County work files

              State Archives Series 1040 AV
Ohio Federal Writers Project
County Work Files
Page 1
OHIO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
State Archives Record Series
SA Series 1040 AV
Ohio Federal Writers Project
County Work Files
OVERVIEW OF THE SERIES
Series Number: SA Series 1040 AV
Creating Agency: Ohio Federal Writers Project
Series Title: County Work Files
Dates of Series: 1936-1941
Media: Black & White photographs, glass negatives, nitrate
negatives and safety negatives
Quantity: 0.67 cubic feet
Location: Ohio Historical Society
AGENCY BACKGROUND
On May 6, 1935, the Works Progress Administration was established by Executive Order
7034. The prime objective of the WPA was to create public works jobs for the increasing
number of unemployed Americans on government relief rolls. The public works
programs were not only to provide employment for out-of-work laborers but, also for the
thousands of artists, musicians, actors and writers.
Incorporated into the WPA in the summer of 1935 was Federal Project Number One,
which created the Federal Arts Program. The FAP included the Federal Art Project,
Federal Music Project, Federal Theater Project, and Federal Writer’s Project. (Later the
Historical Records Survey was added.) The Professional Service Division of the WPA
administered all projects and, in the case of the Federal Writer’s Project (FWP), editorial
control was held with the National Director, Henry G. Alsberg. Each state had a number
of writers’ project districts, which reported to a state director. This director, independent
from the state WPA administrator, reported directly to Washington, D.C.
One of the primary goals of the FWP was the completion of the American Guide Series,
a compilation of guidebooks to each state. These guides were to include the history of
the state, sections on art, architecture, music, literature, history, and points of interest to
the major cities and a section of tours throughout the state.