The 21-Century Federal Writers' Project aims to create a state-by-state self-portrait of America

The Depression-era Federal Writers’ Project created cheap, informative, often funny, still delightful book-length “WPA Guides” to all 48 states, as well as 40 cities, 18 regions and territories, countless counties, and other American phenomena. It helped start or restart a star-studded list of literary careers, including those of Saul Bellow, Ralph Ellison, John Cheever, Richard Wright and Zora Neale Hurston.

The 21-Century Federal Writers' Project will resurrect and reimagine the original Federal Writers Project of 90 years ago for a new century. We expect to produce 50 volumes -- as well as audio and other media -- for each of the United States. This Project is an exercise in domestic cultural diplomacy. The ideal vehicle to practice this diplomacy will be good, human-born writing, and the deep attentive reading that such writing invites. Our ultimate aim is to create a nonpartisan family portrait of the nation, and to help reintroduce America to itself.

Help us to make the Twenty-first Century Federal Writers’ Project a reality.