Tennessee State Library and Archives Works Progress Administration

State of Tennessee Department of State Tennessee State Library and Archives

Works Progress Administration Historical Records Survey (Williamson County, Tenn.), 1936-1941

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Creator:

Historical Records Survey (U.S.)

Inclusive Dates:

1936-1941

Scope & Content:

Consists of documents related to the Works Progress Administration Historical Records Survey in Tennessee, specifically Williamson County. A vast majority of material consists of memos. Other material includes checklists, manuals, a regional map, and summaries related to the activities of the Historical Records Survey.

Physical Description/Extent:

0.5 cubic feet

Accession/Record Group Number:

1990-257

Language:

English

Permanent Location:

XXII-F-2

Repository:

Tennessee State Library and Archives, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee, 37243-0312

Administrative/Biographical History

• April 8, 1935 -- The Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935 funds the creation of numerous federal agencies, including the Works Progress Administration (WPA). • May 6, 1935 -- Executive Order 7034 establishes the WPA. • July 1935 -- Harry S. Berry becomes state administrator of the newly established WPA in Tennessee. • August-September 1935 -- Federal Project Number One (also known as Federal One) begins under the direction of the Division of Women's and Professional Projects (later renamed the Division of Professional and Service Projects). Federal One establishes the Federal Art Project, the Federal Music Project, the Federal Theatre Project, and the Federal Writers' Project. • November 15, 1935 -- The Historical Records Survey (HRS) begins under the direction of the Federal Writer's Project. Its purpose was to survey and index records in state, county, and local archives. • April 1936 -- The HRS launches in Tennessee under the direction of Marshall Jones. • October 1936 -- The HRS becomes an independent division of Federal One. • June-September 1939 -- Funding cuts force the termination of all Federal One divisions. HRS becomes a unit of the Research and Records Program, Professional and Service Division. • September 1939 -- Direction of HRS projects becomes the responsibility of individual states. Operation of the project depends on funding from local sources. In Tennessee, the State Planning Commission, as well as various county and city governments, takes over HRS funding. • February 1, 1943 -- Presidential letter of December 4, 1942 terminates operations of the HRS.

Organization/Arrangement of Materials

Collection is arranged by document type.

Conditions of Access and Use

Restrictions on Access:

No restrictions.

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction:

While the Tennessee State Library and Archives houses an item, it does not necessarily hold the copyright on the item, nor may it be able to determine if the item is still protected under current copyright law. Users are solely responsible for determining the existence of such instances and for obtaining any other permissions and paying associated fees that may be necessary for the intended use.

Index Terms

Corporate Names/Organizations/Government Bodies:

Federal Writers’ Project Tennessee Historical Records Survey United States. Works Progress Administration United States. Works Progress Administration. Division of Professional and Service Projects United States. Works Progress Administration. Division of Women's and Professional Projects

Subjects:

New Deal, 1933-1939 -- Tennessee

Geographic Names:

Williamson County (Tenn.) -- History -- Sources

Document Types:

Checklists Manuals (instructional materials) Memorandums Regional maps Summaries

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition:

Works Progress Administration Historical Records Survey (Williamson County, Tenn.), 1936-1941, were transferred to the Tennessee State Library & Archives on July 12, 1979.

Processing and Administrative Information

Preferred Citation:

Works Progress Administration Historical Records Survey (Williamson County, Tenn.), 1936-1941, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

Processing Information:

Processed by Emily Davis, October 2019.

Related Archival Materials:

Works Progress Administration Historical Records Survey, 1935-1943, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Nashville, Tennessee.

DETAILED COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

CONTAINER LIST

Contents/Item Title Date Box Folder Field time reports -- Crockett, J. 1940-1941 1 1 Map -- HRS -- Tennessee undated 1 2 Memos 1938-1940 1 3 Memos 1939-1940 1 4 Memos 1940 1 5 Memos 1939-1941 1 6 Memos 1938-1940 1 7 Memos 1938-1941 1 8 Memos 1939-1940 1 9 Memos 1938-1940 1 10 Memos 1938-1940 1 11 Memos 1938-1941 1 12 Memos 1938-1941 1 13 Memos 1938 1 14 Memos 1938-1940 1 15 Memos 1938-1939 1 16 Memos 1938-1939 1 17 Memos 1938-1941 1 18 Printed materials -- “Checklist of Records” 1937 1 19 Printed materials -- “General Highway Leg.” 1940 1 20 Printed materials -- “Instructions for Using” 1939 1 21

Printed materials -- “Manual of the Survey” 1936 1 22