{"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Federal+Theatre+Project+collection\u0026page=317\u0026view=compact","prev":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Federal+Theatre+Project+collection\u0026page=316\u0026view=compact","next":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Federal+Theatre+Project+collection\u0026page=318\u0026view=compact","last":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog.json?f%5Bcollection%5D%5B%5D=Federal+Theatre+Project+collection\u0026page=319\u0026view=compact"},"meta":{"pages":{"current_page":317,"next_page":318,"prev_page":316,"total_pages":319,"limit_value":10,"offset_value":3160,"total_count":3181,"first_page?":false,"last_page?":false}},"data":[{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c01_c96","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Works Progress Administration, University tour, National Collegiate Advisory Committee","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c01_c96#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c01_c96","ref_ssm":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c01_c96"],"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c01_c96","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c01","parent_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c01","parent_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c01"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c01"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 1: Administrative Records"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 1: Administrative Records"],"text":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 1: Administrative Records","Works Progress Administration, University tour, National Collegiate Advisory Committee","box 5","folder 7"],"title_filing_ssi":"Works Progress Administration, University tour, National Collegiate Advisory Committee","title_ssm":["Works Progress Administration, University tour, National Collegiate Advisory Committee"],"title_tesim":["Works Progress Administration, University tour, National Collegiate Advisory Committee"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["circa 1935-1939"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1935/1939"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Works Progress Administration, University tour, National Collegiate Advisory Committee"],"component_level_isim":[2],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":98,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no access restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"date_range_isim":[1935,1936,1937,1938,1939],"containers_ssim":["box 5","folder 7"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents note"],"_nest_path_":"/components#0/components#95","timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/GMU/repositories_2_resources_331.xml","title_filing_ssi":"Federal Theatre Project collection","title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"unitdate_ssm":["circa 1885-1986","1935-1939"],"unitdate_bulk_ssim":["1935-1939"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1885-1986"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"text":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331","Federal Theatre Project collection","Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript","There are no access restrictions.","The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   .","Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)","The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.","Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.","The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . ","Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.","The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2","George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","English"],"unitid_tesim":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"repository_ssm":["George Mason University"],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"creator_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creators_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"access_terms_ssm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Donated by the Library of Congress."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"extent_tesim":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"genreform_ssim":["Playscript"],"date_range_isim":[1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no access restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no access restrictions."],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\" title=\"Federal Theatre Project Materials Collection\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections  \u003cextptr href=\"http://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMUDPSdps~23~23\" title=\"available here\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Alternative Form Available"],"altformavail_tesim":["The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   ."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArranged into five series.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003clist type=\"ordered\"\u003e\n      \u003chead\u003eSeries\u003c/head\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)\u003c/item\u003e\n    \u003c/list\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eLike many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eBut it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eFlanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFederal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr show=\"new\" title=\"FTP digital collection\" href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . "],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eContent Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_0f4707cda45d410e12f09ae2a350510a\" label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_d65479dc2ffe44debbb5af464a6479da\"\u003e\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2"],"names_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"corpname_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":3180,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c01_c96"}},{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1442","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"World Apartment  (2 copies)","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1442#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eby Charles Bruce Millholland\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1442#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1442","ref_ssm":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1442"],"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1442","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01","parent_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01","parent_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 3: Library Records","Subseries 3.1: Playscripts"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 3: Library Records","Subseries 3.1: Playscripts"],"text":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 3: Library Records","Subseries 3.1: Playscripts","World Apartment  (2 copies)","box 277","folder 6","by Charles Bruce Millholland"],"title_filing_ssi":"World Apartment  (2 copies)","title_ssm":["World Apartment  (2 copies)"],"title_tesim":["World Apartment  (2 copies)"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1936-1939"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1936/1939"],"normalized_title_ssm":["World Apartment  (2 copies)"],"component_level_isim":[3],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":2091,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no access restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"date_range_isim":[1936,1937,1938,1939],"containers_ssim":["box 277","folder 6"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eby Charles Bruce