Henry Alsberg, a journalist with a passion for social justice, directed the WPA’s Federal Writers’ Project. Under his guidance, thousands of unemployed writers were hired and over one thousand books published, many of the utmost importance to preserving historical voices (as in the WPA Slave Narratives) and to representing America to Americans (as in the American Guide Series).
Susan DeMasi, a friend of The Living New Deal and Professor of Library Services at Suffolk County Community College, has just completed the first biography on Alsberg. Henry Alsberg: The Driving Force of the New Deal Federal Writers’ Project will be released in late summer/early fall, and is currently available for pre-order. Congrats Susan!