The collection is comprised of reports from the historical and anthropological projects completed by the Works Progress Administration in Orange County, California from 1935 to 1939. The projects' reports reveal factual information on local history and anthropological research on Native Americans. Most reports are original or first carbon typescripts; they are illustrated with original photographs and sketches.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1935 as a part of his New Deal to curtail the Depression's effects on the United States. The WPA attempted to provide the unemployed with jobs that allowed individuals to preserve skills or talents.

Number of containers: 15 document boxes, 3 record cartons and 1 oversize folder

Linear feet: 15.75

Property rights reside with Rancho Santiago College. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact the Head of Special Collections and University Archives.

Collection is open for research