SOUL OF A PEOPLE: WRITING AMERICA'S STORY is the story of the most chaotic and influential publishing venture in history.

In the Great Depression, while hundreds of thousands survived by wielding picks and shovels on WPA jobs, a smaller cadre used pen, paper, and the spirit of invention. Their task: create America's first-ever self-portrait in the WPA guides.

This documentary offers a compelling window into that experience.

In Memory of Studs Terkel (1912 - 2008)

To the true voice of the people, from the crew of Soul of a People: Goodbye Studs. We miss you already.

The Latest from the Writers' Pen

Exciting news! We have just launched our new Production Journal page, where we will keep you updated on the project with new audio and video journals, blogs, podcasts and photographs related to the production. Our first Audio Journal is a rousing call-to-action speech given by Tom Phelps, National Endowment for the Humanities Director of Public Programs at the 2008 American Library Association Annual Meeting.

Click here to go to our new Production Journal page. Every few weeks, we will be posting something new - so keep checking back or sign up for our mailing list and we'll let you know when something is up!

Click here to view our Production Journal!

More Information

For outreach, it is a chance to re-acquaint Americans of all ages with a critical period of U.S. history and the little-known legacy of the Federal Writers' Project: literature, travel guides, photos, oral histories, and rich recordings of voice and music. This treasure trove - along with Spark Media's sweeping new film - will show how that legacy has renewed meaning for America today.

This program is funded by:

For more information, please see:

Click here to register for the American Voices mailing list so you can receive updates on all project activity!