle, culture, folklore, and institutions from colonial times through the 1930s.