Process Paper
In contemplating our NHD Topic, we reached far back through the centuries of our own historical ideas and grew excited over the prospect of shaping our own narrative of a turning point in the course of humanity. Although dramatic, revolutionary phenomena initially captured our interest, we settled on a local figure: Edwin Witte, the Father of the Social Security Act. We chose this topic out of realistic consideration of our resources (the university and state historical societies) and interest in the expansive legacy of progressive government left in the wake of the New Deal era.
In November 2012, knowing we needed primary sources, we began our research process at the UW-Madison Archives, the home of the university’s own history. From their collection of biographical files, we accessed general information, photos, speeches, newspaper clippings, essays, and a book pertaining to Witte – which helped us first orient ourselves to our topic. Next we became familiar with the history of the act itself, through numerous books and web sources. We continually pursued other resources as we were led to them by the references of our original documents. By December 2012 we determined that Witte’s grandson John, an esteemed educator and economist himself, could provide our historical exploration with more personal perspective and unique insight. We brushed up our oral history skills and gave an interview that the UW Archives kept for their own collections. In January of this year, we took advantage of the Wisconsin Historical Society and their nearly 300-box collection on Witte. We methodically looked through a number of his personal correspondences, diary entries, lesson plans, and extensive writings on his own economic philosophy. We maintained a running list of our bibliographic references throughout the research process.
We chose to present our project as a website because of the diverse multimedia options offered by a web platform. We were eager not only to write, but also to express our findings and ideas in their original or optimal formats, and therefore engage the mind of the onlooker in different perceptional capacities. The flexibility a website afforded us as the creators and the interactivity it would involve on the part of the viewer are ultimately what drew us to it as a medium.
The work of Edwin Witte constituted a turning point in history because the Social Security Act forged a strong and lasting tie between the American government and the over-burdened worker. It began to lay the foundational social safety net which would guarantee basic dignity and material sustenance to Americans in future times of hardship. The impact of this not only arguably set the stage for the economic ascendancy of the United States in the twentieth century by placing more consumer power in more hands, but is still depended upon today by tens of millions of citizens.
In November 2012, knowing we needed primary sources, we began our research process at the UW-Madison Archives, the home of the university’s own history. From their collection of biographical files, we accessed general information, photos, speeches, newspaper clippings, essays, and a book pertaining to Witte – which helped us first orient ourselves to our topic. Next we became familiar with the history of the act itself, through numerous books and web sources. We continually pursued other resources as we were led to them by the references of our original documents. By December 2012 we determined that Witte’s grandson John, an esteemed educator and economist himself, could provide our historical exploration with more personal perspective and unique insight. We brushed up our oral history skills and gave an interview that the UW Archives kept for their own collections. In January of this year, we took advantage of the Wisconsin Historical Society and their nearly 300-box collection on Witte. We methodically looked through a number of his personal correspondences, diary entries, lesson plans, and extensive writings on his own economic philosophy. We maintained a running list of our bibliographic references throughout the research process.
We chose to present our project as a website because of the diverse multimedia options offered by a web platform. We were eager not only to write, but also to express our findings and ideas in their original or optimal formats, and therefore engage the mind of the onlooker in different perceptional capacities. The flexibility a website afforded us as the creators and the interactivity it would involve on the part of the viewer are ultimately what drew us to it as a medium.
The work of Edwin Witte constituted a turning point in history because the Social Security Act forged a strong and lasting tie between the American government and the over-burdened worker. It began to lay the foundational social safety net which would guarantee basic dignity and material sustenance to Americans in future times of hardship. The impact of this not only arguably set the stage for the economic ascendancy of the United States in the twentieth century by placing more consumer power in more hands, but is still depended upon today by tens of millions of citizens.