• Blogs
• Bookmark/Share
• Contact Us

Records of the Work Projects Administration [WPA]

OVERVIEW OF RECORDS LOCATIONS

Table of Contents

• 69.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY
  
• 69.2 RECORDS OF THE CIVIL WORKS ADMINISTRATION 1933-39
  
• 69.2.1 General records
  
• 69.2.2 Field office records
  
• 69.3 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY RELIEF ADMINISTRATION(FERA)1930-42 211 lin. ft. and 496 rolls of microfilm
  
• 69.3.1 General records
  
• 69.3.2 Records of the Division of Self-Help Cooperatives
  
• 69.3.3 Records of the Transient Division
  
• 69.3.4 Records of the Work Division
  
• 69.3.5 Records of the Emergency Education Program
  
• 69.3.6 Records of the Sectional Economic Research Project
  
• 69.3.7 Records of other FERA divisions and projects
  
• 69.3.8 Records relating to research, statistics, and finance
  
• 69.3.9 Records relating to rural rehabilitation activities
  
• 69.3.10 Regional Records
  
• 69.4 RECORDS OF THE WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION AND ITS PREDECESSORS 1931-44
  
• 69.4.1 General records
  
• 69.4.2 Administrative records
  
• 69.4.3 Records of the Division of Information
  
• 69.4.4 Records of the Division of Engineering and Construction
  
• 69.4.5 Records of the Division of Professional and Service Projects
  
• 69.4.6 Records of the Division of Investigation
  
• 69.4.7 Records of the Division of Finance
  
• 69.4.8 Records of the Division of Statistics
  
• 69.4.9 Records of the Project Control Division
  
• 69.4.10 Records of other WPA divisions
  
• 69.5 RECORDS OF WPA PROJECTS 1934-43
  
• 69.5.1 Administrative records of Federal Project No. 1
  
• 69.5.2 Records of the Federal Art Project (FAP)
  
• 69.5.3 Records of the Federal Music Project (FMP)
  
• 69.5.4 Records of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP)
  
• 69.5.5 Records of the Federal Writers' Project (FWP)
  
• 69.5.6 Records of the Historical Records Survey (HRS)
  
• 69.5.7 Records of the Survey of Federal Archives (SFA)
  
• 69.5.8 Records of the Research and Records Project
  
• 69.5.9 Records of the National Research Project (NRP)
  
• 69.5.10 Records of the Public Work Reserve Project
  
• 69.5.11 Records of other WPA projects
  
• 69.6 FIELD RECORDS 1935-43
  
• 69.6.1 General records
  
• 69.6.2 Records of the Massachusetts WPA
  
• 69.6.3 Records of the California WPA
  
• 69.7 Textual Records (GENERAL) 1931-44
  
• 69.8 CARTOGRAPHIC RECORDS (GENERAL) 1933-40
  
• 69.9 MOTION PICTURES (GENERAL)
  
• 69.10 SOUND RECORDINGS (GENERAL) 1936-42
  
• 69.11 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL) 1922-44
  

Top of Page

69.1 ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

Established: In the Federal Works Agency (FWA) by ReorganizationPlan No. I of 1939, effective July 1, 1939.

Predecessor Agencies:

• Civil Works Administration (CWA, 1933-34)
  
• Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA, 1933-38)
  
• Works Progress Administration (1935-39)
  

Abolished: By Presidential letter, December 4, 1942, effectiveJune 30, 1943.

Successor Agencies: Division for Liquidation of the Work ProjectsAdministration, FWA (July 1, 1943-June 30, 1944); FWA and NYA asfunctional successors.

Finding Aids: Francis T. Bourne, comp., "Preliminary Checklist ofthe Central Correspondence Files of the Work ProjectsAdministration and Its Predecessors, 1933-44," PC 37 (1946).

Related Records: Record copies of publications of the WorkProjects Administration and its predecessors in RG 287,Publications of the U.S. Government.Records of the Civilian Conservation Corps, RG 35.
Records of the National Youth Administration, RG 119.
General Records of the Federal Works Agency, RG 162.

Subject Access Terms: New Deal agency.

Top of Page

69.2 RECORDS OF THE CIVIL WORKS ADMINISTRATION
1933-39

History: Established by EO 6420-B, November 9, 1933, underauthority of the National Industrial Recovery Act (48 Stat. 200),June 16, 1933, to provide relief work for unemployed personsthrough public work projects. Functioned simultaneously, and tosome extent with the same personnel, with Federal EmergencyRelief Administration (FERA). Liquidated March 1934, andfunctions and records transferred to the Emergency Relief Programof FERA.

