Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of New York Working Files of the District 2 Supervisor's Office A4191

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

Some content may contain outdated and offensive terminology. See: New York State Archives Statement on Language in Descriptive Resources

Overview of the Records

Repository:

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

Summary:

This series mostly contains files of "field editorial copy" prepared by field workers in District 2 (Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Schoharie, and Ulster counties) for statewide and local writing projects such as New York: A Guide to the Empire State (published); Guide to Albany (published); New York State Encyclopedia; and New York State Almanac. Files may contain manuscript drafts of copy on subjects such as local history, biography and events; business and commercial establishments; and historic sites and structures.

Creator:

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

Title:

Writers Program working files of the District 2 supervisor's office

Quantity:

5 cubic feet

Inclusive Dates:

1936-1942

Series Number:

A4191

Arrangement

Arranged by general form or function of record.

Administrative History

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.

Scope and Content Note

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This copy was used in the preparation of the following published and unpublished writing projects: New York: A Guide to the Empire State (published); Guide to Albany (published); New York State Encyclopedia; and New York State Almanac.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

Other Finding Aids

Available at Repository

Container list.

Custodial History

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.