Creator: Work Projects Administration (RG 60).

Collection Summary: Scrapbooks produced by the Work Projects Administration (WPA) for the period 1936-1941. The series consists of proofs of “A Pictorial History of Mississippi,” prepared by the Historical Research Project and a scrapbook of photographs of WPA improvement projects. Administrative documents accompanying the “Pictorial History of Mississippi” indicate that it was intended to comprise the following folios: a chronological history of Southern Mississippi; a chronological history of north Mississippi; a history depicted in architecture, showcasing homes, churches, schools and government buildings; agriculture and industry, parks and forests; monuments, relics and artifacts; and professional and civil leaders, authors and artists. The series includes scrapbook pages with photographs, illustrations and captions for Mississippi a Pictorial History, A Pictorial History of Mississippi Architecture, A Pictorial History of Mississippi Agriculture and Industry, A Pictorial History of Southern Mississippi, and A Pictorial History of Mississippi Trees. Also included with the pictorial histories is a December 1937 map of the United States, which shows Historical Records Survey projects. Researchers should also note that correspondence and other administrative files related to this project are found in Series 1826: Picture Book Working Files. 1940-1941. The second scrapbook consists of photographs of WPA improvement projects from around the state.  The scrapbook is undated and there is no accompanying identifying documentation.

Access Restrictions: None.

Date(s): 1936-1941, undated.

Volume: 1.75 Cubic Feet.

Finding Aid Created By: Colby Cox in September 2024.

Related Materials: Series 1826: Picture Book Working Files. 1940-1941.

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
Improvement projects - Attala County10459
Improvement projects - Brookhaven10459
Improvement projects - Bude10459
Improvement projects - Clarke County10459
Improvement projects - Copiah County10459
Improvement projects - Edwards10459
Improvement projects - Greenville10459
Improvement projects - Greenwood10459
Improvement projects - Harrison County10459
Improvement projects - Jackson County10459
Improvement projects - McComb10459
Improvement projects - Neshoba County10459
Proof: Pictorial History of Mississippi10457
Proof: Pictorial History of Mississippi Agriculture & Industry10458
Proof: Pictorial History of Mississippi Architecture10455
Proof: Pictorial History of Mississippi Trees (incomplete)10456
Proof: Pictorial History of South Mississippi10460