Top of Page

69.2.1 General records

Textual Records: CWA central files, including a "state series" ofcorrespondence concerning program administration and projectswithin a single state or territory; and a "general subject"series, 1933-34. Correspondence and telegrams relating to thecontinuance and operation of CWA programs, 1934. Microfilmedproject records, arranged by state, 1933-34 (608 rolls).Microfilmed CWA reports of progress, employment, hours and wages,completed projects, and statistics, 1933-39 (22 rolls).

Photographs (1,550 images): CWA projects in Wisconsin, primarilyconstruction and repair of public buildings, 1933-34 (CWA, CM).SEE ALSO 69.10.

Top of Page

69.2.2 Field office records

Textual Records: Microfilmed administrative and project files,1933-34 (888 rolls), including indexes, final state reports,engineering records, easements and rights of way, progressreports, CWA and state reporting forms, correspondence, and otherrecords for projects in the following states:

Top of Page

69.3 RECORDS OF THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY RELIEF ADMINISTRATION
(FERA)
1930-42

History: Established by authority of the Federal Emergency ReliefAct of 1933 (48 Stat. 55), May 12, 1933, to allocate grants tostate and local agencies for direct and work relief, to setminimum relief standards, and to coordinate information on reliefproblems, policies, and procedures. Liquidation provided for inthe Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1936 (49 Stat. 1611),June 22, 1936; postponed by Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of1937 (50 Stat. 357), June 29, 1937. Funds for liquidation expiredJune 30, 1938.

Top of Page

69.3.1 General records

Textual Records: Correspondence, 1933-36, arranged in an "oldgeneral subject" (alphabetical) series, and a "new generalsubject" (decimal classification) series. Records relating to thehistory of federal relief programs, 1935. State relief statutes,1930-34. Fragmentary records of the Office of the AssistantAdministrator, relating to policy, wages, hours, workerclassifications, self-help cooperatives, and "white-collar"projects, 1934-36. Microfilmed records (75 rolls) includingapplications for grants-in-aid, 1933-36; records relating tostate relief programs, 1933-39; correspondence of FERA and WPAofficials relating to relief activities, 1933-42; FERA workprograms, 1934-40; completed, transferred, or discontinuedprojects, 1935-37; and requests for information, 1933-40. Recordsrelating to relief trends, 1933-36, and urban relief, 1933-38.Tabulations of FERA relief data, 1933-40.

Maps (11 items): U.S. county outline maps illustratingmanufacturing, mining, and agricultural employment, derived from1930 census data, n.d. (4 items). U.S. real property housingsurvey locations, ca. 1935 (1 item). Proposed dam at Bonaparte,IA, 1934 (6 items). SEE ALSO 69.7.

Photographic Prints (1,444 images): FERA projects in variousstates, Puerto Rico (PR), and the Virgin Islands (VI), includingpictures from the North Carolina Emergency Relief Administration,1934-35 (FERA, FERAC). SEE ALSO 69.10.

Subject Access Terms: Chattel mortgages; drought relief; Floridahurricane disaster, 1935; Hopkins, Harry L.; ResettlementAdministration; rural rehabilitation; Williams, Aubrey.

Top of Page

69.3.2 Records of the Division of Self-Help Cooperatives

History: Under the Federal Emergency Relief Act of 1933,administered a program of grants to states to enable cooperativesto produce and exchange goods and services.

Textual Records: Monthly progress, financial, and field reports,1933-37. Correspondence, 1933-37. General subject file relatingto cooperatives, 1933-37.

Top of Page

69.3.3 Records of the Transient Division

History: Supervised grants to states for relief of indigentpersons otherwise disqualified by residency requirements.

Textual Records: Statistical reports, 1933-36. Surveys of campfacilities, 1933-36. Policy records on establishment of workcamps and the WPA reorganization of the transient program, 1933-36. Camp newsletters, 1934.

Top of Page

69.3.4 Records of the Work Division

History: Created following termination of the CWA to encouragestate and local relief projects. Issued regulations andprocedures, and gave technical advice to relief agenciessupervising work projects.

Textual Records: Procedural bulletins, 1934-36. Correspondenceand reports concerning a rural electrification survey,engineering and construction projects, the drought relief andsubsistence garden programs, and the mattress-making project ofthe Women's Section, 1934-36.

Top of Page

69.3.5 Records of the Emergency Education Program

History: Established in Education Division, October 1933, tosupervise state and local projects for adult education inliteracy, arts and crafts, vocational training, parent education,and child care. Assisted in operating nursery and rural schools.

Textual Records: Reports, memorandums, correspondence, and someteaching material, 1933-39. Subject index to subject series and general correspondence file, 1938-39.

Related Records: Program records after 1939 in WPA central files,69.4.1. Additional records relating to college student aid in RG119.

Top of Page

69.3.6 Records of the Sectional Economic Research Project

Textual Records: Correspondence, memorandums, reports, andresearch material relating to political, social, industrial, andagricultural studies of the U.S. economy, 1934-37.

Top of Page

69.3.7 Records of other FERA divisions and projects

Textual Records: Personnel data, training materials, andconference and narrative reports of the Social Service TrainingProgram, 1934-36. Records of the Adjustment Division, includingcomplaints from states concerning program administration, 1934-35.

Top of Page

69.3.8 Records relating to research, statistics, and finance

History: FERA Statistics Section (after 1935, the ReliefStatistics Unit) collected weekly and monthly reports from stateand territorial relief administrators showing the number offamilies and persons receiving relief funds and the total cost tofederal, state, and local governments. Statistical reportingactivities continued under the WPA Division of Statistics. SEE69.4.8.

Textual Records (111 rolls of microfilm): Relief reports, 1933-42. Financial records relating to Reconstruction FinanceCorporation funds, 1933-34. Audit reports of state reliefadministrators, 1933-40. Monthly statements of expenditures,1934-42. Correspondence of FERA and WPA divisions of research andstatistics, 1935-42. Records relating to summary financialstatements, 1936-40. Statistical reports and other recordsrelating to FERA special relief programs, including the EmergencyEducation Program, 1933-37; College Student Aid Program, 1934-35;Rural Rehabilitation Program, 1934-37; Transient Program, 1934-40; Drought Relief Program, 1934-36; Domestic Service TrainingProgram, 1936-37; and National Reemployment Service, 1933-34.

Top of Page

69.3.9 Records relating to rural rehabilitation activities

Textual Records: Microfilmed records (14 rolls) relating tofinancial matters, 1935; the transfer of rural rehabilitationactivities to the Resettlement Administration, 1935-36; and ruralrehabilitation colonies including Cherry Lake Farms, FL; DyessColony, AR; Matanuska Valley Colony at Palmer, AK; and PineMountain Valley Rural Community, GA, 1933-40.

Top of Page

69.3.10 Regional Records

Textual Records: Microfilmed project folders, registers, andother records, 1933-36, relating to FERA relief projects in GA(50 rolls), LA (30 rolls), MA (103 rolls), ND (30 rolls), and OH(83 rolls).

Top of Page

69.4 RECORDS OF THE WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION AND ITSPREDECESSORS
1931-44

History: Established as Works Progress Administration by EO 7034,May 6, 1935. Assumed dominant role in work relief activities.Operated through a central administration in Washington, DC,regional offices, state administrations, and district offices.Renamed Work Projects Administration and placed under FWA, 1939.SEE 69.1.

Top of Page

69.4.1 General records

Textual Records: Central correspondence files, 1935-44, includinga "general subject" series (309 ft.), and a "state" series (870ft.). Partial index, 1935-38. Fragmentary correspondence andmemorandums, Office of the Commissioner, 1935-41. Original andmicrofilmed records (92 rolls) relating to allocation of funds("Presidential Letters"), 1935-43. Microfilmed records relatingto WPA liquidation, 1943 (1 roll). Final narrative reports, 1943.

Finding Aids: Francis T. Bourne, comp., "Preliminary Checklist ofthe Central Correspondence Files of the Work ProjectsAdministration and Its Predecessors, 1933-44," PC 37 (1946).

Subject Access Terms: Cooperatives; disaster relief; HistoricAmerican Buildings Survey; Historic Merchant Marine Survey; WorksProgress Advisory Board.

Top of Page

69.4.2 Administrative records

Textual Records: CWA, FERA, and WPA procedural, technical, andresearch publications, 1935-43, including the WPA Manual of Rulesand Regulations. Project manuals, 1935-43. Memorandums,telegrams, circular letters, copies of speeches, and minutes ofFERA-WPA conferences, 1935-43. Organizational charts, 1935-42.Correspondence with prominent individuals and organizations,1935-38. FERA and WPA complaint correspondence, 1933-36. Recordsof the liaison officer for the WPA Oklahoma State administration,1937-39; and of the Operations, Statistical, and EmploymentDivisions for Region 1, relating to DC, DE, and MD. Miscellaneousmicrofilmed records (22 rolls) relating to WPA microfilm program,statistics, and other administrative activities, 1935-43.

