Works Progress Administration Fayette County Library Project records
Abstract
The Works Progress Administration Fayette County Library project records (1935-1939, undated; 0.3 cubic feet; 1 box, 1 item) comprise newspaper clippings, correspondence, photographs, pamphlets, reports, interviews and statistics, and a scrapbook documenting the works and operation of the WPA's Library Project in Fayette County, Kentucky.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Works Progress Administration Fayette County Library Project records
- Date
- 1935-1939, undated (inclusive)
- Extent
- 0.3 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- African Americans -- Kentucky
- Bookmobiles.
- Libraries and community -- Kentucky -- Fayette County.
- Libraries -- Kentucky -- Fayette County
- Libraries -- Kentucky.
- Library extension.
- Public libraries -- Kentucky
- Arrangement
- Collection arranged into four series: Frances L. Dugan, Fayette County Library Project, Printed materials, amd Photographs.
- Preferred Citation
- 46m29: [identification of item], Works Progress Administration Fayette County Library Project records, 1935-1939, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Begun in 1938, the Works Progress Administration Fayette County Library Project was sponsored by four agencies: the United States Works Progress Administration; the Fayette Community Council; the Fayette Board of Education and the Lexington Public Library. The purpose of the Project was to circulate books to rural populations in Fayette County through small temporary branches called Book Centers in county schools and churches. The Book Centers were supplied through a "Bookmobile", a trailer attached to a car. Staffed by WPA employees, the centers included locations at Athens High School; David's Fork Baptist Church; Cleveland Pike; Durbin's Tabernacle Baptist Church; Richmond Pike; Shelby School; Jacks Creek Pike; Kenwick School; the Douglass Community Center; and the waiting room of the Fayette County Court. The Douglass Community Center location served the African-American population. The project served books primarily from the Lexington Public Library collection, but also circulated donations from the community. Frances Lathrop Dugan (later Shine) served as the supervising librarian for the circulating library. After running successfully for a year, the project closed in August 1939.
- Scope and Content
- The Works Progress Administration Fayette County Library project records (1935-1939, undated; 0.3 cubic feet; 1 box, 1 item) comprise newspaper clippings, correspondence, photographs, pamphlets, reports, interviews and statistics, and a scrapbook documenting the works and operation of the WPA's Library Project in Fayette County, Kentucky. Items of note in the collection include various monthly reports giving circulation statistics for different book centers in Fayette County; photographs of library centers in Fayette County; reports indicating the areas where the circulating library was significant such as the black communities in the county; and a transcript of a 1939 radio interview with the project director, Frances L. Dugan.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Frances L. Dugan, 1938-1939, undated
"Everybody's Farm Hour" WLW radio interview with Frances L. Dugan on WPA Library Project, [1939] July 15
Remarks, most likely by Frances L. Dugan, regarding the WPA Library Project, undated
Fayette County Library Project, 1938-1939, undated
Contact list, undated
Final inventory results for Fayette County, circa 1939
Handwritten letters and comment cards for the Fayette County Library Project, 1938
Library Project procedures, undated
"Recommendations for the Future Operation of a Library in Fayette County", circa 1939
"Sponsor's Contribution" report, undated
"What did the Library Do for the Community", circa 1939
WPA Library Project monthly reports, 1938, undated
Printed materials, 1935-1939, undated
"Berea College Extension Library report", undated
Excerpted quotes regarding libraries and libraries in Kentucky, 1935-1939
"Facts about Public Library Service in Kentucky" fact sheet, State Division of Library Extension, 1937
Information regarding Libraries in Kentucky, undated
"Library Facilities in the Kentucky Mountains" statistics, undated
Newspaper clippings, 1938-1939, undated
Photographs, circa 1938-1939
Scrapbook, circa 1938-1939
Description of WPA Fayette County Library Project, circa 1938-1939
"Mr. Wilder, Secretary, Fayette Community Council, and the new book trailer"; bookmobile trailer, circa 1938-1939
"Preparing the trailer"; bookmobile trailer, circa 1938-1939
"First loading at rear of Lexington Public Library whose books are circulated"; bookmobile, circa 1938-1939
"Visit to the first health clinic Shelby School"; Women and children in front of bookmobile, circa 1938-1939
"Shelby Clinic learning about the new library"; women and children in front of bookmobile, circa 1938-1939
Newspaper clipping "Library on Wheels will Distribute Volumes Among Rural Book-Lovers of Fayette County", 1938 August 21
"Typical of the Blue Grass churches where centers will be established"; unidentified church, circa 1938-1939
"Talking it over with one of our sponsoring clergeymen"; Men in front of unidentified church, circa 1938-1939
"First day at Athens High School center, Mrs. Wilson (right) first book borrower", circa 1938-1939
Description of the Fayette Community Council, circa 1938-1939
"Shelby Branch"; women and children in front of bookmobile, circa 1938-1939
"Shelby Branch"; Shelby school building, circa 1938-1939
"Durbin's Tabernacle first storytelling hour (a few of the children and the librarian, with puppets"; children and librarian in front of Durbin's Tabernacle Baptist Church, circa 1938-1939
"Fayette Circulating Library" excerpt from letter to the Kenwick School children, circa 1938-1939
"On the Road" bookmobile trailer pulled by car, circa 1938-1939
"David's Fork Branch, Inside and Out"; David's Fork Branch Baptist Church, circa 1938-1939
"More of David's Fork Branch"; inside of David's Fork Branch Baptist Church, circa 1938-1939
"More of David's Fork Branch"; David's Fork Branch Baptist church, circa 1938-1939
"Outside Durbin's Tabernacle"; Durbin's Tabernacle Baptist Church building, circa 1938-1939
"Outside Durbin's Tabernacle"; unidentified man with Durbin's Tabernacle Baptist Church in the distance, circa 1938-1939
"Inside (A very colorful and cozy arrangement on bare benches)"; Interior of Durbin's Tabernacle Baptist Church, circa 1938-1939
"Kenwick School", circa 1938-1939
"A New Kind of Library" description of Fayette County Library Project in Kenwick School Paper, circa 1938-1939
Newspaper clipping "Mrs. Johnston Heads New Library Group", 1938 October 9
Newspaper clipping image "Plenty of Reading Matter", 1939 July 26
Newspaper clipping "Will Address Librarian's Today" image of Frances L. Dugan, 1938 October 21
Newspaper clippings on the Fayette County Library Project, 1938 October-November
Newspaper clippings regarding National Book Week, 1938 November 13-19
Broadside distributed at Douglass School Book Week, 1938 November 13-19
Newspaper clippings regarding Library Project activities, 1938 November-December
Newspaper clippings, 1939 March 12-19
Newspaper clipping "A Library on Wheels Brings the Riches of Literature to Rural Fayette", 1939 March 12
Books stacked up under sign for the Fayette County Free Circulating Library WPA, circa 1938-1939
Newspaper clippings, 1939 January-July
Fayette County Library Project exhibit "A Book for Every Farm's Every Need" at the annual Homemakers-Farm Bureau picnic, 1939 June
Fayette County Library Project exhibit "A Book for Every Farm's Every Need" at the annual Homemakers-Farm Bureau picnic; includes display and sign, 1939 June
Newspaper clippings, 1939 July-August
Loose photographs, circa 1938-1939
Durbin's Tabernacle Baptist Church library center and story hour, circa 1938-1939
Fayette County Library Project exhibit "A Book for Every Farm's Every Need" at the annual Homemakers-Farm Bureau picnic; display and sign, 1939 June
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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.
