George H. Goodman and Edwin J. Paxton papers, 1911-1950

Abstract

This collection contains the papers and photographs of George H. Goodman and Edwin J. Paxton, consecutive owners of the Paducah News-Democrat. 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. Included are correspondence, clippings, photographs, financial statements for the News-Democrat, and testimony and affidavits concerning charges made by Governor A.B. Chandler that the Kentucky WPA pressured its employees to support Alben Barkley in the 1938 Democratic Senatorial primary.

Descriptive Summary

Title
George H. Goodman and Edwin J. Paxton papers, 1911-1950
Creator
Goodman, George H., 1876-1961.
Extent
5 cu. ft.
Subjects
Barkley, Alben William, 1877-1956.
Chandler, Happy, 1898-
Cobb, Irvin S. (Irvin Shrewsbury), 1876-1944.
Goodman, George H., 1876-1961.
Paxton, Edwin John, 1877-1961.
United States. Congress. Senate Elections, 1938.
United States. Works Progress Administration. Kentucky.
Ephraim McDowell House (Danville, Ky.)
John James Audubon State Park (Henderson, Ky.). Museum.
News-Democrat (Paducah, Ky.)
Newspaper publishing -- Kentucky -- Paducah.
Politicians.
Kentucky -- Politics and government -- 1865-1950.
Affidavits.
Clippings.
Photoprints.
Finding Aid Author
Processed by Beth Eifler; machine-readable finding aid created by Beth Eifler
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
In 1900, George H. Goodman founded a mail order whiskey business which he continued until the enactment of the 1919 Volstead Act. In 1922 he bought the Paducah News-Democrat which he operated until 1929 when he sold it to Edwin J. Paxton.
From 1934 through 1941 Goodman was director of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Kentucky and then served as state director of the Office of Price Administration from 1942 through 1946.
Scope and Content
This collection contains the papers and photographs of George H. Goodman and Edwin J. Paxton, consecutive owners of the Paducah News-Democrat. Most of the materials pertain to George Goodman and concern the activities of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Kentucky during his tenure as director. Also included are semi-monthly and annual WPA reports and Goodman's business correspondence from 1922 to 1941. There is significant correspondence, clippings, testimony and affidavits concerning charges made by Governor A.B. Chandler that the Kentucky WPA pressured its employees to support Alben Barkley in the 1938 Democratic Senatorial primary. The rest of the collection consists of financial statements for the News-Democrat dating from the 1920's and a small segment of Edwin Paxton's correspondence.
The photographs from this collection, removed to Audio-Visual Archives (PA64M1), document WPA projects in the state, among them the Audubon museum near Henderson and the restoration of the McDowell House near Danville. Although views of buildings and construction activities predominate, some of the photographs show WPA employees at work.

Contents of the Collection

CORRESPONDENCE AND PAPERS, 1922-1950

This series contains the small portion of Edwin J. Paxton's papers included within the collection. Most of George Goodman's correspondence is business related and falls between 1922 and 1935. Many letters are from newspaper columnist R.H. "Bob" Davis, Matthew J. Carney, and humorist Irvin S. Cobb. Some material relating to the Great Depression is also included.

In addition, there are several files of correspondence and testimony regarding A.B. Chandler's charge of pressure upon employees in the WPA to vote for Alben Barkley in the 1938 Senate campaign. Materials relating to this charge, including affidavits, are filed chronologically. Newspaper clippings and materials arranged to answer each charge are left intact as arranged by Goodman's office and are located in the Works Progress Administration in Kentucky series.

EDWIN J. PAXTON, 1936-1950

1936-1945

  • Box 1, Folder 1
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Newspaper Clippings, 1937-1945, n.d.

  • Box 1, Folder 2
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Citizen's Dinner Honoring Edwin J. Paxton, June 30, 1950

  • Box 1, Folder 3
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Alben Barkley Homecoming Weekend, August 18-19, 1950

  • Box 1, Folder 4
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GEORGE H. GOODMAN, 1922-1941

Newspaper Clippings, January 17, 1922

  • Box 2, Folder 1
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Letters to George Goodman from Irvin S. Cobb, 1922-1931

  • Box 2, Folder 2
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1922

  • Box 2, Folder 3
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1923

  • Box 2, Folder 4
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1924

  • Box 2, Folder 5
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1925

  • Box 2, Folder 6
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1926

  • Box 2, Folder 7
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1927

  • Box 2, Folder 8
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1928

  • Box 2, Folder 9
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January-June 1929

  • Box 2, Folder 10
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July-December 1929

  • Box 2, Folder 11
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1930

  • Box 2, Folder 12
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1931

  • Box 3, Folder 1
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1932

  • Box 3, Folder 2
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1933

  • Box 3, Folder 3
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1934

  • Box 3, Folder 4
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1936

  • Box 3, Folder 5
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January-March 1938

  • Box 3, Folder 6
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May 1938

  • Box 3, Folder 7
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June 1-15, 1938

  • Box 3, Folder 8
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June 17-30, 1938

  • Box 4, Folder 1
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July 1938

  • Box 4, Folder 2
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August 1938

  • Box 4, Folder 3
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September 1938

  • Box 4, Folder 4
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October-December 1938

  • Box 4, Folder 5
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Newspaper Clippings, 1938

  • Box 4, Folder 6
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1939-1941

  • Box 4, Folder 7
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Blueprint, George H. Goodman Campbell House

  • Box 4, Folder 8
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Fragments

  • Box 4, Folder 9
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n.d.

