Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of New York Correspondence and Working Files of the District…
Statement on Language
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Overview of the Records
Repository
- New York State Archives
222 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12230
Summary
- This series contains mostly "field editorial copy" prepared by field workers for several statewide and local projects in District 1 (Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington Counties) including New York: A Guide to the Empire State (published); New York State Encyclopedia; New York State Almanac; Historical Album of New York State; and city guides. Essay topics include: local history; origin of place names; local biography; folklore; historic sites and structures; and natural history. Correspondence clarifies assignment requirements.
Title
- Writers' Program correspondence and working files of the District 1 supervisor's office
Quantity
- 9 cubic feet
Inclusive Dates
Series Number
- A4190
Creator
Arrangement
Arranged by editorial project or form of record, then alphabetical by author, county, or city.
Administrative History
District 1 of the Federal Writers' Project in New York included the area encompassed by the following counties: Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Hamilton, Saratoga, Warren, and Washington. The district office apparently was in Glens Falls.
Scope and Content Note
The files mostly contain "field editorial copy" prepared by field workers for several statewide and local projects.
Each essay usually has 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). 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.
This copy was used in the preparation of the following published and unpublished writing projects: New York: A Guide to the Empire State (published); New York State Encyclopedia; New York State Almanac; Historical Album of New York State; and various city guides.
The subjects of these essays vary widely. Some general topics included are: local history; origin of place names; local biography; folklore; historic sites and structures; and natural history.
Also included is some correspondence of the acting district supervisor with the state director and field workers. This correspondence is usually filed at the beginning of the files of field editorial copy for each major writing project. It contains information on: the amount of work completed on projects; the format of editorial copy requested by the state director's office; general work assignments; procedures for organizing and filing editorial copy; and the types of essays to be prepared for different projects.
At the end of the series are maps, pamphlets, brochures, local histories, and other secondary source material used by the district office.
Other Finding Aids
Box 8 includes a 3" x 5" card index to municipalities, sites, and institutions in the counties of District 1.
Container list.
Custodial History
These records were transferred by the Writers' Project to the State Library at an unknown date. Subsequently, they were transferred to the Archives as boxes 52 (part), 53, 57, 62, 65, 68-71 of old collection #551, accession number -372.
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of the material.
Access Terms
Corporate Name(s)
- Federal Writers' Project (N.Y.)
- Federal Writers' Project
- New York (State). Education Department. Division of Archives and History
- New York (State). Education Department
- United States. Works Progress Administration
Geographic Name(s)
- Hamilton County (N.Y.)
- Washington County (N.Y.)
- Franklin County (N.Y.)
- Essex County (N.Y.)
- New York (State)--History
- Warren County (N.Y.)
- Clinton County (N.Y.)
- Saratoga County (N.Y.)
- Fulton County (N.Y.)