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The Civilian Conservation Corps

The Civilian Conservation Corp was a New Deal program that ran from 1933-1941. The program was designed to help unemployed, and most young, American males to gain employment after the economic desolation of the Great Depression. The program provided work for unskilled and skilled laborers in various jobs and also promoted a new awareness of the country's natural resources and heritage. The members of the CCC built national parks, reforested the country and did other important work such as paving new roads and working on soil and water conservation. More than 6,000 men were involved in CCC projects in Illinois alone. The projects of the CCC put Americans to work and lifted not only the members morale, but lifted the spirits of the communities they served. For more detailed information about CCC in general and in Illinois, see the website links at the bottom of the page.

Photo of CCC men in front of their barrack, Camp Charleston, 1940

  • Citation: Photo courtesy of Dean Ferris, compiled by Lori Henderson.

Photo of the Recreation Center, Camp Charleston, 1940

  • Citation: Photo courtesy of Dean Ferris, compiled by Lori Henderson.

Photo of the Mess Hall, Camp Charleston, 1940

  • Citation: Photo courtesy of Dean Ferris, compiled by Lori Henderson.

Photo of Camp Charleston, IL. 

  • Citation: Photo courtesy of Paul Moore from the permanent collection of Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, compiled by Lori Henderson.

Palisades Echo, a Camp Newspaper, Dec. 17, 1934

  • Most CCC camps had newsletters and newspapers, often created by the men themselves, which told about the operations at the camp, advertised various events, and shared important announcements. The front page of the Palisades Echo is presented above.
  • Citation: Newspaper courtesy of the Center for Research Libraries in Chicago, compiled by Lori Henderson.

Charleston Echo Newspaper

  • The page from the Charleston Echo paper with advertisements for a shoe store, a dairy, and other businesses. This page also briefly mentions that electricity had finally been introduced into the barracks at the camp. 
  • Citation: Newspaper courtesy of the Center for Research Libraries in Chicago, compiled by Lori Henderson.

Charleston Echo Newspaper, Dedication Day, Oct. 17, 1935

  • This newspaper describes the day that the Charleston Camp in Illinois was officially dedicated and describes the ceremony in some detail.
  • Citation: Newspaper courtesy of the Center for Research Libraries in Chicago, compiled by Lori Henderson.

 

CCC Links

PBS Interactive Map of CCC Sites - this map shows the different projects across the United States in which the CCC was involved. The PBS site also has a CCC timeline and other helpful information.

Forest Army - This blog was created by a member of the SW Regional Director of the National Association of Civilian Conservation Corps Alumni (NACCCA). The blog has interesting information and pictures about the CCC.