🏛 The WPA’s Legacy in Historical Preservation: How 1930s Workers Saved America’s Past for Future Generations

📌 The WPA’s 1938 historical surveys and records preservation efforts saved historic buildings, maritime history, and courthouse records. Learn how this program provided jobs for researchers and historians while safeguarding America’s past.

Collage of WPA Projects to Preserve Historical Surveys and Records Include Archaeological Excavation (Alabama), Historic Building Blueprints (Massachusetts), Model Making (Pennsylvania), Indexing Records (New York), Historic Windmill (Illinois), Preservation of Records (Maryland), Historical Chapel (California). Inventory: An Appraisal of Results of the Works Progress Administration, Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1938. GGA Image ID # 152315c4bc

🏛 WPA Historical Surveys & Records - 1938

Preserving America’s Past: How WPA Historical Surveys Safeguarded National Heritage

📖 The WPA’s 1938 report on historical surveys and records preservation highlights one of the most significant yet often overlooked contributions of the program. While much of the WPA’s work focused on construction and relief efforts, this initiative provided employment for historians, architects, clerks, and researchers, who meticulously documented historic buildings, merchant marine records, court archives, and archaeological sites. The result was a treasure trove of permanent records, blueprints, and inventories that continue to aid genealogists, historians, and preservationists today.

For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document provides:

✔️ Invaluable insights into how the WPA saved historic documents and sites from destruction.

✔️ A deep dive into early efforts at architectural preservation and archival organization.

✔️ A resource for understanding how genealogical and historical records were cataloged.

✔️ A rare glimpse into early federal support for the preservation of American history.

📌 This report highlights the WPA’s role in ensuring that future generations have access to historical records and national heritage materials.

Just as many communities have used WPA manual workers to restore historic shrines, they also have used WPA clerical and research workers to restore and preserve dusty old public records which contain not only the answers to many legal puzzles, but also a rich store of historical data.

Subject Matter Title Page for WPA Historical Surveys and Records Projects—0.2 Percent of Total Program. Inventory: An Appraisal of Results of the Works Progress Administration, Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1938. GGA Image ID # 1524ab4b88

On several Federally conducted projects, priceless historical records have been hunted out and set down for posterity. For example, leading American architects had lamented for decades the fact that many historic buildings were being destroyed year by year, with no record of their design available.

At the same time, there were on the relief rolls hundreds of architects and draftsmen capable of compiling such a record.

To answer this need the Historic American Building Survey was launched, under the sponsorship of the National Park Service, with many local chapters of the American Institute of Architects contributing advisory services. Its technical workers made detailed measurements of 2,302 buildings, took 17,480 photographs of them and made 16,244 drawings illustrating their design.

All these data are now on file in the Fine Arts Division of the Library of Congress—a permanent record—and copies of any plate are available for a nominal sum. The value of the record may be illustrated by the fact that a number of the buildings measured have been destroyed since the work was done.

Another small but colorful project of the same type is the Historic American Merchant Marine Survey, sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution, which has gathered and preserved data on clipper ships and other sailing craft, as well as the early power boats.

About 100 persons did this work, surveying 270 vessels, making 545 photographs and 677 drawings. These records are in the National Museum, available for study by naval architects, students of marine design, writers, and motion picture producers.

The specialized training on this project has enabled one-fifth of the personnel to return to private employment. Other WPA clerical and research workers are carrying out a Nation-wide Historical Records Survey, organizing and listing the significant documents in courthouses, city halls, churches, schools, and other nonfederal centers.

These inventories are being mimeographed, county by county, for public officials and historians. Fifty such county records already have been published, while the records have been listed in a total of 2,021 counties, 1,040 towns, and 40,453 churches.

The Historical Records Survey was initiated by the American Historical Association and the Joint Committee on Materials for Research, acting in conjunction with officials of the Library of Congress and the National Archives.

Many historians have praised the results. Dr. Jean Stephenson, chairman of the genealogical records committee of the D. A. R., calls it "The most important project ... in revitalizing our history that has been planned for many years." She adds that "six years ago it was estimated that a survey of this type would cost at least fifty million dollars."

Conyers Read, executive secretary of the American Historical Association, has said, "I know of no other national survey of records in the world to compare with this one." Francis S. Philbrick of the University of Pennsylvania calls it "a great success."

President Dixon Ryan Fox of the New York State Historical Society finds it "a clean-cut definite project of great public usefulness," while Clarence E. Carter, President of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association, says, "I know of no project in the history of the country that has been welcomed more heartily by historians, lawyers, publicists, and genealogists."

"If you keep up the good work," writes Dr. Charles A. Beard, "we shall someday have the bedrock materials for a real history of civilization in the United States—and hence a deeper understanding of American life."

Another Nation-wide survey is in progress for the Federal Archives which has rescued many valuable historic documents from oblivion.

WPA workers on this project have dug through the records of 28,792 agencies in all parts of the country, surveying 4,876,000 linear feet of files. Sample discoveries: In Maryland, the original bill of sale for ships used in the War of 1812; in Louisiana, a letter giving a vivid eyewitness account of the Battle of New Orleans; in San Francisco, a letter from an engineer proposing the Bay Bridge in 1867; in Virginia, the first fire insurance policy on Mt. Vernon, home of George Washington, dated 1803; and in New York, the deed by which Guttaquoh, Indian chief, conveyed Coney Island to the Dutch settlers in 1654.

