Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of New York Working Files of the District 2 Supervisor's…

Arranged by general form or function of record.

District 2 of the Federal Writers' Project apparently included the following counties: Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Ulster. The district offices were located in Albany.

The files mostly contain "field editorial copy" prepared by field workers for several statewide and local projects.

Most typed essays have a cover sheet giving the following information: author (field worker); title; subject; date; number of words; district number; county; city or town; and "index number" - a subject classification code number used for filing purposes (see attached key). A set of field editorial copy was retained in the district office and other copies were forwarded to the state director's office in Albany. Many files also contain manuscript drafts of field editorial copy, usually without cover sheets.

This copy was used in the preparation of the following published and unpublished writing projects: New York: A Guide to the Empire State (published); Guide to Albany (published); New York State Encyclopedia; and New York State Almanac.

The subjects of these essays vary widely, but include: local history; business and commercial establishments; local events; local biography; and historic sites and structures.

Container list.

These records were transferred by the Federal Writers' Project to the State Library at an unknown date. Subsequently they were transferred to the Archives as boxes 16, 17, 34, 54, and 93 of old series 551, accession number -372.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.