Creator: Work Projects Administration (RG 60).

Collection Summary: Files from 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 publications such as 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. 

Access Restrictions: None.

Date(s): 1935-1943.

Volume: 3.00 Cubic Feet.

Finding Aid Created By: Colby Cox in August 2024.

Related Materials: TBD

Record Group History: The Works Projects Administration (WPA) was a federal program established on May 6th, 1935, in order to increase employment during the Great Depression. While the WPA was a federal program, it was implemented and managed on the state level with each state having their own director and office to guide the operation of the WPA for each state. The WPA was primarily focused on employing individuals for the purpose of creating public works and infrastructure, but a small portion of its funding was devoted to cultural and artistic endeavors which the files in this collection are primarily concerned with. Two of the major cultural projects the WPA undertook were the Federal Writers’ Project and the Historical Records Survey. The Federal Writers Project employed writers to create guides, histories, and chronicles for each state and the Historical Records Survey sought to catalogue the historical records of each state.

Collection Inventory:
Box Content 

Box Number

Advisory Committee Correspondence: 1936-1937. 

10480

Eri Douglas Files and Correspondence: 1935-1943.

10480

Gene Holcomb Files and Correspondence: 1936-1941.

10480

General Office Files: 1936-1942. 

10481

Harris Dickson Files and Correspondence: 1936. 

10481

Project Files: 1936-1942. 

Exhibits: 1938.
Folklore: 1936-1939.
Gulf Coast Guides: 1938-1939.
"Men at Work": 1940-1941.
Military Publications/"This Week in Jackson": 1942.
"Mississippi Picture Book": 1941.
Military Publications/Military Readers: 1942.
Military Publications/Serv. Guide-Vicksburg: 1941-1942.
Military Publications/Soldiers-on-Leave News: 1941-42.
Publications Sales: 1938-1939.
Publicity: 1937-1938.
Publishing Affairs: 1936-1939.
Recreational Guide: 1939.

10481

Project Files: 1936-1941.

American Guide Series Reference Files: 1936-1941.
"Miss.: A Guide..."/Advertising Commission sponsorship: 1937-38.
"Miss.: A Guide..."/Correspondence: 1938.
"Miss.: A Guide..."/Errata File: 1938-1939.
"Miss.: A Guide..."/Informational Reports: 1938.
"Miss.: A Guide..."/Miscellaneous materials: 1938.  
"Miss.: A Guide..."/Newspaper Reviews: 1938.    
"Miss.: A Guide..."/Publicity & Buyers: 1938.

10482

Project Files 1942.

"Directory of Social Agencies in Miss.": 1942.
Index to Proceedings of Miss. State Bar Association: 1939.
Military Publications/Civilian Protection, Gas Defense: 1942.
Military Publications/Guide to Camp Van Dorn: 1943.
Military Publications/Soldier's Guide Jackson: 1941.
Military Publications/Svc Guide to Hattiesburg: 1942.
 

07151