Millholland\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents note"],"scopecontent_tesim":["by Charles Bruce Millholland"],"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#0/components#1441","timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/GMU/repositories_2_resources_331.xml","title_filing_ssi":"Federal Theatre Project collection","title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"unitdate_ssm":["circa 1885-1986","1935-1939"],"unitdate_bulk_ssim":["1935-1939"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1885-1986"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"text":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331","Federal Theatre Project collection","Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript","There are no access restrictions.","The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   .","Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)","The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.","Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.","The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . ","Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.","The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2","George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","English"],"unitid_tesim":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"repository_ssm":["George Mason University"],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"creator_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creators_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"access_terms_ssm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Donated by the Library of Congress."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"extent_tesim":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"genreform_ssim":["Playscript"],"date_range_isim":[1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no access restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no access restrictions."],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\" title=\"Federal Theatre Project Materials Collection\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections  \u003cextptr href=\"http://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMUDPSdps~23~23\" title=\"available here\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Alternative Form Available"],"altformavail_tesim":["The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   ."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArranged into five series.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003clist type=\"ordered\"\u003e\n      \u003chead\u003eSeries\u003c/head\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)\u003c/item\u003e\n    \u003c/list\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eLike many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eBut it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eFlanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFederal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr show=\"new\" title=\"FTP digital collection\" href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . "],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eContent Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_0f4707cda45d410e12f09ae2a350510a\" label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_d65479dc2ffe44debbb5af464a6479da\"\u003e\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2"],"names_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"corpname_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":3180,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1442"}},{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1443","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"World Apartment  (2 copies)","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1443#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eby Charles Bruce Millholland\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1443#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1443","ref_ssm":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1443"],"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1443","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01","parent_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01","parent_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 3: Library Records","Subseries 3.1: Playscripts"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 3: Library Records","Subseries 3.1: Playscripts"],"text":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 3: Library Records","Subseries 3.1: Playscripts","World Apartment  (2 copies)","box 277","folder 7","by Charles Bruce Millholland"],"title_filing_ssi":"World Apartment  (2 copies)","title_ssm":["World Apartment  (2 copies)"],"title_tesim":["World Apartment  (2 copies)"],"unitdate_other_ssim":["April 23, 1937"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1937"],"normalized_title_ssm":["World Apartment  (2 copies)"],"component_level_isim":[3],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":2092,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no access restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"date_range_isim":[1937],"containers_ssim":["box 277","folder 7"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eby Charles Bruce Millholland\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents note"],"scopecontent_tesim":["by Charles Bruce Millholland"],"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#0/components#1442","timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/GMU/repositories_2_resources_331.xml","title_filing_ssi":"Federal Theatre Project collection","title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"unitdate_ssm":["circa 1885-1986","1935-1939"],"unitdate_bulk_ssim":["1935-1939"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1885-1986"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"text":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331","Federal Theatre Project collection","Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript","There are no access restrictions.","The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   .","Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)","The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.","Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.","The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . ","Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.","The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2","George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","English"],"unitid_tesim":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"repository_ssm":["George Mason University"],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"creator_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creators_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"access_terms_ssm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Donated by the Library of Congress."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"extent_tesim":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"genreform_ssim":["Playscript"],"date_range_isim":[1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no access restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no access restrictions."],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\" title=\"Federal Theatre Project Materials Collection\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections  \u003cextptr href=\"http://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMUDPSdps~23~23\" title=\"available here\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Alternative Form Available"],"altformavail_tesim":["The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   ."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArranged into five series.