Top of Page

69.4.3 Records of the Division of Information

Textual Records: Newspaper and magazine clippings, 1935-42.Records relating to world's fairs, 1937-40. Publicity files,1935-38. Press releases, 1936-42. Press clippings and otherrecords concerning Blacks, the WPA and other relief agencies, andrelations with the Negro press, 1936-40. State WPA publicationsand publicity materials, 1936-42. Records concerning the AlabamaFederation of Women's Clubs' "Works Program Study," 1938-39; theU.S. Community Improvement Appraisal Survey, 1937-39; andNational Defense Projects, 1939-42. Reports of physicalaccomplishments, 1936-38. "Boondoggling" charges ("Attacks onWPA"), 1935-36. Letters of commendation, 1937-42. Recordsrelating to restoration of historic sites, 1937-38. Speeches,1936-42. Records of the motion picture, photographic, and radiosections including lists of films, correspondence, and scripts,1936-42. Statistical reports, press releases, and other recordsrelating to CWA, FERA, and WPA programs, 1933-39.

Motion Pictures (105 reels): Produced or distributed by theMotion Picture Record Division and successors, relating to WPA,NYA, and CCC activities, 1931-41. Among the holdings are films documenting WPA educational and vocational training, public works, fine arts, flood relief activities, and cooperative programs with the National Rifle Association (NRA). Included are the noted government produced documentary films: "Hands," "Work Pays America," and "We Work Again."

Photographs (43,500 images): WPA programs and activitiesnationally, and in Washington, DC, New York City, Virgin Islands,and Puerto Rico; and WPA and New Deal officials, and celebrities,1934-42 (N, NN, NS). SEE ALSO 69.10.

Top of Page

69.4.4 Records of the Division of Engineering and Construction

History: Created in December 1935. Responsible for planning andsupervising construction projects for highways, airports, dams, and sanitation works.

Textual Records: Central classified files, 1935-43.Correspondence, reports, and statistical data, 1935-43.Administrative and project files of sections: Engineering Review,1935-36; Municipal Engineering, 1937-40; Highway andConservation, 1936-39; Airways and Airports, 1935-42; ProjectApplication, 1936-40; Defense Coordination, 1941-42; and Safety,1934-41.

Finding Aids: Estelle Rebec, comp., "Preliminary Checklist ofRecords of the Division of Engineering and Construction of theWork Projects Administration, 1935-43," PC 46-38 (1946).

Related Records: National defense project files are among therecords of the Legislative and Liaison Division in RG 165,Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs.

Subject Access Terms: Lanham Act.

Top of Page

69.4.5 Records of the Division of Professional and Service Projects

History: Known successively as the Division of Professional andService Projects, 1935-41, the Division of Community ServicePrograms, 1941-42, and the Service Division, 1942-43. Supervisedfederally sponsored "white collar" work relief projects includingthe federal arts programs and the recreation and educationprograms. For records relating to specific projects, SEE 69.5.

Textual Records: Index to division records in WPA central files,1935-39. State narrative reports, 1935-39. Scrapbooks of "ThisWork Pays Your Community Week" exhibits by state offices, 1940-41. National and state final reports, 1942-43. Final statereports of the women's, professional, and service projects, 1934-37. Index to national and state final project and program reports, n.d.

Maps: Real property surveys in GA, 1939-41 (64items). Cartographic studies at WPA New York office, 1939-40 (72items). SEE ALSO 69.7.

Finding Aids: Francis T. Bourne, comp., "Preliminary Checklist ofthe Records of the Survey of Federal Archives, Work ProjectsAdministration, 1935-43," PC 14 (June 1944); Betty Herscher,comp., "Preliminary Checklist of the Records of the HistoricalRecords Survey, 1935-42," PC 45-6 (Mar. 1945).

Top of Page

69.4.6 Records of the Division of Investigation

History: Established by Bulletin No 11, June 26, 1935, as asuccessor to the FERA Division of Special Inquiry, to investigatecomplaints alleging fraud, misappropriation of funds, disloyalty,and other irregularities.

Textual Records: Miscellaneous correspondence, interofficememorandums, and field reports, 1935-43. Microfilmed records (831rolls) including FERA, CWA, and WPA investigation case files,with indexes, 1934-43; restitution case files, with indexes,1935-43; FBI investigative reports, with indexes, 1934- 43; andfield office and state investigative records, 1935-43.

Top of Page

69.4.7 Records of the Division of Finance

Textual Records: Correspondence with states relating to supplyfund limitations, 1935-43. Restitution cases files relating torecovery of misappropriated funds, 1935-43, with name and state indexes. Microfilmed CWA,FERA, WPA, and NYA fiscal records, 1934-37 (15 rolls).

Top of Page

69.4.8 Records of the Division of Statistics

History: Known also as the Division of Social Research; theDivision of Research, Statistics, and Finance; and the Divisionof Research, Records, and Statistics. SEE ALSO 69.3.8.

