PREFACE
The Historical Records Survey of Kentucky was inaugurated in January
of 1956 as a part of the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Progress Ad-
ministration. Since December 1956, the Survey has operated as an indepen-
dant unit of the nation-wide project under the technical supervision of
Dr. Luther H. Evans, National Director, Historical Records Survey, and un-
der the administrative supervision of the Division of Women's and Profes-
sional Projects of the Works Progress Administration of Kentucky,
_ Nation-wide uniformity of work has resulted from the use, by the
field workers, of standard forms, together with specific instructions from
' the National Office of the Survey.
Work of the Survey in McCreary County, Kentucky, was begun December 21,
1956, and completed April 10, 1957. A thorough recheck against the actual
records of McCreary County has been made, to assure the trustworthiness of
the inventory.
The statute creating the county is cited in the historical sketch. ln-
cluded is a map of the county reproduced by courtesy of the State Planning
Board. The discussion of governmental organization includes a chart exem-
plifying the governmental set-up in the county. A separate essay concerning
each office, including its history, functions, and records, precedes the en-
tries of the present county offices. Recommendations for improvement in the
arrangement and care of the county archives have been incorporated in the
section on "Housing, Care, and Accessibility of the Records", and have been
` made after unbiased study.
The various units of the Inventory of County Archives will be issued
in mimeographed form for free distribution to government offices, libraries,
and historical societies in Kentucky, as well as to libraries in other
states. Requests for information concerning particular units of the in-
ventory should be addressed to the State Director, Ninth and Broadway, Louis-
ville, Kentucky.
The listing and collecting of data pertaining to the county records was
done by Miss Lucy A. Kelly, under the direction of Mrs. Prentice U. Hurst,
District Supervisor, who with her office stafff consisting of Misses Addie
P. Demaree, Sara Davenport, and Nellie Lou Robards, prepared the preliminary
inventory. Abraham Freeman compiled the legal data for the individual office
essays. Harry P. Hoskins, historian, prepared the historical sketch from
original manuscripts located in the Filson Club in Louisville, Kentucky, and
records located in the various county depositories. The inventory was pre-
pared in final form by the state office staff. The inventory entries were
edited in final form by Mr. William.Turner. Miss Mildred Shapinsky, Assis-
tant State Supervisor, aided by Mrs. Elizabeth Johnston, was responsible for
the editorial work, including the individual office essays and the section
on governmental organization and record system. J. H. Raymer, Assistant
State Jirector, aided by Miss Thelma Bryant, classified and arranged the en-
· tries according to the respective offices, making cross references where noc-
essary. Jilliam Remington typed the inventory.
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