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003clist type=\"ordered\"\u003e\n      \u003chead\u003eSeries\u003c/head\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)\u003c/item\u003e\n    \u003c/list\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eLike many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eBut it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eFlanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFederal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr show=\"new\" title=\"FTP digital collection\" href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . "],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eContent Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_0f4707cda45d410e12f09ae2a350510a\" label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_d65479dc2ffe44debbb5af464a6479da\"\u003e\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2"],"names_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"corpname_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":3180,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1443"}},{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1444","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"World Trade for World Peace","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1444#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eby Edward Lynn\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1444#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1444","ref_ssm":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1444"],"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1444","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01","parent_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01","parent_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 3: Library Records","Subseries 3.1: Playscripts"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 3: Library Records","Subseries 3.1: Playscripts"],"text":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 3: Library Records","Subseries 3.1: Playscripts","World Trade for World Peace","box 277","folder 8","by Edward Lynn"],"title_filing_ssi":"World Trade for World Peace","title_ssm":["World Trade for World Peace"],"title_tesim":["World Trade for World Peace"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1936-1939"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1936/1939"],"normalized_title_ssm":["World Trade for World Peace"],"component_level_isim":[3],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":2093,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no access restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"date_range_isim":[1936,1937,1938,1939],"containers_ssim":["box 277","folder 8"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eby Edward Lynn\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents note"],"scopecontent_tesim":["by Edward Lynn"],"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#0/components#1443","timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/GMU/repositories_2_resources_331.xml","title_filing_ssi":"Federal Theatre Project collection","title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"unitdate_ssm":["circa 1885-1986","1935-1939"],"unitdate_bulk_ssim":["1935-1939"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1885-1986"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"text":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331","Federal Theatre Project collection","Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript","There are no access restrictions.","The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   .","Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)","The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.","Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.","The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . ","Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.","The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2","George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","English"],"unitid_tesim":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"repository_ssm":["George Mason University"],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"creator_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creators_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"access_terms_ssm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Donated by the Library of Congress."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"extent_tesim":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"genreform_ssim":["Playscript"],"date_range_isim":[1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no access restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no access restrictions."],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\" title=\"Federal Theatre Project Materials Collection\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections  \u003cextptr href=\"http://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMUDPSdps~23~23\" title=\"available here\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Alternative Form Available"],"altformavail_tesim":["The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   ."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArranged into five series.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003clist type=\"ordered\"\u003e\n      \u003chead\u003eSeries\u003c/head\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)\u003c/item\u003e\n    \u003c/list\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eLike many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eBut it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eFlanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFederal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr show=\"new\" title=\"FTP digital collection\" href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . "],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eContent Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_0f4707cda45d410e12f09ae2a350510a\" label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_d65479dc2ffe44debbb5af464a6479da\"\u003e\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2"],"names_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"corpname_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":3180,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1444"}},{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c479","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"World  -  Wrong","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c479#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c479","ref_ssm":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c479"],"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c479","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02","parent_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02","parent_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports"],"text":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports","World  -  Wrong","box 103","folder 1"],"title_filing_ssi":"World  -  Wrong","title_ssm":["World  -  Wrong"],"title_tesim":["World  -  Wrong"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1935-1939"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1935/1939"],"normalized_title_ssm":["World  -  Wrong"],"component_level_isim":[3],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":634,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no access restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"date_range_isim":[1935,1936,1937,1938,1939],"containers_ssim":["box 103","folder 1"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents note"],"_nest_path_":"/components#1/components#1/components#478","timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/GMU/repositories_2_resources_331.xml","title_filing_ssi":"Federal Theatre Project collection","title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"unitdate_ssm":["circa 1885-1986","1935-1939"],"unitdate_bulk_ssim":["1935-1939"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1885-1986"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"text":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331","Federal Theatre Project collection","Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript","There are no access restrictions.","The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   .","Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)","The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.","Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.","The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . ","Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.","The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2","George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","English"],"unitid_tesim":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"repository_ssm":["George Mason University"],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"creator_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creators_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"access_terms_ssm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Donated by the Library of Congress."