Textual Records: General administrative correspondence,statistical tabulations, and materials used at appropriationhearings, 1935-43. Microfilmed reports (425 rolls) of AreaStatistical Offices, 1936-37; physical accomplishment andprogress, 1937-42; the WPA scrap collection program, 1940-43;employment and expenditure, 1937-41; monthly and quarterly NYAstatistics, 1937-41; and national defense employment, 1939-42.

Top of Page

69.4.9 Records of the Project Control Division

History: Responsible for examination and processing of projectapplications.

Textual Records (2,559 rolls of microfilm): Generalcorrespondence, 1935-43. Project applications, with referencecards, for general, 1935-44; federal, 1935-38; research,statistical, and survey, 1935-39; and nonstatistical projects,1935-38. Records relating to sponsors' agreements, 1934-41; andto project status, 1935-42. Inspection reports, 1939-43. Researchand records projects reference card files, 1941-42.

Microfilm Publications: T935, T936, T937.

Top of Page

69.4.10 Records of other WPA divisions

Textual Records: Correspondence, memorandums, reports, and otherrecords of the Divisions of Management, 1940-43; Adjustment,1934-35; Supply, 1940-43; Safety, 1934-41; Employment, 1935-36;Training and Reemployment, 1940-43; Records and Microphotography,1937-43; Social Research, 1935-42; Recreation, 1935-43; Education, 1935-38; and Women's and Professional Projects, 1937.

Top of Page

69.5 RECORDS OF WPA PROJECTS
1934-43

History: The Division of Engineering and Construction and theDivision of Professional and Service Projects administered WPAprojects. The majority were planned, initiated, and sponsored bycities, counties, or states. WPA sponsored nationwide projectsuntil 1939.

Top of Page

69.5.1 Administrative records of Federal Project No. 1

History: Federal arts program approved as WPA-sponsored FederalProject No. 1 on September 12, 1935, to provide employment forqualified artists, musicians, actors, and authors. Superseded allart projects operating under FERA or WPA state administrations.Consisted of the Federal Art, Music, Theatre, and Writers'Projects; and until October 1936, the Historical Records Survey.Terminated June 30, 1939. Except for the Federal Theater Project,abolished July 1939, the arts programs continued as stateprojects.

Textual Records: Records of the finance officer, 1935-39.Correspondence relating to quotas and budgets in states, 1936-39.Weekly statistical reports, 1936-37.

Top of Page

69.5.2 Records of the Federal Art Project (FAP)

History: Established in August 1935. Terminated September 1939with instructions for states to allocate all project art work toeligible tax- supported public institutions.

Textual Records: General records, 1935-40. Correspondence withregional and state offices, 1935-40. Records relating topublicity and exhibitions, 1936- 37. Reports of the ExhibitionDepartment, 1936-37. Scrapbook relating to National Art Week,Chicago, IL, 1941. Records of federal art projects in NY, NJ, andOH, 1934-42. Records relating to allocation of WPA works of art,1937-43 (2 rolls of microfilm).

Photographs (10,903 images): General photographic file and statefile documenting fine arts, practical arts, and art education;artists and their work; exhibits; art centers; officials anddignitaries such as FAP director Holder Cahill, and EleanorRoosevelt, 1936-43 (AG, AS; 3,050 images). New York City artprogram, including artists and their work, 1935-43 (AN, ANM, ANS;7,303 images). Depictions of life in New York City, includingphotographs by Sol Liebsohn, David Robbins, and Helen Levitt,1935-39 (ANP, 550 images). SEE ALSO 69.10.

Subject Access Terms: Index of American Design.

Top of Page

69.5.3 Records of the Federal Music Project (FMP)

Textual Records: Narrative reports of state activities, 1935-40.Reports relating to education, 1936-40; employment, 1936-40;performance and attendance, 1936-40; and American composers,1936-38. Records relating to folk music, 1936-40; the Composers Forum Laboratory, 1935-40; music festivals, 1935-40; and music research, 1935-36, includingcowboy, Creole, and Negro folk music. Programs and schedules,1936-40. Press clippings, 1936-40. Subject file ofcorrespondence, reports, and press releases, 1936-40. Recordsrelating to Nikolai Sokoloff, director, FMP, 1935-39, and HarryL. Hewes, project supervisor, 1936-40. Scrapbooks relating to theFMP activities in New York City, 1936-41.

