From 1937 to 1942, Alan Lomax was Assistant in Charge of the Archive of Folk Song of the Library of Congress. Himself a musician, Lomax recorded field interviews with many musicians, including Muddy Waters, Woody Guthrie, Peter Seeger and Lead Belly, introducing them and their music to a national audiences via his popular radio show. Using recording equipment he carried in the trunk of his car, Lomax made thousands of recordings. The project took a turn following the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Lomax sent a telegram to his colleagues around the country asking them to collect
"man on the street” interviews. These recordings, now digitized at Library of Congress, feature the reactions of salesmen, electricians, janitors, oilmen, cabdrivers, housewives, students, soldiers, doctors and others to what FDR had labeled a “Day of Infamy.”
Listen:
"Man-on-the-Street," Austin,Texas
The Living New Deal is shining a light on the vast, ongoing contributions of the New Deal (1933-1942) to American life and culture. We look forward to seeing you at our webinars, tours and special events in the year ahead. We are grateful for your generous
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Happy Holidays,
The Living New Deal
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