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"extent_tesim":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"genreform_ssim":["Playscript"],"date_range_isim":[1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no access restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no access restrictions."],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\" title=\"Federal Theatre Project Materials Collection\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections  \u003cextptr href=\"http://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMUDPSdps~23~23\" title=\"available here\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Alternative Form Available"],"altformavail_tesim":["The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   ."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArranged into five series.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003clist type=\"ordered\"\u003e\n      \u003chead\u003eSeries\u003c/head\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)\u003c/item\u003e\n    \u003c/list\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eLike many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eBut it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eFlanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFederal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr show=\"new\" title=\"FTP digital collection\" href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . "],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eContent Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_0f4707cda45d410e12f09ae2a350510a\" label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_d65479dc2ffe44debbb5af464a6479da\"\u003e\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2"],"names_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"corpname_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":3180,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c479"}},{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c485","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Xantippe and Socrates  -  An X-Ray Dialogue","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c485#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c485","ref_ssm":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c485"],"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c485","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02","parent_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02","parent_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports"],"text":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports","Xantippe and Socrates  -  An X-Ray Dialogue","box 104","folder 2"],"title_filing_ssi":"Xantippe and Socrates  -  An X-Ray Dialogue","title_ssm":["Xantippe and Socrates  -  An X-Ray Dialogue"],"title_tesim":["Xantippe and Socrates  -  An X-Ray Dialogue"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1935-1939"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1935/1939"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Xantippe and Socrates  -  An X-Ray Dialogue"],"component_level_isim":[3],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":640,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no access restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"date_range_isim":[1935,1936,1937,1938,1939],"containers_ssim":["box 104","folder 2"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents note"],"_nest_path_":"/components#1/components#1/components#484","timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/GMU/repositories_2_resources_331.xml","title_filing_ssi":"Federal Theatre Project collection","title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"unitdate_ssm":["circa 1885-1986","1935-1939"],"unitdate_bulk_ssim":["1935-1939"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1885-1986"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"text":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331","Federal Theatre Project collection","Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript","There are no access restrictions.","The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   .","Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)","The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.","Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.","The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . ","Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.","The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2","George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","English"],"unitid_tesim":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"repository_ssm":["George Mason University"],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"creator_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creators_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"access_terms_ssm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Donated by the Library of Congress."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"extent_tesim":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"genreform_ssim":["Playscript"],"date_range_isim":[1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no access restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no access restrictions."],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\" title=\"Federal Theatre Project Materials Collection\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections  \u003cextptr href=\"http://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMUDPSdps~23~23\" title=\"available here\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Alternative Form Available"],"altformavail_tesim":["The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   ."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArranged into five series.