Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of New York Correspondence and Working Files of the Long Island Office A4189

Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of New York Correspondence and Working Files of the Long Island Office

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Overview of the Records

Repository:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Summary:

This series contains administrative and working files of Federal Writers' Project District Number 4 (Long Island). Included are notes, drafts of editorial copy, extracts from primary sources, sketch maps, and correspondence between the district supervisor and field workers or the state director concerning publications in progress such as the New York State Guide, New York State Almanac, and a variety of local guides and planned but apparently never published local guides to Babylon and Hempstead.

Creator:

Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of New York

Title:

Correspondence and working files of the Long Island Office

Quantity:

6 cubic feet

(6 boxes)

Inclusive Dates:

1936-1942

Series Number:

A4189

Arrangement

Organized into three subseries: #1. Geographical File; 2. Subject File; and 3. Working Files of Publications.

Geographical File:arranged alphabetically by name of community.

Subject File:arranged alphabetically by subject.

Working Files of Publications:arranged by publication.

Scope and Content Note

This series contains the surviving administrative and working files of Federal Writers' Project District Number 4, comprising Long Island exclusive of New York City.

The first two subseries contain notes, drafts of editorial copy, extracts from primary sources (e.g. municipal records or newspapers), sketch maps, and occasional correspondence between the district supervisor and field workers or the state director concerning publications in progress. These two subseries apparently were used to file source material for several published and unpublished writing projects, such as the New York State Guide, New York State Almanac, and a variety of local guides. They contain information on the history, customs, cultural activities, folklore, agriculture, natural history, and architecture of Long Island communities.

The third subseries contains notes, drafts, and some correspondence concerning planned local guides to the communities of Babylon and Hempstead. These publications cover a similar range of physical, cultural, and historical aspects of the communities. Apparently, neither of these two guides was ever published.

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

Container list.

Custodial History

These records were transferred to the NYSL at an unknown date. Subsequently they were transferred to the Archives as boxes 1-6 of old series 551, accession number -372.