American Experience: America in the 1930s

These recommended reading lists complement the American Experience documentary television series: "America in the 1930s."

Kansas City in the 1930s

Discover the vibrant life and culture of Kansas City in the 1930s with these books at the Library.

Stock Market Crash of 1929

The Roaring Twenties came to an end in October 1929 when the stock market crashed. These nonfiction books explore this event in American history, while the novels use it for literary impact and setting.

Civilian Conservation Corps & the New Deal

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a popular New Deal program that employed around 3 million young unmarried men during the Great Depression who carried out forest management and natural conservation work. These books and articles explore the CCC and the New Deal.

Hoover Dam

Explore the history of Hoover Dam, constructed in the 1930s on the Colorado River, in these books at the Library.

Dust Bowl

These nonfiction books include examinations of the Great Plains Dust Bowl during the 1930s and personal accounts of those who lived through it.

Seabiscuit & the World of Horse Racing

Seabiscuit, an underdog racehorse, captured America’s imagination during the 1930s. Learn all about his legend and the world of horse racing in these books and film.