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003clist type=\"ordered\"\u003e\n      \u003chead\u003eSeries\u003c/head\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)\u003c/item\u003e\n    \u003c/list\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eLike many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eBut it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eFlanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFederal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr show=\"new\" title=\"FTP digital collection\" href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . "],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eContent Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_0f4707cda45d410e12f09ae2a350510a\" label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_d65479dc2ffe44debbb5af464a6479da\"\u003e\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2"],"names_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"corpname_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":3180,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c485"}},{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c490","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Yahoo  -  The Yiddish King Lear","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c490#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c490","ref_ssm":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c490"],"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c490","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02","parent_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02","parent_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports"],"text":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports","Yahoo  -  The Yiddish King Lear","box 105","folder 1"],"title_filing_ssi":"Yahoo  -  The Yiddish King Lear","title_ssm":["Yahoo  -  The Yiddish King Lear"],"title_tesim":["Yahoo  -  The Yiddish King Lear"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1935-1939"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1935/1939"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Yahoo  -  The Yiddish King Lear"],"component_level_isim":[3],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":645,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no access restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"date_range_isim":[1935,1936,1937,1938,1939],"containers_ssim":["box 105","folder 1"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents note"],"_nest_path_":"/components#1/components#1/components#489","timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/GMU/repositories_2_resources_331.xml","title_filing_ssi":"Federal Theatre Project collection","title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"unitdate_ssm":["circa 1885-1986","1935-1939"],"unitdate_bulk_ssim":["1935-1939"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1885-1986"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"text":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331","Federal Theatre Project collection","Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript","There are no access restrictions.","The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   .","Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)","The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.","Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.","The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . ","Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.","The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2","George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","English"],"unitid_tesim":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"repository_ssm":["George Mason University"],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"creator_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creators_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"access_terms_ssm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Donated by the Library of Congress."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"extent_tesim":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"genreform_ssim":["Playscript"],"date_range_isim":[1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no access restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no access restrictions."],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\" title=\"Federal Theatre Project Materials Collection\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections  \u003cextptr href=\"http://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMUDPSdps~23~23\" title=\"available here\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Alternative Form Available"],"altformavail_tesim":["The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   ."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArranged into five series.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003clist type=\"ordered\"\u003e\n      \u003chead\u003eSeries\u003c/head\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)\u003c/item\u003e\n    \u003c/list\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eLike many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eBut it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eFlanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFederal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr show=\"new\" title=\"FTP digital collection\" href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . "],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eContent Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_0f4707cda45d410e12f09ae2a350510a\" label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_d65479dc2ffe44debbb5af464a6479da\"\u003e\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2"],"names_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"corpname_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":3180,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c490"}},{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1447","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Yai","abstract_or_scope":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1447#abstract_or_scope","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":"\u003cp\u003eby Tom Jewett\u003c/p\u003e","label":"Abstract Or Scope"}},"breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1447#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1447","ref_ssm":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1447"],"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1447","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01","parent_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01","parent_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 3: Library Records","Subseries 3.1: Playscripts"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 3: Library Records","Subseries 3.1: Playscripts"],"text":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 3: Library Records","Subseries 3.1: Playscripts","Yai","box 278","folder 3","by Tom Jewett"],"title_filing_ssi":"Yai","title_ssm":["Yai"],"title_tesim":["Yai"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1936-1939"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1936/1939"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Yai"],"component_level_isim":[3],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":2096,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no access restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"date_range_isim":[1936,1937,1938,1939],"containers_ssim":["box 278","folder 3"],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eby Tom Jewett\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents note"],"scopecontent_tesim":["by Tom Jewett"],"_nest_path_":"/components#2/components#0/components#1446","timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/GMU/repositories_2_resources_331.xml","title_filing_ssi":"Federal Theatre Project collection","title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"unitdate_ssm":["circa 1885-1986","1935-1939"],"unitdate_bulk_ssim":["1935-1939"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1885-1986"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"text":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331","Federal Theatre Project collection","Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript","There are no access restrictions.","The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   .","Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)","The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.","Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.","The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . ","Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.","The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2","George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","English"],"unitid_tesim":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"repository_ssm":["George Mason University"],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"creator_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creators_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"access_terms_ssm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Donated by the Library of Congress."