Subcategories
Iris of Progress
The Iris of Progress was a monthly newsletter published by the Benezett camp (Company 303, “Camp Vann”) from 1935-1938 (“the official organ of CCC Camp Vann, published by the enrollees”).
The transcripts provided here are minimally edited in order to preserve the voices of the young black men who served, in the original vernacular of the 1930s, just as they wrote it.
Philadelphia Tribune
Many enrollees at the camp were from Philadelphia, and they sent a steady stream of news back home that was published in the city's largest black newspaper, the Philadelphia Tribune. Unlike the Iris of Progress which was produced at the camp, letters sent to the Tribune did not need to be reviewed by camp supervisory personnel.
Pittsburgh Courier
There were also many enrollees from Pittsburgh, PA and they sent their stories home to the city's black newspaper, the Pittsburgh Courier. The camp at Benezette was called "Camp Vann" in honor of the paper's editor, Robert Lee Vann.