Top of Page

69.5.4 Records of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP)

Textual Records: Correspondence of the national office, 1935-39,including that of Hallie Flanagan, National Director, 1937-39.Correspondence with regional and state offices, 1935-39.Statistical, narrative, and activity reports; lists of plays; andpublicity material, 1935-39. Press clippings and releases, 1934-39. Records relating to production of "It Can't Happen Here,"1936-37. Letters of commendation, 1935-39. Records relating toCCC entertainment, 1936-39. Vassar College collection of pressclippings, programs, and promotional material relating to FTP,1935-39. Correspondence and other records relating to theNational Service Bureau, 1935-39.

Architectural and Engineering Plans (29 items): Blueprintsshowing floor plans, lighting plans, and stage scenery for FTPproductions, 1938-39. SEE ALSO 69.7.

Photographs (25,092 images): FTP productions, 1935-39 (TMP, 92items). Production scenes, sets, theaters, audiences,performances, playwrights, WPA officials, and politicians, 1935-39 (TC, TS; 25,000 images). SEE ALSO 69.10.

Photographs, Original Drawings, and Paintings (333 images): FTPcostumes and set designs, 1935-39 (TSR). SEE ALSO 69.10.

Posters (290 images): Advertising FTP productions, 1935-39 (TP).SEE ALSO 69.10.

Related Records: Federal Theatre Project archives are in thecustody of the Special Collections, George Mason UniversityLibraries, Fairfax, VA.

Subject Access Terms: Children's Theater; dance; Dies Committee;Dramatists' Guild; Federal Theatre National Advisory Board;Jaffe, Sam; "Living Newspaper"; marionette projects; Meredith,Burgess; Negro theater.

Top of Page

69.5.5 Records of the Federal Writers' Project (FWP)

History: Organized in 1935 to give employment to writers,editors, historians, researchers, art critics, archaeologists,geologists, and map draftsmen.

Textual Records: Central office correspondence and memorandums,field reports, manuals of instruction, and lists of consultantsand references, 1935-39. Records relating to publishing, 1936-39,and to publicity, 1935-41. Correspondence relating to ethnic, ex-slave, folklore, architectural, Indian, and Negro studies, 1935-40. Records relating to the American Guide, 1938-39, and the History of Grazing, 1940-42; state publications, 1936-41, and record cards of state sponsored publications, n.d.; and the Library of Congress Project Writers' unit, 1939-41. Records of the Massachusetts Writers'Project, 1935-40, including radio scripts and correspondence ofthe New Bedford, MA, district office. Correspondence and otherrecords of the Los Angeles, CA, district office, 1935-37.Microfilmed records (3 rolls) concerning FWP copyrights, 1935-40;and the Alaska Writers' Guide, 1939-45.

Photographs (2,500 images): For use in American Guide series,including scenic, historical, cultural, and economic aspects ofeach state; Washington, DC; PR; and VI; and including also somescenes of Venezuela, 1936-42 (GU). SEE ALSO 69.10.

Finding Aids: Katherine H. Davidson, comp., Preliminary Inventoryof the Records of the Federal Writers' Project, Work ProjectsAdministration, 1935- 44, PI 57 (1953).

Top of Page

69.5.6 Records of the Historical Records Survey (HRS)

History: Organized in 1935 as part of the Federal Writers'Project, to document resources for research in U.S. history.Became an independent part of Federal Project No. 1 in October1936; and a unit of the Research and Records Program,Professional and Service Division, in August 1939. TerminatedFebruary 1, 1943, pursuant to Presidential letter, December 4,1942.

Textual Records: General project and editorial correspondence,1936-42. Reports of progress, 1936-42; employment, 1936-39; andfrom field supervisors, 1936-42. Records of conferences andspeeches, 1936-41. Project applications, 1936-39. Press clippingsand publicity materials, 1936-42. Instruction manuals, n.d.Records relating to the origin of the Survey, 1934-36; and tocollections of records and manuscripts, 1935-36. Microfilmedrecords (8 rolls) relating to the American Imprints Inventory,1939-42. Voting lists and copies of statutes used in the Atlas ofCongressional Roll Calls Project, 1937-41.

Maps (33,913 items): Atlas of Congressional Roll Calls Project,documenting the 1789-1941 geographic distribution of yea-nay rollcall votes, boundaries of congressional districts, counties,federal court jurisdictions, and city wards, 1937-41. SEE ALSO69.7.

Subject Access Terms: Evans, Luther H.

Top of Page

69.5.7 Records of the Survey of Federal Archives (SFA)

History: Organized in January 1936 as Federal Project No. 4, withthe National Archives as cooperating sponsor. Became part ofHistorical Records Survey, on a reduced basis, in June 1937.Terminated June 30, 1942.

