Series 433: Administrative Office Files. 1935-1943.
Work Projects Administration (RG 60). Federal Writers' Project.

Series 433: Administrative Office Files. 1935-1943.
Work Projects Administration (RG 60). Federal Writers' Project.

      Files of the administrative office of the Mississippi branch of the Federal Writers’ Project. These files consist primarily of correspondence, but include other office standards such as staff information, progress reports, instruction manuals, and frequently-used reference materials.

      The correspondence falls largely into two categories: staff correspondence and project correspondence, with a great deal of overlap between the two. Staff correspondence is primarily that of State Supervisor Eli Douglass, editor Gene Holcomb, and editor Harris Dickson. Staff correspondence reflects such administrative tasks as making assignments, suggestions, and editorial corrections; securing permissions; and keeping staff apprised of procedures (expense reimbursements, for example) and arrangements (project publicity, publishing contracts). Project correspondence files are specific project files on such publications as the well-known Mississippi: A Guide to the Magnolia State. Project files contain a wide variety of materials illustrating the scope of a project, from original research through editing to the final publication and sales. There are not specific project files for each project. However, almost every project is dealt with in the staff correspondence.

      All Mississippi projects were closely monitored and supervised by the National Federal Writers’ Project office in Washington, D. C., and the files reflect this close working relationship. Just as the national office monitored the state office, the state administrative office closely monitored the work of the local writers and editors for every project undertaken. The assistance and involvement of the state office in the many projects is well-documented here.