Collage of Other WPA Projects to Preserve Historical Surveys and Records Include Indexing Dusty Records (Massachusetts), Tax Survey (Texas), Excavation (Alabama), Indexing Archives (Mississippi), Historical Deeds (New York), Merchant Marine Surveys (Delaware), Archaeological Research (Alabama), Historic Building Blueprints (Virginia), Historical Maps (Louisiana). Inventory: An Appraisal of Results of the Works Progress Administration, Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1938. GGA Image ID # 15239683cd

"Historical Surveys and Records," in Inventory: An Appraisal of Results of the Works Progress Administration, Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1938, pp. 59-62.

Why This Document is Important

📜 Relevance for Different Audiences

✔ For Historians & Archivists

🔹 Details how the Historic American Building Survey documented over 2,300 historic structures.

🔹 Explains how WPA workers indexed courthouse and municipal records, creating resources still used today.

🔹 Provides evidence of how public investment in historical preservation benefited national archives.

✔ For Genealogists & Family Historians

🔹 WPA records surveys helped preserve census records, court documents, and land deeds.

🔹 Your ancestors may have worked on or benefited from these projects.

🔹 The data WPA indexed continues to be essential for modern genealogical research.

✔ For Teachers & Students

🔹 A case study in how the federal government contributed to preserving historical records.

🔹 Explores how historic preservation aids cultural identity and national memory.

🔹 Illustrates the importance of record-keeping in democracy and legal history.

📌 This document serves as a historical record of the WPA’s contributions to national archives and preservation.

🏛 Historic American Building Survey (HABS)

✔ Why This is Fascinating:

🔹 Measured and photographed 2,302 buildings.

🔹 Created 17,480 photographs and 16,244 architectural drawings.

🔹 Many buildings recorded have since been destroyed, making this the only surviving record.

✔ Key Takeaway:

The WPA’s HABS project laid the groundwork for modern historic preservation efforts.

📌 This section is crucial for anyone interested in historic architecture, urban studies, and preservation efforts.

⛵ Historic American Merchant Marine Survey

✔ Why This is Fascinating:

🔹 Documented 270 historic vessels, including clipper ships and early powerboats.

🔹 Created 545 photographs and 677 technical drawings for future reference.

🔹 Records are stored in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum.

✔ Key Takeaway:

This project preserved maritime history for naval architects, researchers, and filmmakers.

📌 This section connects to America’s seafaring legacy and its influence on global trade and exploration.

📜 Historical Records Survey

✔ Why This is Fascinating:

🔹 Indexed courthouse, church, and school records across 2,021 counties.

🔹 Surveyed 40,453 churches and 1,040 towns for historical records.

🔹 Resulted in 50 published county records, still referenced today.

✔ Key Takeaway:

This effort became the foundation for modern historical and genealogical research.

📌 This section is essential for understanding the importance of preserving municipal records.

📂 Federal Archives Survey

✔ Why This is Fascinating:

Surveyed 28,792 agencies and reviewed 4,876,000 linear feet of records.

Rediscovered forgotten documents, including:

📜 A War of 1812 ship bill of sale in Maryland.

🏛 A letter describing the Battle of New Orleans in Louisiana.

🌉 An 1867 proposal for the San Francisco Bay Bridge.

🏠 An 1803 fire insurance policy for George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

📖 The 1654 deed transferring Coney Island to Dutch settlers.

✔ Key Takeaway:

Without WPA workers, many of these documents might have been lost forever.

📌 This section underscores how historical preservation efforts protect vital records from being forgotten.

🖼 Noteworthy Images & Their Significance

🖼 🏛 "Collage of WPA Projects to Preserve Historical Surveys and Records"

🔹 Depicts workers engaged in archaeological excavation, model making, and indexing.

🔹 Highlights efforts to document and safeguard historical landmarks.

🖼 📂 "Collage of Other WPA Historical Records Projects"

🔹 Features workers indexing records, drawing blueprints, and preserving tax documents.

🔹 Illustrates how WPA efforts improved record-keeping and access to historical data.

🖼 ⛵ "Collage of Merchant Marine Surveys & Historical Maps"

🔹 Documents ships, historical blueprints, and property records.

🔹 Captures how WPA workers documented America’s maritime and architectural heritage.

📌 These images visually demonstrate the scale and significance of WPA preservation efforts.

Bias & Perspective Considerations

✔ Pro-WPA Narrative:

🔹 The report praises WPA efforts but does not address challenges such as funding issues or inefficiencies.

🔹 What records might have been overlooked?

🔹 Did all communities benefit equally, or were some areas prioritized?

✔ Absence of Criticism from Private Archivists

🔹 How did private historians react to government intervention in record preservation?

🔹 Were there concerns about accuracy or methods?

📌 While the WPA’s contributions to historical preservation are undeniable, further research is needed to assess gaps or biases in the archival process.

Final Thoughts: Why This Report Matters

"WPA Historical Surveys & Records - 1938" provides a vital historical account of how the U.S. government actively worked to preserve the nation's history. From saving courthouse records and architectural blueprints to documenting historic ships and forgotten letters, this initiative ensured that future generations would have access to critical historical data.

📌 Many of the records indexed by WPA workers remain in use today, proving that a government-led effort can have lasting cultural and historical benefits.

💡 The WPA’s commitment to preservation reminds us that history is only as strong as the records we keep. 📜🏛📂