Textual Records: General records including correspondence,memorandums, reports, and bulletins, 1935-42. Correspondence withregional offices, 1936- 43. Abstracts pertaining to the progress and coordination of state surveys, ca. 1936-43; area index pertaining to state administrative activities, n.d; survey reports on motion picture, photographic, and sound recording collections, 1936-40. Project superintendents' reports, 1936-37. Reports of the location, title, and dates of each seriesof records surveyed, 1936-40. Survey of nonfederal records, 1936-40. Manuscripts, 1936-42.

Photographs (3,000 images): Survey of federal archives, 1936-41(SFA). SEE ALSO 69.10.

Finding Aids: Francis T. Bourne, comp., "Preliminary Checklist ofthe Records of the Survey of Federal Archives, Work ProjectsAdministration, 1935-43," PC14 (1944).

Top of Page

69.5.8 Records of the Research and Records Project

History: Assembled and analyzed statistical information for WPA-sponsored projects.

Textual Records: Project application files, generaladministrative correspondence, reports and unpublished studies,procedural material, statistical data, and copies of publications; charts and related records pertaining to surveys and projects, ca. 1935-42; and final project reports, 1935-42.

Related Records: Record copies of publications of the Researchand Records Project in RG 287, Publications of the U.S.Government.

Top of Page

69.5.9 Records of the National Research Project (NRP)

History: Studied changes in industrial techniques and theireffects on the volume of employment and unemployment. Most of itsrecords were turned over to the Bureaus of Labor Statistics andAgricultural Economics.

Textual Records: Reports, memorandums, and correspondence, 1941-42. Statistical reports of the survey of American listed corporations, 1938-1942.

Photographs (800 images): Workers, working conditions, andhousing in fourteen industrial communities, by Lewis Hine, NRPchief photographer, 1936-37 (RP, RPA, RPM, RPR). SEE ALSO 69.10.

Photographic Prints (800 images): Illustrations for reportsshowing workers engaged in agricultural, manufacturing, mining,and transportation occupations, 1936-40 (RH). SEE ALSO 69.10.

Top of Page

69.5.10 Records of the Public Work Reserve Project

History: Studied proposed postwar projects.

Textual Records: Correspondence, consultant files, and projectsummaries, 1941-42. Records relating to 6-year state plans,defense and war projects, scrap collection program, and serviceprojects, 1941-42.

Top of Page

69.5.11 Records of other WPA projects

Textual Records: Administrative correspondence and proceduralmanuals of library service and newspaper indexing projects, 1935-42; Library of Congress project to inventory and arrange recordsof WPA arts projects, 1940-41; the workers service program, 1935-43; and a project to teach Spanish to members of the Army AirForces, 1941-42. Reports and miscellaneous records of therecreation program, 1934-43. Entry slips of the bibliography ofterritories and island possessions. Records of the social servicetraining program, 1934-36.

Top of Page

69.6 FIELD RECORDS
1935-43

Top of Page

69.6.1 General records

Textual Records (10,886 rolls of microfilm): Correspondence,administrative files, project folders, sponsors' reports,ledgers, organizational and functional charts, accomplishmentreports, and other records, 1935-43, for the following states andterritories:

Top of Page

69.6.2 Records of the Massachusetts WPA

Textual Records (in Boston): General administrative records ofthe Massachusetts WPA administrator, and records relating to theSalem, MA, Customs House Restoration Project, 1938-41 (inBoston).

Engravings (11 images, in Boston): Linoleum block engravings ofeleven historical buildings, 1930's. SEE ALSO 69.10.

Top of Page

69.6.3 Records of the California WPA

Textual Records (in San Francisco): Records of the San Franciscooffice of the Survey of Federal Archives, consisting of surveysheets, 1936-38; and records relating to the WPA Ships RegistryProject for ships registered between 1850 and 1910 at the port ofSan Francisco, 1938-40. Records of Hope L. Cahill, director ofthe Division of Professional Service Projects, and statedirector, Division of Community Service Programs, 1936-42.

Top of Page

69.7 TEXTUAL RECORDS (GENERAL)1931-44

Reports and correspondence pertaining to relief programs in Puerto Rico, 1934-44; Private relief bill case files, 1938-44; Name index to litigation case files, n.d.; Litigation case files, 1934-44; Project indexes to microfilmed records, n.d.; Copies of speeches, articles, and related records, 1931-43; indexes to microfilmed state records, ca. 1935-43; original project records retained after microfilming (film illegible), 1935-43; WPA library card indexes, n.d.; Historical records survey and survey of federal archives publications, 1936-41; Bibliography of territories and possessions, n.d.; Miscellaneous scrapbooks, ca. 1939-41; Records of the Public Work Reserve Project, 1941-42; Records pertaining to the Central Statistical Board, 1933-40; Procedural records relating to state work projects administrative offices, 1935-38; General administrative and procedural records, ca. 1935-41; Miscellaneous administrative and project records, 1935-44.

