All book acknowledgments should be books themselves. Beyond the work of the author, many people and their acts of kindness, generosity, and pure effort go into turning a good idea into a finished product. No one can cover them all, including me, but I want anyone reading this to know that many, many family members, friends, colleagues, and strangers helped make this book a reality. Its successes are theirs and flaws are mine.
The kernel of this project began while I was a master’s student in the American Studies program at Penn State Harrisburg under the direction of Simon Bronner. Without him accepting me into the program and finding funding for my degree, I would not have gone on to a PhD or completed this book. And, as luck would have it, he is a great guy who provided timely advice and guidance about navigating academia. That opportunity also introduced me to John Gennari and Jessica Dorman, who were generous with their time and effort in helping me figure out just what it was I wanted to do. Jess directed my MA thesis on depictions of suburbs in film. She took great care in reading my work, gave valuable feedback, and was relentlessly supportive in getting me to study suburban culture in a more programmatic way. Since I left Middletown some time ago, she and John, like Simon, have continued to be resources. I am extremely thankful that they came into my life when they did and for all of their help along the way.
One pivotal and lucky moment, going to Penn State Harrisburg, led to another, one that was foundational in making this book possible. I started the PhD program in American Studies at George Washington University (GW) in fall 2002. My funding as a grad student supported the research and writing of much of this manuscript. There, I met a cohort of students and friends who changed my life. My writing group, the Brain Trust, kept me accountable, gave thoughtful feedback, and constantly reminded me that I could actually do it even when it seemed as if I might not. Laura Cook was a great editor and always had enthusiasm for mining the cultural texts in the manuscript. Similarly, Julie Passanante Elman showed me how to do better, more nuanced analysis of culture and media, and was unrelentingly sharp-eyed in helping me seize opportunities to make the dissertation better. Stephanie Ricker Schulte asked incisive questions that cut to the core of an issue, usually, “So what? Who gives a bleep?” and often in the same moment showed the way forward that saved hours of work. Laurel Clark Shire reminded me to not lose the broader historical thread and to think more cohesively about the manuscript. On top of that, our time working together was fun, funny, and engaging. Grad school can often be traumatic, but I always think about working with them wistfully. It was quite simply ideal.
The program at GW afforded the opportunity to meet and work with faculty who were influential on the thinking and analysis in this book. Chad Heap directed my dissertation and did yeoman’s labor in helping me to better ground my work in the archives, refine my writing, and understand what it means to construct a whole, cohesive project. Learning those skills with his guidance made working on the book manuscript much more efficient and effective. Melani McAlister served on my dissertation committee and provided pointed and extremely useful advice that has fundamentally informed both my research and my teaching. Suleiman Osman arrived at GW just as I was beginning to work in earnest and joined the dissertation committee. His timely counsel helped me get over the hump and find my way to finishing.
Being part of GW’s lively intellectual, academic, and social community enhanced my work and enriched my life. Cameron Logan has given consistent and brilliant feedback, including a crucial and timely critique of a full draft of the manuscript. Our conversations about this book and many other things shaped me and it for the better. Kevin Strait, too, has been a rock-solid presence in my life whose support and friendship helped make this book possible. Jeremy Hill was always ready to talk turkey and gave much good advice and practical guidance. Many others at GW and in Washington, DC, were helpful in getting through the work of grad school and providing a chance to blow off steam: Liz Breiseth, Kurtis Cooper, Jesse Gelwicks and Erin Brasell, Dave Elman, Andrew Hartman, Josh Fisher and Liz Snyder, Dave and Emma Kieran, Lars Lierow, Clare Monagle, Bret Schulte, Carolyn Shire, Jason and Ann Thompson, Matt and Ali Balus, Yusuke Torii, and Lauren Van Damme. Thanks, as well, to Sally Adee for her support during the writing of my dissertation.
