Originally published: New York: Viking, 1939.

compiled and written by the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Administration for the State of New Jersey ... Sponsored by the Public Library of Newark and the New Jersey Guild Associates.

In the midst of the Great Depression, Americans were nearly universally literate--and they were hungry for the written word. With an eye to this market and as a response to unemployment, Roosevelt's Works Progress Administration created the Federal Writers' Project. They produced the Project's American Guides, an impressively produced series that set out not only to direct travelers on which routes to take and what to see throughout the country, but also to celebrate the distinctive characteristics of each individual state. The series unintentionally diversified American literary culture's cast of characters--promoting women, minority, and rural writers--while it also institutionalized the innovative idea that American culture comes in state-shaped boxes.

The obscure people and events that helped make the Garden State the place it is today—from ghosts to governors, battles to boardwalk attractions. Explore the lesser-known stories that make up New Jersey’s compelling hidden history. Uncover the meaning of “Jersey Blues,” celebrate some of the state’s bravest Revolutionary and Civil War soldiers, and investigate Jersey City’s most infamous ghost. From the inferno that engulfed Asbury Park to the benevolent side of Frank Hague to the equestrienne who plunged forty feet into a pool of water on horseback in Atlantic City, rediscover these and many other events from New Jersey’s storied past. Includes photos!