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PREFACE ‘
The Historical Records Survey was inaugurated as a nation-wide project
in January 1956, as part of the Federal Writers’ Project of the Works Pro-
gress Administration. Since December 1936, the Survey has been carried on
as an independent unit in Kentucky, continuing to operate, however, as a
part of the nation·wide project under the technical supervision of Dr.
Luther H. Evans, National Director, Historical Records Survey, and under
the administrative supervision of the Division of Women's and Professional
Projects of the Works Progress Administration.
The objective of the Survey in Kentucky has been the preparation of
complete inventories of the records of the State and of each county, city,
and other governmental unit. Although necessarily condensed in form, an
entry may include, in the information given, certain historical facts of
value to historians and genealogists, Particular effort has been made to
supply all series of records with the inclusive dates, and to furnish
such description of individual record series that the reader may readily
know what information is available and where it is located.
The Inventory of County Archives in Kentucky, when completed, will con-
sist of a separate number for each county in the state, with the units of
the series numbered according to the respective alphabetical position of the
county. Thus the inventory herewith presented for Knox County is No. 61.
The inventory of the State archives and of municipal and other local records
will be compiled in separate publications.
Nation—wide uniformity of work has resulted from the use, by the field
workers, of standard forms, together with specific instructions from the Na-
tional Offico of the Survey, A thorough recheck against the actual records ‘
of Knox County has been made, to assure the trustworthiness of the inventory.
Work of the Survey in Knox County, Kentucky, was begun July 18, 1956, and
completed April 1, 1937.
In the historical sketch, the original boundaries of the county are
cited from the statutes, followed by citations of all subsequent changes.
Included is a map illustrating the original and present boundary lines of
the county. The discussion of governmental organization includes a series
of charts exemplifying the three governmental set-ups that have existed in
the county. A separate essay concerning each office, including its history,
functions, and records, precedes the entries of the present county offices.
Recommendations for improvement in the arrangement and care of the county
archives have been incorporated in the section on "Heusing, Care, and Acces-
Sibility 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 inventory should
be addressed to the State Director.
I The listing and collecting of data pertaining to the county records was
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