Humanities Nebraska

The People’s Recorder: A Virtual Discussion about the Federal Writers’ Project in Nebraska
2026-02-03 12:30 - 13:30 (America/Chicago) | Virtual Program
The People’s Recorder podcast launched to acclaim in 2024 and won a Silver Signal Award for History Podcasting and was nominated for an Ambie Award for Best Indie Podcast. This virtual event will build on the discussion started in the Nebraska-based episode, “A Creative Incubator,” further exploring the work and the literary and cultural legacy of the Writers’ Project in Nebraska.
Moderated by The People’s Recorder host Chris Haley, the panel discussion will feature writer/co-producer David Taylor, Marilyn Holt (author of Nebraska during the New Deal) and Stephen Cloyd, who recently retired from the Lincoln City Libraries. The event will also feature University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor Timothy Schaffert, who will discuss the Prairie Schooner’s Centennial, and Lincoln City Libraries’ Deb Arenz, who will speak about the collections at the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors.
Watch live on The People’s Recorder YouTube Channel.
Part of the WPA, the Federal Writers’ Project provided work for unemployed writers, editors, and other white-collar workers during the height of the Great Depression. The Writers’ Project had a mandate to produce state and city travel guides, and interview everyday citizens. It was perhaps the largest and most chaotic publishing venture in American history, and yet it produced over 200 publications, and its flagship travel guide series remains important for its firsthand views of life in America. The Nebraska guide was a notable success and state bestseller.
This moderated discussion with a panel of experts will focus on that guidebook and the work of the staff of the Nebraska Writers’ Project and how that speaks to Nebraskans today. It will focus on the varied experiences of three Nebraskans: Rudolph Umland, a hardscrabble farmer turned editor, Weldon Kees, a hardware businessman’s son turned poet, and Ruby Wilson, a former nurse who found a passion in first-person history. The event will also shine a spotlight on University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor and founder of Prairie Schooner, Lowry Wimberly, whose influence was critical to the Project’s success.
This event is being produced in partnership with Lincoln City Libraries and Prairie Schooner with support from Humanities Nebraska.
