America in the 1930s

Whether you are teaching a history class covering this time period, a literature or art class covering the same, or even a media class where you might want to teach film or radio, America in the 1930s from the University of Virginia is for you.

America in the 1930s is a project that seeks to immerse you in the media and art of the 1930s.  The site is fully interactive and seeks to teach the history and popular culture of America in the 1930s through the following areas:

• On film – The 1930s marked the beginning of the sound era in film and movies used as both escape and social commentary.  Various documentaries are available to illustrate this.
• In Print – Look at the people, news, books, comics, and advertising of the 1930s.
• On Display – Examines the artwork of the 1930s and how artists contrasted the depths of the Great Depression with the coming of the machine age.
• On the Air – Learn how radio became the most popular form of entertainment and information in the Great Depression.  You can listen to old broadcasts, ads, music or sports as well as examine the celebrity associated with this new medium.
• Timeline – An interactive look at each year of the decade in the areas of politics and society, science and technology, arts and culture, and world events.

America in the 1930s is meticulously maintained and is a great source of multimedia supplements to lessons and can provide ideas for your own projects for teaching this era.  Even if you are not looking purely at the history of the 1930s, showing students the perseverance and outlook of Americans in the midst of the Great Depression is an interesting and inspiring study.  Make sure to check out the downloads section of America in the 1930s to have all your plug-ins current and don’t forget to book mark it – you’ll be back again and again!