The Farm Press, Reform and Rural Change, 1895-1920

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, economic, demographic and cultural changes transformed American life.

Immigration, urbanization and industrial growth changed the United States from a rural to an urban nation.

Fry's work contributes to our understanding of rural Midwesterners and farm newspapers at the turn of the century.

While cultural historians have mainly focused on readers in town and cities, this project examines Midwestern farmers.

It also contributes to the "new rural history" by exploring the ideas of Hal Barron and others that country people selectively adapted the advice given to them by reformers.

Finally, it furthers our understanding of American farm newspapers themselves and offers suggestions on how to use them as sources.