  • Box 4, Folder 10
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FINANCIAL RECORDS, 1911-1932

GEORGE H. GOODMAN, 1911-1932

Miscellaneous, 1911-1922

  • Box 5, Folder 1
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Miscellaneous, 1927-1932

  • Box 5, Folder 2
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Income Tax Returns, 1928-1931

  • Box 5, Folder 3
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THE PADUCAH NEWS-DEMOCRAT, 1922-1929

Miscellaneous, February 1922 - June 1923

  • Box 6, Folder 1
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Trial Balance, July - December 1923

  • Box 6, Folder 2
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Trial Balance, January - December 1924

  • Box 6, Folder 3
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Trial Balance, January 1925 - October 1926

  • Box 6, Folder 4
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Trial Balance, November 1928 - March 1929

  • Box 6, Folder 5
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WORKS PROGRESS ADMINISTRATION IN KENTUCKY, 1935-1938

George Goodman served as director of the WPA in Kentucky from 1934 through 1941.

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SECOND DISTRICT, 1935-1936

Index and Letter

  • Box 7, Folder 1
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Forward

  • Box 7, Folder 2
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Division of Finance and Statistics

  • Box 7, Folder 3
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Commodity Projects

  • Box 7, Folder 4
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Division of Employment

  • Box 7, Folder 5
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Division of Women's and Professional Projects

  • Box 7, Folder 6
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Training Work Center Projects

  • Box 7, Folder 7
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County Health Unit Projects

  • Box 7, Folder 8
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County Cross Index Projects

  • Box 7, Folder 9
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Division of Operations

  • Box 7, Folder 10
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Safety Chart

  • Box 7, Folder 11
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Manufacture of Concrete Pipe

  • Box 7, Folder 12
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Community Sanitation Projects

  • Box 7, Folder 13
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Statistics on Counties

  • Box 7, Folder 14
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Adair County

  • Box 7, Folder 15
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Anderson County

  • Box 7, Folder 16
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Boyle County

  • Box 7, Folder 17
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Casey County

  • Box 7, Folder 18
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Clinton County

  • Box 7, Folder 19
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Cumberland County

  • Box 7, Folder 20
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Garrard County

  • Box 7, Folder 21
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Green County

  • Box 7, Folder 22
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Larue County

  • Box 7, Folder 23
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Lincoln County

  • Box 7, Folder 24
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McCreary County

  • Box 7, Folder 25
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Marion County

  • Box 7, Folder 26
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Mercer County

  • Box 7, Folder 27
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Metcalfe County

  • Box 7, Folder 28
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Monroe County

  • Box 7, Folder 29
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Nelson County

  • Box 7, Folder 30
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Pulaski County

  • Box 7, Folder 31
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Russell County

  • Box 7, Folder 32
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Taylor County

  • Box 7, Folder 33
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Washington County

  • Box 7, Folder 34
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Wayne County

  • Box 7, Folder 35
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District Number 2 Standards and Specifications for Design and Construction of Road Projects

  • Box 7, Folder 36
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NARRATIVE REPORTS, 1935-1937

September 1935

  • Box 8, Folder 1
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October 1935

  • Box 8, Folder 2
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November 1935

  • Box 8, Folder 3
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December 1935

  • Box 8, Folder 4
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January 1-15, 1936

  • Box 9, Folder 1
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January 16-February 20, 1936

  • Box 9, Folder 2
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February 20-March 20, 1936

  • Box 9, Folder 3
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March 20-April 20, 1936

  • Box 9, Folder 4
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April 20-May 20, 1936

  • Box 9, Folder 5
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May 20-June 20, 1936

  • Box 9, Folder 6
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June 20-July 20, 1936

  • Box 9, Folder 7
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July 20-August 20, 1936

  • Box 10, Folder 1
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August 20-September 20, 1936

  • Box 10, Folder 2
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September 20-October 20, 1936

  • Box 10, Folder 3
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October 20-November 20, 1936

  • Box 10, Folder 4
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November 20-December 20, 1936

  • Box 10, Folder 5
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December 20-January 20, 1937

  • Box 10, Folder 6
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January 20-February 20, 1937

  • Box 10, Folder 7
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CHARGES AGAINST THE WPA, 1938

Charge 1

  • Box 11, Folder 1
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Charge 2

  • Box 11, Folder 2
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Charge 3

  • Box 11, Folder 3
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Charge 4

  • Box 11, Folder 4
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Charge 5

  • Box 11, Folder 5
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Charge 6

  • Box 11, Folder 6
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Charge 7

  • Box 11, Folder 7
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Charge 8

  • Box 11, Folder 8
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Charge 9

  • Box 11, Folder 9
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Charge 10

  • Box 11, Folder 10
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Charge 11

  • Box 11, Folder 11
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Charge 12

  • Box 11, Folder 12
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Charge 13

  • Box 11, Folder 13
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Charge 14

  • Box 11, Folder 14
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Charge 15

  • Box 11, Folder 15
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Charge 16

  • Box 11, Folder 16
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Charge 17

  • Box 11, Folder 17
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Charge 18

  • Box 11, Folder 18
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Charge 19

  • Box 11, Folder 19
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Charge 20

  • Box 11, Folder 20
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Charge 21

  • Box 11, Folder 21
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Charge 22

  • Box 11, Folder 22
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Kentucky Registration Law

  • Box 11, Folder 23
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OVERSIZE MATERIAL, 1934-1943

WPA Pictorial Map. State of Kentucky, 1936

  • Item 1
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Scrapbook No. 5, 1934-1943

  • Item 2

This scrapbook contains newspaper clippings on relief and the WPA in Kentucky.

**Scrapbooks 1-4 contain photographs and are located in Audio-Visual Archives.

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UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.

Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.

Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.

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You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.

If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.