Goodman-Paxton Inventory and Images
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See the Explore UK finding aid for the Goodman-Paxton Papers located in the University of Kentucky Libraries' Special Collections Research Center.
"The collection includes just a small amount of Edwin Paxton's correspondence, with most of the materials pertaining to George Goodman and his tenure as director of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Kentucky from 1934 through 1941."
See the Explore UK finding aid for the Goodman-Paxton Photographic Collection of WPA photos located in the University of Kentucky Libraries' Special Collections Research Center.
"The collection consists of 5699 black and white photographic prints, taken for and under the direction of George Goodman, Director of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Kentucky. Cover in the years 1934 to 1942, these images document the accomplishments of the WPA within the state. Views of building and road construction predominate, although photographs of people enrolled in various WPA training programs are located at the end of each album. The collection documents the construction of schools, hospitals, courthouses, libraries, and municipal buildings."
To search the collection by subject, choose details.
The University of Kentucky's WPA collection becomes a Center of Excellence
The Works Progress Administration (WPA) collection at the University of Kentucky dates from the early 1930s to the late 1970s and is becoming more comprehensive thanks to the Association of Southeastern Research Libraries (ASERL), and the Collaborative Federal Depository Program (CFDP). UK has been given the opportunity to develop a Center of Excellence for the WPA through an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) grant. As a Center of Excellence, UK is developing a collection of archival pieces that are non-circulating and will preserve the WPA publications in their original format. The libraries are also acquiring extra copies for use by researchers. Currently, UK's collection has over 2,600 items published by the Works Progress Administration.
The WPA published many American Imprints Inventories, which are quite fascinating historical accounts of library collections in each state. The Supplemental Check List Of Kentucky Imprints 1788-1820: American Imprints Inventory No. 38 lists the titles of books published about or in Kentucky. This particular book lists the holdings of 30 libraries around the United States.
The University of Kentucky's collection has many items that chronicle Kentucky's involvement and history with the WPA such as:
Inventory of The County Archives of Kentucky: no.34 Fayette County (Lexington). Prepared by The Historical Records Survey, the Division of Women's and Professional Projects, and the Works Progress Administration. This publication contains an historical sketch of Lexington as well as a layout of the governmental organization. It also states that the State Office of the Historical Records Survey was originally located in Lexington. 
Another interesting publication from the WPA is the Assigned Occupations of persons employed on WPA projects, published in November 1937. This publication is filled primarily with tables numbering how many people were employed on WPA projects organized by state. The introduction provides a brief description of the data as well as the occupational groups and major types of projects.
The WPA was also responsible for publishing many Guides, one of which is the Guide to Depositories of Manuscript Collections In the United States: Minnesota. This guide contains lists organized by library of all the manuscripts held in Minnesota libraries.
Digitized WPA Publications
Digital images of Kentucky-related WPA publications are available online.
- ExploreUK Kentucky Works Progress Administration collectionDigital images of Kentucky-related WPA publications are available online in the Expore UK Kentucky Works Progress Administration collection.
- InfoKat Discovery This link opens in a new windowDigitized publications are also accessible online via the Internet access link displayed in InfoKat Discovery records.
Visual Modules of WPA Activity in Kentucky
The following visual modules reflect Works Progress Administration activity in Kentucky during the 1930s and 1940s:
WPA Construction Projects in Kentucky: Adair-Cumberland Counties
WPA Construction Projects in Kentucky: Daviess-Johnson Counties
WPA Construction Projects in Kentucky: Kenton-Muhlenberg Counties
WPA Construction Projects in Kentucky: Nelson-Woodford Counties
WPA Packhorse Librarians in Kentucky
WPA Professional Employment Programs in Kentucky
WPA Recreation & Child Care Programs in Kentucky
WPA Women's Training Centers in Kentucky