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"extent_tesim":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"genreform_ssim":["Playscript"],"date_range_isim":[1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no access restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no access restrictions."],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\" title=\"Federal Theatre Project Materials Collection\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections  \u003cextptr href=\"http://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMUDPSdps~23~23\" title=\"available here\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Alternative Form Available"],"altformavail_tesim":["The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   ."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArranged into five series.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003clist type=\"ordered\"\u003e\n      \u003chead\u003eSeries\u003c/head\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)\u003c/item\u003e\n    \u003c/list\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eLike many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eBut it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eFlanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFederal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr show=\"new\" title=\"FTP digital collection\" href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . "],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eContent Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_0f4707cda45d410e12f09ae2a350510a\" label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_d65479dc2ffe44debbb5af464a6479da\"\u003e\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2"],"names_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"corpname_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":3180,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c03_c01_c1447"}},{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c489","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Yankee Palace  -  Y.W.C.A. Treasure Chest","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c489#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c489","ref_ssm":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c489"],"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c489","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02","parent_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02","parent_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports"],"text":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports","Yankee Palace  -  Y.W.C.A. Treasure Chest","box 104","folder 6"],"title_filing_ssi":"Yankee Palace  -  Y.W.C.A. Treasure Chest","title_ssm":["Yankee Palace  -  Y.W.C.A. Treasure Chest"],"title_tesim":["Yankee Palace  -  Y.W.C.A. Treasure Chest"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1935-1939"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1935/1939"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Yankee Palace  -  Y.W.C.A. Treasure Chest"],"component_level_isim":[3],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":644,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no access restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"date_range_isim":[1935,1936,1937,1938,1939],"containers_ssim":["box 104","folder 6"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents note"],"_nest_path_":"/components#1/components#1/components#488","timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/GMU/repositories_2_resources_331.xml","title_filing_ssi":"Federal Theatre Project collection","title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"unitdate_ssm":["circa 1885-1986","1935-1939"],"unitdate_bulk_ssim":["1935-1939"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1885-1986"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"text":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331","Federal Theatre Project collection","Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript","There are no access restrictions.","The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   .","Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)","The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.","Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.","The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . ","Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.","The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2","George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","English"],"unitid_tesim":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"repository_ssm":["George Mason University"],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"creator_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creators_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"access_terms_ssm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Donated by the Library of Congress."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"extent_tesim":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"genreform_ssim":["Playscript"],"date_range_isim":[1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no access restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no access restrictions."],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\" title=\"Federal Theatre Project Materials Collection\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections  \u003cextptr href=\"http://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMUDPSdps~23~23\" title=\"available here\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Alternative Form Available"],"altformavail_tesim":["The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   ."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArranged into five series.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003clist type=\"ordered\"\u003e\n      \u003chead\u003eSeries\u003c/head\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)\u003c/item\u003e\n    \u003c/list\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eLike many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eBut it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eFlanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFederal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr show=\"new\" title=\"FTP digital collection\" href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . "],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eContent Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_0f4707cda45d410e12f09ae2a350510a\" label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_d65479dc2ffe44debbb5af464a6479da\"\u003e\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2"],"names_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"corpname_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"language_ssim":["English"],"descrules_ssm":["Describing Archives: A Content Standard"],"total_component_count_is":3180,"online_item_count_is":0,"component_level_isim":[0],"sort_isi":0,"timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z"}]}},"label":"Breadcrumbs"}}},"links":{"self":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c489"}},{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c486","type":"File","attributes":{"title":"Yankee  -  