Depression Relief

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"The men work in the mines in winter and one or two days a week intermittently in summer. This Iowa farm land makes any one living in New York State envious, the soil is rich and free of stones. Each homestead has from three and a half to eight acres, and they all look as though they would have good gardens and crops. What is more, the children looked strong and healthy and the young couples in the small houses had such hope in their faces it did your heart good."

Editor's Note: This excerpt is from Eleanor Roosevelt's "My Day" column. Published between December 31, 1945 and September 26, 1962, Roosevelt's nationally circulated newspaper column chronicled her public activities. The column was originally published six days a week, but became a triweekly publication in January, 1961. "My Day" offered readers a glimpse into Roosevelt's political life, including her domestic tours of New Deal infrastructure. Franklin Delano Roosevelt created the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as part of his New Deal program in 1935 to provide relief from the Depression. The WPA provided employment opportunities in public work projects. Eleanor Roosevelt supported the WPA and toured sites around the country.