University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center
Works Progress Administration Fayette County Library Project records
46m29
0.3 Cubic Feet
1 box, 1 item
1935-1939, undated
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.
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift, 1946
Arrangement
Collection arranged into four series: Frances L. Dugan, Fayette County Library Project, Printed materials, amd Photographs.
Historical note
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.
Preferred Citation
46m29: [identification of item], Works Progress Administration Fayette County Library Project records, 1935-1939, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Scope and Contents
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.
Conditions Governing Use
The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
African Americans -- Kentucky
Bookmobiles.
Libraries and community -- Kentucky -- Fayette County.
Libraries -- Kentucky -- Fayette County
Libraries -- Kentucky.
Library extension.
Photographs
Public libraries -- Kentucky
Scrapbooks
Frances L. DuganSeries I.1938-1939, undatedCorrespondence1938-193811Everybody's Farm Hour WLW radio interview with Frances L. Dugan on WPA Library Project[1939] July 1512Notes on Fayette County Library Projectundated13Remarks, most likely by Frances L. Dugan, regarding the WPA Library Projectundated14Fayette County Library ProjectSeries II.1938-1939, undatedCirculation reports - Fayette County1938, undated15Contact listundated16Final inventory results for Fayette Countycirca 193917Handwritten letters and comment cards for the Fayette County Library Project193818Library Project proceduresundated19Recommendations for the Future Operation of a Library in Fayette Countycirca 1939110Sponsor's Contribution reportundated111What did the Library Do for the Communitycirca 1939112WPA Library Project monthly reports1938, undated113Printed materialsSeries III.1935-1939, undatedAmerican Library Association pamphlets1937, 1939114Berea College Extension Library reportundated115Excerpted quotes regarding libraries and libraries in Kentucky1935-1939116Facts about Public Library Service in Kentucky fact sheet, State Division of Library Extension1937117Information regarding Libraries in Kentuckyundated118Library Facilities in the Kentucky Mountains statisticsundated119Newspaper clippings1938-1939, undated120PhotographsSeries IV.circa 1938-1939Scrapbookcirca 1938-1939Description of WPA Fayette County Library Projectcirca 1938-193911Mr. Wilder, Secretary, Fayette Community Council, and the new book trailer; bookmobile trailercirca 1938-1939121Preparing the trailer; bookmobile trailercirca 1938-1939122First loading at rear of Lexington Public Library whose books are circulated; bookmobilecirca 1938-1939123Visit to the first health clinic Shelby School; Women and children in front of bookmobilecirca 1938-1939124Shelby Clinic learning about the new library; women and children in front of bookmobilecirca 1938-1939125-6Newspaper clipping Library on Wheels will Distribute Volumes Among Rural Book-Lovers of Fayette County1938 August 2113Typical of the Blue Grass churches where centers will be established; unidentified churchcirca 1938-1939147Talking it over with one of our sponsoring clergeymen; Men in front of unidentified churchcirca 1938-1939148-9First day at Athens High School center, Mrs. Wilson (right) first book borrowercirca 1938-19391410Description of the Fayette Community Councilcirca 1938-193915Shelby Branch; women and children in front of bookmobilecirca 1938-19391611Shelby Branch; Shelby school buildingcirca 1938-19391612Durbin'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 Churchcirca 1938-19391613-15Fayette Circulating Library excerpt from letter to the Kenwick School childrencirca 1938-193917On the Road bookmobile trailer pulled by carcirca 1938-19391816-17David's Fork Branch, Inside and Out; David's Fork Branch Baptist Churchcirca 1938-19391818-21More of David's Fork Branch; inside of David's Fork Branch Baptist Churchcirca 1938-19391922More of David's Fork Branch; David's Fork Branch Baptist churchcirca 1938-19391923Outside Durbin's Tabernacle; Durbin's Tabernacle Baptist Church buildingcirca 1938-193911024Outside Durbin's Tabernacle; unidentified man with Durbin's Tabernacle Baptist Church in the distancecirca 1938-193911025Inside (A very colorful and cozy arrangement on bare benches); Interior of Durbin's Tabernacle Baptist Churchcirca 1938-193911026Kenwick Schoolcirca 1938-193911027A New Kind of Library description of Fayette County Library Project in Kenwick School Papercirca 1938-1939111Newspaper clipping Mrs. Johnston Heads New Library Group1938 October 9112Newspaper clipping image Plenty of Reading Matter1939 July 26113Newspaper clipping Will Address Librarian's Today image of Frances L. Dugan1938 October 21114Newspaper clippings on the Fayette County Library Project1938 October-November116Newspaper clippings regarding National Book Week1938 November 13-19117Broadside distributed at Douglass School Book Week1938 November 13-19118Newspaper clippings regarding Library Project activities1938 November-December120Newspaper clippings1939 March 12-19121Newspaper clipping A Library on Wheels Brings the Riches of Literature to Rural Fayette1939 March 12122Books stacked up under sign for the Fayette County Free Circulating Library WPAcirca 1938-193912328Newspaper clippings1939 January-July124Fayette County Library Project exhibit A Book for Every Farm's Every Need at the annual Homemakers-Farm Bureau picnic1939 June12529Fayette County Library Project exhibit A Book for Every Farm's Every Need at the annual Homemakers-Farm Bureau picnic; includes display and sign1939 June12630Newspaper clippings1939 July-August127-28Loose photographscirca 1938-1939Durbin's Tabernacle Baptist Church library center and story hourcirca 1938-193912131-40Fayette County Library Project exhibit A Book for Every Farm's Every Need at the annual Homemakers-Farm Bureau picnic; display and sign1939 June12141