American New Deal: The WPA’s Federal Project Number One

Session: F349, Time & Date: Friday, 10 May 2019, 2:30 p.m.

The Works Progress Administration (later changed to Work Projects Administration) (WPA) carried out many public works projects (many still visible today); however, the smaller projects were just as effective.

Federal Project Number One originally consisted of 4 separate divisions/projects employing artists, musicians, actors and actresses, historians, researchers, and writers, to name a few. The Federal Art Project, Federal Music Project, Federal Theatre Project, Federal Writers Project, and the Historical Records Survey (added in 1936) contributed to the success of the WPA and to the employment record of the US.

This presentation will provide information on each division/project and their contributions; however, the focus will mainly be on the last two – the Federal Writers Project, and the Historical Records Survey – and some of the publications and inventories they created.

• State Guides

• Reference Guides

• City Histories

• Veteran’s Grave Registrations

• Lists of Religious Bodies

• House Histories

  • Survey of County Records

  • Survey of Church Records

  • Manuscripts Survey

  • Newspaper Survey

  • Inventory of State Records, Municipal Records, Civilian Organizations,

  • Inventory of Maps, Naturalization Records, Newspapers, Photographs

Ann is available for one-on-one chats at the conference. Also will be exhibiting – Ann-Mar Genealogy Trips, Booth 519.

Bio: Ann Staley is an educator, consultant, and co-leader of Ann-Mar Genealogy Trips. She is on the faculty, The National Institute for Genealogical Studies; Education Chair, Jacksonville Genealogical Society, Inc.; Vice President, Genealogical Speakers Guild; Director, Florida State Genealogical Society. She has authored several articles for NGS Magazine, and co-authored the NGS Research in the States Series-Florida. Her specialties are Methodology, Research Sources, Computer Resources, Vital Records and their Sources, Conference Planning, and assisted genealogy research trips.