Hard Work and a Good Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps Minnesota

Hard Work and a Good Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps Minnesota

The Lakes Area Unlimited Learning topic for Tuesday, July 12 is the story of the C.C.C. in Minnesota. The C.C.C. was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the U.S. for unemployed, unmarried men, ages 18-25. A part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal, the C.C.C. provided unskilled manual labor, jobs in conservation and development of natural resources in rural lands owned by federal, state and local governments. Barbara Sommer will present the story of the C.C.C. in Minnesota, how these camps were organized, what C.C.C. goals were initially and how these goals changed over time, as well as the influence of the C.C.C. on African Americans and Indians during the Depression. Barbara Sommer is an historian and founder of the Oral History Association of Minnesota and the Nebraska Foundation for the Preservation of Oral History. She has co authored “American Indian Oral History Manual: Making Many Voices Heard” and has consulted or organized many oral history projects (OHP) including “Rudy Perpich OHP”, “Lake Superior Fishing”, “Fond du Lac Inventory of Historical Resources”. She received the 2009 Minnesota Book Award for non-fiction For Hard Work and a Good Deal: The Civilian Conservation Corps of Minnesota. Recent published works are “The State We’re In: Reflections on Minnesota History” an essay on African Americans and the CCC. She will present some of the interesting facts and pictures from her research and encourage participation and discussion from the audience. She will also discuss the challenges of oral history research. Join us and bring your C.C.C. memories. Tuesday, July 12, 1:30-3:30 P.M. Heartwood Senior Living. Non-members $5.00. Everyone is welcome.

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