Top of Page

69.8 CARTOGRAPHIC RECORDS (GENERAL)
1933-40

Maps: Mostly published and blueprint city and county transportation, land, and census study maps resulting from various WPA projects (155 items). Included are Buffalo NY railroad survey blueprints; maps of Philadelphia PA showing juvenile delinquency by census tract; maps of St. Paul MN census tracts; city of Madison WI; town of Wilton NH; town of Northhamnpton MA (Sanborn Company insurance maps); Lincoln and Vilas counties, WI (showing C.C.C. camps and other features); and maps of Hancock County MS showing land use (manuscript in color). There is also a map of the United States showing Land Office meridians and baselines. Percent of U.S. population receiving federal relief, bycounties, 1933-36 (2 items). U.S. outline map, n.d. (1 item).Florida functional conservation map, 1940 (1 item). WPA workdistricts, 1936 (1 item).

SEE Maps UNDER 69.3.1, 69.4.5, and 69.5.6.SEE Architectural and Engineering Plans UNDER 69.5.4.

Top of Page

69.9 MOTION PICTURES (GENERAL)

SEE 69.4.3.

Top of Page

69.10 SOUND RECORDINGS (GENERAL)
1936-42

Sound Recordings: Performances by FMP groups, many withintermission talks by prominent persons about WPA work, 1936-42(140 items). Radio broadcasts, 1937-42 (265 items), including FTPprograms, 1937-39. FMP performance recordings featured both established and lesser-known musicians. Included among the programs are: a thirteen (13) part series on the history of jazz; individual concert band performances; those of folk singers; of symphony orchestras; of acappella choirs; of madrigal singers; of string quartets; and of jazz bands. Radio programs sponsored by Democratic National Committee in support of New Deal programs, n.d. (6items); and by Department of the Treasury urging the purchase ofU.S. savings bonds, n.d. (4 items). Drama produced by theResettlement Administration, n.d. (1 item); Department ofAgriculture program on conservation, n.d. (1 item); and a programabout the White House made by the National Broadcasting Companyfor the Federal Housing Administration, n.d. (1 item).

Top of Page

69.11 STILL PICTURES (GENERAL)
1922-44

Photographs (3,484 images): Documenting program, activities, andpersonnel of WPA, FERA, and FWA, including pictures taken duringarea studies of AL, IA, OH, and PA; exhibits, constructionprojects, conservation, health and sanitation efforts; employedand unemployed workers; WPA art, music, theater and writingactivities; and WPA officials, including Florence Kerr, 1934-42(MP, 3,300 images). Defense-related projects such as constructionof airports, roads, armories, training camps, and navy yards,1935-42 (DC, 184 images).

Photographic Prints (10,765 images): WPA professionals in NewYork City at work in white collar positions, 1935-39 (NY, 700images). Public Works Administration projects, such as highways,public buildings, bridges, dams, schools, sewer systems, andpower plants, 1936-42 (PWA, 3,500 images). Hurricane and flooddamage in CT, MA, RI, VT, and NH, 1938 (MPH, 150 images). Printsused in Reports on Progress of the Works Program, 1935-41 (PS,446 images); and in reports highlighting state accomplishments,1935-43 (PR, 3,439 images). State WPA projects, primarily TX,1937-41 (PT, 2,530 images).

Photographic Negatives (1,205 images): Program activities of thePublic Housing Administration, U.S. Housing Authority, PublicRoad Administration, and the Federal Works Agency, 1939-44 (B, H,R, F).

Color Transparencies (28 images): FWA, WPA, Public RoadsAdministration, U.S. Housing Authority, Office of Civil Defense,and Office of Price Administration activities and projects,including a Key West, FL, housing project, a Middle River, MD,nursery school, and a San Diego, CA, school, 1940-42 (C).

Aerial Photographs (11,000 images): Vertical and oblique views ofairports and airport sites collected by the WPA Airways andAirport Section and used in an historical survey of U.S. airportsystems, 1922-40 (AAA, AAB, AAC, AAN).

SEE Photographs UNDER 69.2.1, 69.4.3, 69.5.2, 69.5.4, 69.5.5,69.5.7, and 69.5.9.SEE Photographic Prints UNDER 69.3.1 and 69.5.9.SEE Photographs, Original Drawings, and Paintings UNDER 69.5.4.SEE Posters UNDER 69.5.4.SEE Engravings UNDER 69.6.2.

Ordering information

This Web version is updated from time to time to include records processed since 1995.

Top of Page

Connect With Us

• Blogs
• Facebook
• Flickr
• RSS Feeds
• Twitter
• YouTube
• More...