Series 1631: Historic Resources Inventory Photographs. 1934-1941; undated.
Dept. of Archives and History (RG 31). Historic Preservation (SG 4).

Series 1631: Historic Resources Inventory Photographs. 1934-1941; undated.
Dept. of Archives and History (RG 31). Historic Preservation (SG 4).

      Photographs removed from the architectural component of the Cultural Resources Inventory (CRI). The CRI, formerly known as the Statewide Survey, consists of a vertical data file of historic buildings, structures, and sites in Mississippi, which is compiled and maintained by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History (MDAH), State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Historic Preservation Division (HP). The survey was inaugurated in accordance with the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act (P.L. 89-655 (as amended)), and subsequent state legislation, which created the SHPO and provided matching grants for preparing “comprehensive statewide surveys of culturally significant sites.” The survey includes both prehistoric and historic sites, a primary constituent of which is the survey of historic buildings and properties maintained by the HP Architectural History Section.¹

      Prior to the statewide survey, architectural inventory work in Mississippi was limited to the nationwide Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS), initiated in 1933, and the data gathered by the Work Projects Administration (WPA) projects in Mississippi, 1936-1939.² Photographs and data produced by these surveys, as well as material from other MDAH collections were used to create the current inventory. In the 1980s the Statewide Survey was reorganized. The survey was renamed the Cultural Resources Inventory, which comprised both the Archaeological Site Files and the architectural inventory. The portion of the CRI pertaining to historic buildings and properties was titled the Historic Resources Inventory (HRI), and a new numbering system was established. In addition, Architectural History staff initiated the on-going process of removing the original WPA, HABS and other early photographs from these files.

      The majority of the photographs in this series appear to be from the WPA surveys of 1936-1939. Many were attached to their original WPA forms containing identifying information, including, WPA code, name, brief historical sketch of the structure, name of the photographer and historian, and date. The Statewide Survey stamp and number(s) were added to this original sheet. HABS photographs are identified by number, name of photographer, and date. In addition, there are also photographs of unknown origin. All the images are identified, either on the photograph itself, or on a corresponding data sheet.

      Please see the Official Records Photograph Finding Aid for an item-level description of the images in this series.

See also:
      Series 443: Scrapbooks. 1936-1941 (RG 60).
      Series 1824: Historic American Buildings Survey Photographs. 1934-1975.

The Photograph List consists of the following data elements:

1. Co. - the Mississippi County in which the image is located as listed on the item, or as identified by the archivist. Standard county abbreviations have been used (see list below).
2. Town/City - the location of the image as listed on the item, or as identified by the archivist. If the image is located in the vicinity of a town/city the abbreviation “vic.” is used.
3. Description - a brief description of the image as listed on the item, or as identified by the archivist. Current standard abbreviations have been used for Mississippi institutions of higher learning (see list below). Alternate building names are listed in parentheses.
4. Date - the exact or approximate date of the image as listed on the item, or as identified by the archivist.
5. Photographer: Studio - the name of the photographer as listed on the item, or as identified by the archivist. Other individuals associated with the creation of the image are also included here, followed by their job title in parentheses. The name of the photographic studio is preceded by a colon.
6. Sponsor - the name of the individual or agency that sponsored the image as listed on the item, or as identified by the archivist. Where possible agency abbreviations are used (see list below)
7. Form - the format of the image (see list of abbreviations below).
8. Box #- the number of the box in which the image is located (For box location see listing above).
9. FF# - the number of the file folder in which the image is located.
10. Image# - the number of each individual image (on the actual photograph this number is preceded by the series number and is written either on back of the image, or on the page next to the image). If the image is a duplicate the abbreviation “dup.” follows the number.

Institutions of Higher Learning:

• ASU - Alcorn State University
• DSU - Delta State University
• JSU - Jackson State University
• MC - Mississippi College
• MUW - Mississippi College for Women
• MSU - Mississippi State University
• UM - The University of Mississippi
• UMC - University Medical Center
• USM - The University of Southern Mississippi
• USM, Gulf Coast Branch
• MVS - Mississippi Valley State

Agencies:

• HABS - Historic American Building Survey
• MDAH - Mississippi Department of Archives and History
• WPA - Work Projects Administration

Form:

• b - black and white photograph

Counties: