Collection Guide
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Guide to the WPA Collection
MS 314
MS 314
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Table of contents
Title: WPA Collection
Identifier/Call Number: MS 314
Contributing Institution:
San Diego History Center Document Collection
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
5.5 Linear feet
(11 boxes)
Date (bulk): Bulk, 1937-1942
Date (inclusive): 1835-1942
Abstract: This is an artificial collection of bound works created under several projects funded by the Works Progress Administration
in San Diego during the late 1930s.
creator:
United States. Works Progress Administration.
Biographical / Historical Notes
The Works Progress Administration was a New Deal agency formed in 1935 to alleviate unemployment. 8.5 million people were
employed by the WPA over eight years, primarily unskilled labor carrying out public works projects such as the construction
of buildings and roads. Some of the smaller projects such as Federal Project Number One employed musicians, writers, and other
artists for large media and literacy projects.
Most of the items in this collection were created for the City Library Extension Project, the City Schools Curriculum Project,
or the Federal Writers’ Project. The City Library Extension Project had workers rebind pre-existing publications for use in
local libraries. The San Diego City Schools Curriculum Project employed dozens of local workers to produce educational materials
for numerous subjects and then test them in classrooms. Approximately 500 copies were produced of each approved work. The
Federal Writers’ Project, run under the auspice of Federal Project Number One, funded the creation of local histories, oral
histories, ethnographies, children’s books, and other civic-minded works.
This is an artificial collection of bound works created under several projects funded by the Works Progress Administration
in San Diego during the late 1930s. These include pre-existing publications rebound for library use, educational materials
developed for classroom use, and local history materials on place names and historic landmarks.
This collection is arranged in four series:
Series I: City Library Extension Project;
Series II: City Schools Curriculum Project;
Series III: Federal Writers’ Project;
Series IV: Miscellanea.
Within each series, publications are arranged alphabetically by title.
WPA Collection, MS 314, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.
This collection is open for research.
The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.
Collection processed by Brent Stout in May 2016.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
City Library Extension Project.
City Schools Curriculum Project.
Federal Writers Project.