Alphabetical agencies created under the Roosevelt New Deal Party
Creator: Biggers, E.M.
Date: 1932
This item, printed and issued by Biggers Printing Company of Houston, Texas, lists the many different agencies created under President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. In addition to well-known programs such as the WPA, the list contains many lesser-known agencies, providing an interesting glimpse into the expansion of the U.S. Government under the New Deal.

Draft of Senator Arthur Capper's New Deal speech
Creator: Capper, Arthur, 1865-1951
Date: 1934
This draft of a speech by Senator Arthur Capper contains his views on President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. In the draft, Capper insists that the Republican Party must serve as a check and a balance against the Democratic Party. However, he clearly states that "the Republicans cannot afford to block the President's program merely for partisan advantage." In Capper's view, the Republican Party must carefully observe what is going on with the various New Deal agencies, and actively work to ensure that the good of the American people is at the heart of everything that is done by the U.S. Government.

Finding a place for youth
Creator: Taussig, Charles William
Date: April 25, 1936
In this address, given on April 25, 1936 at the Forum of the City Club of Cleveland, Ohio, Charles W. Taussig, Chairman of the National Advisory Committee of the National Youth Administration (NYA), directly addresses the importance of the NYA to America's future. In particular, Taussig argues that employment opportunities for young men and women are extremely important because of the "dangerous social consequences of permitting millions of impressionable young people to feel that there is no place for them in our present social system."

Frank Durler to Arthur Capper
Creator: Durler, Frank
Date: January 26, 1942
In this letter to Sen. Arthur Capper, Frank Durler, Chairman of Ford County Commissioners, reports on his visit to the National Youth Administration farm project in Ford County and cheese plant in Dodge City. According to Durler, both the farm project and the cheese plant were a success because the "project gives the youth the type of training that will fit them for homemaking and assisting with efficient farm management, should they not be employed in cheese factories." The NYA was a New Deal program designed to provide teenagers and young adults with some income and work experience.

It's time to ditch the New Deal
Creator: Capper, Arthur, 1865-1951
Date: October 29, 1938
This copy of a speech given by Senator Arthur Capper of Kansas at Hutchinson, Kansas, details the reasons why he believes the U.S. must move away from President Roosevelt's New Deal. Primarily, Capper argues that the U.S. must be careful in order to preserve democracy and "local self government in local affairs." If not, Capper contends that the U.S. could become like some nations in Europe where the individual is "merely an atom, a vassal of the state." For Capper, therefore, the major question of the day was whether the people would maintain the primary role in running the nation, or if the government was going to be allowed to "run the people."

Massachusetts Street, Lawrence, Kansas
Creator: Lawrence Studio
Date: 1936
This black and white photograph shows a group of WPA workers repairing the street in the 700 block of Massachusetts Street in Lawrence, Kansas. The Works Progress Administration, later renamed the Works Projects Administration, was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression to generate jobs and income for the unemployed. This relief program provided employment through a number of community works project that ranged from the construction of public buildings, to the building of highways, roads, and streets.

Reverand Justin Walz to Governor Walter Huxman
Creator: Walz, Reverend Justin
Date: December 11, 1937
This telegram, from Reverend Justin Walz to Governor Walter Huxman, protests the fact that federal funds to support hot lunches for children in need had ceased. Walz explains to Huxman that the lack of WPA "Hot Lunches" will leave the children of Ellis County "seriously in want of food."

W.E. Dannefer to Senator Arthur Capper
Creator: Dannefer, W.E.
Date: April 23, 1942
In this letter to Senator Arthur Capper, W.E. Dannefer, Public Relations Director for Irrigation District Number One (Republic, Jewell, and Cloud Counties), argues that the National Youth Administration projects in Kansas are doing quite well, and is absolutely critical in helping prevent the migration of Kansans to other states. Part of the work done by the NYA in Kansas involved the irrigation of previously poor farmland. During the process, many young Kansas girls served as clerical workers and stenographers, helping collect information that was used for the various projects. According to Dannefer, the data provided by the girls was key to convincing local, state, and federal authorities of the need for an irrigation program in Kansas.