I started work in the Federated History Department at the New Jersey Institute of Technology / Rutgers-Newark due to the timely intervention of Allison Perlman, who got me hired as an adjunct. Once again, I was incredibly lucky to find amazingly smart and supportive friends and colleagues. Their advice and encouragement helped me to finish the manuscript while teaching full-time. Neil Maher and Stephen Pemberton provided stellar examples of how to be academics who do great work and are great people. They did whatever they could to get me time and money to keep writing while providing priceless mentorship. This included research monies that allowed me to visit archives that were otherwise inaccessible. Maureen O’Rourke also continually supported my research and encouraged me to be ambitious while making my life so, so much easier. Rick Sher welcomed me as a colleague and showed genuine interest in me and this project while helping me find my footing as a member of the department. Alison Lefkovitz gave much of her time to read parts of the manuscript and to talk about the project and, more generally, how to do our work well. She is a sharp-eyed editor, a brilliant person, and a good friend. I am forever indebted to her. The administration of the College of Science and Liberal Arts was also supportive of this endeavor. Dean Kevin Belfield showed keen interest in my research, and Assistant Dean John Wolf volunteered much of his time to talk about research and writing and help me push through.
My colleagues at Rutgers-Newark were also essential to bringing this book to fruition. Mark Krasovic and Whit Strub gave thoughtful feedback on parts of the manuscript and provided essential guidance about the revision process. Mary Rizzo likewise provided a valuable critique and was a sounding board, helping me refine a number of things now in the book. She was always there with a crucial bit of insight or impeccable advice. Further, she connected me with Laura Davulis at Johns Hopkins University Press, which has proven to be a great match. Many others I met in Newark one way or another helped me finish the manuscript: Lauren Bell, Marybeth Boger, Karen Caplan, Jon Curley, Melissa Cooper, Rosanna Dent, Darshan Desai, Caroline DeVan, Jess and Jeff Dyer, Stephan Endicott, Lisa Gill, Carla Guerriero, Corey Heffernan, Amy Hoover, Theresa Hunt, Scott Kent, Elektra Kostopoulou, Audrey Le, Heather Lewis, Allison Love, N.K. Padala and Rosemary Joyce, Katia Passerini, Allison Perlman, Liz Petrick, Beryl Satter, Karl Schweizer, Maria Stanko, Tim Stewart-Winter, Christina Strasburger, and John Yarotsky.
At Johns Hopkins University Press, it has been an absolute pleasure working with Laura Davulis and Esther P. Rodriguez. Laura has been everything you need an editor to be—thoughtful, clear, and prompt. Esther, too, has always been on top of the process of getting the book to press, which I very much appreciate. I am also extremely appreciative for the effort that Juliana McCarthy put into producing the finished book. I am deeply thankful to two anonymous reviewers for taking great care in evaluating the manuscript. Their comments, thoughts, and suggestions helped me improve the book immensely.
I also want to thank the editors of Environment, Space, Place for their recommendations on an article that became chapter 4. Similarly, Paul Renfro greatly improved an earlier version of chapter 5 that appears in Growing Up America: Youth in Politics since 1945.
Being back in New Jersey has meant spending more time with old friends who have long supported me and this project. Michael and Sarah Miceli have given me unflinching confidence and essential friendship. Ken Newarksi quite literally made this book possible by giving me a place to live when I needed it. His friendship has helped me navigate tough times and have fun doing it.
Lastly, I cannot thank my family enough for all they have done up to and including their support for the writing of this book. All four of my grandparents never wavered in their encouragement of me and my work. Robert Beers, Ruth Beers, Vaino Riismandel, and Elli Riismandel were all people who started with virtually nothing and made better lives for my parents, me, and my brother. Their examples and ongoing support sustained me through this process and so many other things. I know they would be proud to see this book in print. Paul Riismandel and Ellen Knutson showed me how to live a life not defined by my work but enriched by it. They were always there when I needed to talk or to seek a refuge from the storm. I love you guys very much. Linda and John Riismandel have been my biggest supporters. From attending every Little League game to helping license images in this book, and providing every big and small thing in between, they loved and supported me unconditionally. It wasn’t always easy, but they did it anyway. There is no thanks that can properly account for all they have done. Still, thanks, and I love you, Mom and Dad. Without my family, I know this book would not exist.