00695 MINNESOTA WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION: An Inventory of Its Records at the Minnesota Historical Society Finding aid prepared by the Minnesota Historical Society Minnesota Historical Society

St. Paul, MN.

Manuscripts Collection

Finding aid encoded by Minnesota Historical SocietyMarch 2009 Finding aid written in English. OVERVIEW Minnesota Historical Society Minnesota Works Progress Administration. Works Progress Administration collection. 1849-1960. Materials in English. The Works Progress Administration papers collection includes information related to the history of Minnesota collected and prepared under the auspices of the Federal Writers' Project, administrative files, and a photo and negative collection containing numerous views of WPA projects around the state of Minnesota. 64.5 cu. ft. (127 boxes). 167 microfilm reels (16mm). Approximately 4,317 photoprints and 4,287 negatives : b&w ; 8x10 in. and smaller. See Detailed Description for shelf locations. CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics: Bridges -- Minnesota -- Design and construction. Dams -- Minnesota -- Design and construction. Federal aid to outdoor recreation -- Minnesota. Historical markers -- Minnesota. Minnesota -- History -- To 1858. Minnesota -- History -- 1858-. Public buildings -- Minnesota -- Design and construction. Public service employment -- Minnesota. Public works -- Minnesota. Roads -- Minnesota -- Design and construction. School buildings -- Minnesota -- Maintenance and repair. Schools -- Minnesota -- Design and construction. Organizations: Federal Art Project (Minn.). Federal Music Project (Minn.). Minnesota Federal Writers' Project. Minnesota Works Progress Administration. Minnesota Works Projects Administration. Document Types: Microforms. Photographs. Negatives. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Alternate Form Available:

Selected images from this collection are also available in Collections Online.

Microfilm Production:

M529: St. Paul, Minn. : Minnesota Historical Society, 1987-1990. 167 reels; 16 mm.

Microfilm available for sale or interlibrary loan from the Minnesota Historical Society.

The original news clippings were destroyed after microfilming was completed.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Minnesota Works Progress Administration. Works Progress Administration collection. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 2738; 5214; 7174; 10,308; 11,246; 12,268,; 13,418; 13,917; 14,035; 14,187; 15,873; 981-213

Processing Information:

Processed by: Jennifer Huebscher and Jillian Odland, March-October 2009.

Catalog ID number: 006817640

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Writers Project Research Notes

The Minnesota Federal Writers' Project began in November, 1935. During its seven-year existence it issued a number of publications, including a state guide and several county and municipal histories. This series contains research notes, articles, drafts, and completed histories of counties, ethnic and nationality groups, Minnesota rivers, and miscellaneous subjects.

Writers Project Research Notes, ca. 1935-1943. Annals of Minnesota

Compilation of the Annals of Minnesota was initiated by the Minnesota Federal Writers' Project in July, 1938. The project also was referred to as the Minnesota Annals and the Minnesota Newspaper Annals. Its purpose was to create a comprehensive reference file of historical information transcribed from articles published in Minnesota newspapers.

Annals of Minnesota, ca. 1849-1922; 1941-42. Historical Records Survey

Inventories of historical records existing in each county in Minnesota, prepared by WPA workers. In many instances, the worker also gathered information about the histories of the units assigned to them and prepared summaries of their findings.

Historical Records Survey, ca. 1852-1944. Administrative Files

Includes letters, bulletins, speeches, numerous reports, and miscellaneous items.

Administrative Files, ca. 1932-1942. Works Projects Administration Papers

Series is comprised of material concerning various aspects of the history and archaeology of Minnesota prepared by workers under the auspices of a WPA project. Papers are of two types: lists of historical markers and cemeteries in Minnesota, and research notes and drafts of essays on a variety of historical topics along with a small amount of primary source material.

Works Projects Administration Papers, ca. 1890-1942. Photograph and Negative Collection

Series provides numerous views of WPA projects around the state of Minnesota. In addition to views of WPA projects, several photographs compiled by the WPA for local histories are also included: some of these views date back to the 1860s. 85 of Minnesota's counties are represented in this collection with the heaviest emphasis on Ramsey and Hennepin counties.

Photograph and Negative Collection, ca. 1860s-1940s.