During the 1930s in the United States, the Works Progress Administration developed the Federal Writers’ Project to support writers and artists while making a national effort to document the country’s shared history and culture.

The American Guide series consists of individual guides to each of the states. Little-known authors—many of whom would later become celebrated literary figures—were commissioned to write these important books. John Steinbeck, Saul Bellow, Zora Neale Hurston, and Ralph Ellison are among the more than 6,000 writers, editors, historians, and researchers who documented this celebration of local histories. Photographs, drawings, driving tours, detailed descriptions of towns, and rich cultural details exhibit each state’s unique flavor.

The WPA Guide to Louisiana

Features a state influenced greatly by both Cajun and Southern cultures, as seen in the excellent photography and the chapter focused solely on traditional Louisiana cuisine. From Acadiana to the northern Sportsman’s Paradise, this guide takes the reader on a journey across the swamplands of the Pelican State with several driving tours and special essays on the rich histories of Baton Rouge and New Orleans.