Coloring Christmas Orange: Celebrating in the Great Depression

The one thing that every family in the 1930’s Dust Bowl savored for Christmas was an orange. In our own culture of entitlement and excess, the thought of one orange constituting the holiday pay load is unimaginable. But getting an orange was a big deal because citrus fruit wasn’t affordable…

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Class of One – The Story of Barb and Ruby

Ruby Bridges

The superintendent of the New Orleans school district sat in his seat behind his desk. His offer of a teaching job for first grade at Frantz Elementary School produced only one question in Barbara Henry’s mind. “Will the school be integrated?” she asked. “Would that make any difference to you?”…

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Feeding the Mind: Pack Horse Library Project

pack horse librarians

“With no money to feed the body, how could they feed the mind?”- Eleanor Roosevelt Wanted: Librarians The search for dedicated women to serve as librarians began with the impetus of Eleanor Roosevelt as she cooperated with the WPA, Work Project Administration. The WPA was created by her husband, President…

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