Who Were the Men of the CCC?

More About the CCC

• Introduction to the CCC
• Organization of the CCC
• CCC Camps in Utah
• CCC Work Projects
• A Day in the Life of an Enrollee
• The End of the CCC
• 1989 CCC Reunion
• The CCC: Then and Now

CCC enrollees were young, unmarried men between the ages of 18 and 25 (later expanded to 17-28 years old). Impacted by the economic downturn of the Great Depression, many men who joined were in desperate need of jobs to provide for their families. These young men would enlist for six-month terms and received $30 per month in wages, $25 of which was automatically sent home to their dependents. Enrollees were organized into companies of 200 men and sent to camps all across the United States.

Exceptions to these age and marriage restrictions were made for World War I veterans and Locally Employed Men (LEMs), who were knowledgeable of the area, provided technical knowledge, and were often allowed to live outside the camps. 

 

ZION 11992: CCC enrollees were divided into companies of about 200 young men. This group photo shows the men of Camp NP-2, along with their overhead personnel. They are seated in the lecture circle, which was completed by the CCC in 1935.

The bill that established the CCC in 1933 included language that stated "…no discrimination shall be made on account of race, color, or creed.” All men were allowed to participate in the CCC. However, this was not the prevailing experience for some. Native Americans were restricted to work on their reservations. As a result, only 746 Native American men were recorded as being enrolled in Utah. Initially, African American men were assigned to camps, regardless of their race. However, due to racial tensions and local opposition across the country, by 1935 African American men were placed into segregated camps and could only work within their own states. Because of this, there is no record of any African American enrollee being employed at Zion, Bryce, or Cedar Breaks.

 

Left image, 7 ZION 7095: This certificate is the official documentation of Harold Wood’s Civilian Conservation Corps assignment. Issued by the CCC Company Commander Wallace W. Hannah, the certificate authorized Wood to fulfill the duties of Camp Exchange Steward.

Right image ZION 11996: Belden Lewis enjoyed writing and kept journals to document his time in the CCC at Zion National Park. He called his works “A C.C.C. Guy’s Diary” and chronicled his experiences from July 1934 to May 1935 over four composition books.

 

ZION 7096 album: This CCC photo album was compiled by Harold J. Wood to document his experience in Company 962 at Camp NP-4 in Zion National Park. It features photos of men at work, engaging in recreation, camp life, along with many other aspects of being a member of the CCC.