State Historical Society of Iowa

Federal Writers' Project Interview of Henry Gill, between 1938 and 1939

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Courtesy of Library of Congress, Gill, Henry, "[Mr.Gill no. 3]," between 1938 and 1939

Description

This interview with Henry Gill, a resident of Connecticut, was conducted as part of the Federal Writers' Project, just as the interview with Charles Fusco was. Gill's interview took place as Europe moved closer to war. Just two years before this interview, the Robinson Patman Act was passed to keep large food chains from charging different prices to different retailers. This was an amendment to the Clayton Antitrust Act. In addition, the government created the House Committee on UnAmerican Activities(HUAC) in 1938. HUAC, often associated with McCarthyism during the Cold War, was charged from the beginning with identifying Americans with connections to communism because they were feared to be disloyal to the government.. The interviewee discusses the perspectives of members of his community, as well as his own, regarding New Deal programs that had been written about in The American Guardian newspaper. Gill lamented changes in the standard of living and talked about how individuals could be happier with less.

Full Transcript of Henry Gill's Interview

Transcribed Excerpts from Henry Gill's Interview

Source Dependent Questions

  • Did Gill feel the New Deal was positive or negative? What evidence does he provide? Reflecting on the source's description information, how do you think the time period influenced Mr. Gill's opinions on the New Deal? How did his arguments compare to those given by Hoover in 1932?
  • How did Gill believe the economic situation of the country could be improved?What did his ideas communicate about his opinion on the role of government?
  • What arguments might Gill have used in response to Charles Fusco, the Italian munitions worker?

Citation Information

Gill, Henry, "[Mr.Gill no. 3]," pp. 1-3, between 1938 and 1939. Courtesy of Library of Congress Courtesy of Library of Congress