daily life in the united states 1920 1940 by david e kyvig

'In 1952, the director of the Census Bureau and the National Archivist agreed that keeping census records private for 72 years balanced public release of federal records with the tradition of confidentiality,' explains the Census Bureau's Glasier.

There is a reason that all of this up-close-and-personal information from 1940 is being released all these years later.

It all added up to a sort of primitive Facebook. And bit by bit, a mosaic of American life took shape. Everyone spoke openly of their living arrangements, their jobs, their families, their faith and a whole lot more. They let the census-takers into their homes and they answered all kinds of questions. With privacy guaranteed, people opened up. The vast data dump, Kyvig says, will allow historians 'to look closely at particular communities and how people within them were doing in terms of employment, income and material comforts.' Kyvig, author of Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1939. G.The pivotal year 1940 'marked the beginnings of a shift from a depressed peacetime to a prosperous wartime,' says David E. Leuchtenburg, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, author of The Supreme Court RebornĪn excellent popular approach to an important subject by a well respected historian. * Library Journal *Ī happy marriage of political and social history. Stands strong on a bedrock of solid research and clear writing. In sum, Kyvig's book represents a penetrating information-packed portrait of Main Street USA, during tumultuous times. In the midst of his quite lucid and readable analysis, the author also touches on race, gender, class and the differences between rural and urban environments. O'Neill, Professor of History, Rutgers University author of Coming Apart Roger Daniels, University of Cincinnatiĭaily Life in the United States, 1920-1940 is essential reading for anyone wishing to understand the origins of contemporary America. Butchart * University Of Georgia *ĭavid Kyvig's Daily Life in the United States, 1920-1940 is an excellent social history which examines how 'ordinary people' reacted to the massive changes during what have been called the 'prosperity' and 'depression' decades. Virtually encyclopedic in its coverage of a vast array of topics, yet it manages to be readable and engaging. This enjoyable read brings the period clearly into focus. The details of work life, domestic life, and leisure activities make engrossing reading. and new ways of thinking about familiar subjects. Kyvig regularly comes up with illuminating details. about subjects that should be of immediate interest to all readers.

Daily life in the united states 1920 1940 by david e kyvig