Years","breadcrumbs":{"id":"https://search.arvasarchive.org/catalog/vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c486#breadcrumbs","type":"document_value","attributes":{"value":{"ref_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c486","ref_ssm":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c486"],"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02_c486","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02","parent_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02","parent_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02"],"parent_ids_ssim":["vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02","vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331_c02_c02"],"parent_unittitles_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports"],"parent_unittitles_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports"],"text":["Federal Theatre Project collection","Series 2: Play Service and Research Records","Subseries 2.2: Play Reader Reports","Yankee  -  Years","box 104","folder 3"],"title_filing_ssi":"Yankee  -  Years","title_ssm":["Yankee  -  Years"],"title_tesim":["Yankee  -  Years"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1935-1939"],"normalized_date_ssm":["1935/1939"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Yankee  -  Years"],"component_level_isim":[3],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"child_component_count_isi":0,"level_ssm":["File"],"level_ssim":["File"],"sort_isi":641,"parent_access_restrict_tesm":["There are no access restrictions."],"parent_access_terms_tesm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"date_range_isim":[1935,1936,1937,1938,1939],"containers_ssim":["box 104","folder 3"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Contents note"],"_nest_path_":"/components#1/components#1/components#485","timestamp":"2026-05-07T07:19:07.641Z","collection":{"numFound":1,"start":0,"numFoundExact":true,"docs":[{"id":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_ssi":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_root_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","_nest_parent_":"vifgm_repositories_2_resources_331","ead_source_url_ssi":"data/oai/GMU/repositories_2_resources_331.xml","title_filing_ssi":"Federal Theatre Project collection","title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"unitdate_ssm":["circa 1885-1986","1935-1939"],"unitdate_bulk_ssim":["1935-1939"],"unitdate_inclusive_ssm":["circa 1885-1986"],"level_ssm":["collection"],"level_ssim":["Collection"],"unitid_ssm":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"text":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331","Federal Theatre Project collection","Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript","There are no access restrictions.","The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   .","Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)","The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.","Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.","The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . ","Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.","The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2","George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)","English"],"unitid_tesim":["C0002","/repositories/2/resources/331"],"normalized_title_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_title_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"collection_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project collection"],"repository_ssm":["George Mason University"],"repository_ssim":["George Mason University"],"creator_ssm":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creator_corpname_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"creators_ssim":["Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"access_terms_ssm":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"acqinfo_ssim":["Donated by the Library of Congress."],"access_subjects_ssim":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"access_subjects_ssm":["Children's theater","New Deal, 1933-1939","Political plays, American","Radio and theater","Theater programs","Theater -- United States","Theater","Theater -- Production and direction","Performing arts","Playscript"],"has_online_content_ssim":["false"],"extent_ssm":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"extent_tesim":["185 Linear Feet 371 boxes"],"genreform_ssim":["Playscript"],"date_range_isim":[1885,1886,1887,1888,1889,1890,1891,1892,1893,1894,1895,1896,1897,1898,1899,1900,1901,1902,1903,1904,1905,1906,1907,1908,1909,1910,1911,1912,1913,1914,1915,1916,1917,1918,1919,1920,1921,1922,1923,1924,1925,1926,1927,1928,1929,1930,1931,1932,1933,1934,1935,1936,1937,1938,1939,1940,1941,1942,1943,1944,1945,1946,1947,1948,1949,1950,1951,1952,1953,1954,1955,1956,1957,1958,1959,1960,1961,1962,1963,1964,1965,1966,1967,1968,1969,1970,1971,1972,1973,1974,1975,1976,1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982,1983,1984,1985,1986],"accessrestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThere are no access restrictions.\u003c/p\u003e"],"accessrestrict_heading_ssm":["Access Restrictions"],"accessrestrict_tesim":["There are no access restrictions."],"altformavail_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\" title=\"Federal Theatre Project Materials Collection\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections  \u003cextptr href=\"http://images.gmu.edu/luna/servlet/GMUDPSdps~23~23\" title=\"available here\" show=\"new\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"],"altformavail_heading_ssm":["Alternative Form Available"],"altformavail_tesim":["The scripts are also available as a series in the   in the Mason Archival Repository Service.\nThere are additional documents from this and other GMU FTP collections   ."],"arrangement_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eArranged into five series.\u003c/p\u003e","\u003clist type=\"ordered\"\u003e\n      \u003chead\u003eSeries\u003c/head\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367)\u003c/item\u003e\n      \u003citem\u003eSeries 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)\u003c/item\u003e\n    \u003c/list\u003e"],"arrangement_heading_ssm":["Arrangement"],"arrangement_tesim":["Arranged into five series.","Series Series 1: Administrative Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-5, 361, 365-366, 368) Series 2: Play Service and Research Records, 1935-1939 (Boxes 5-105) Series 3: Library Records, 1885-1986 (Boxes 106-306) Series 4: Production Records, 193-193 (Boxes 307-363, 366-367) Series 5: Costumes, circa 1935-1939 (Boxes 369-371)"],"bioghist_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eLike many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eBut it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eFlanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck.\u003c/p\u003e"],"bioghist_heading_ssm":["Historical Information"],"bioghist_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project was a division of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), which provided employment for large numbers of artists, writers, and performers during the Great Depression (1929-1939). The Federal Theatre began in 1935 and, until its end in 1939, flourished as the first and only federally sponsored and subsidized theater program in the United States. Directed by Hallie Flanagan (1880-1969), it was a way for theatrical professionals to gain employment during the Depression. Jobs were provided for many people, including actors, playwrights, scene designers, scene builders, seamstresses, lighting experts, ushers, box-office men, and stagehands.","Like many New Deal programs implemented by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Federal Theatre Project was intended not only to benefit its participants, but also to enrich the condition of the nation. Theater was a distinguished part of American popular culture, but the economic downturn of the Depression had bankrupted the entire theater industry. As the theater houses closed down, the nation was left without an outlet for theatrical creativity. According to Hallie Flanagan, this hurt the nation as much as it hurt the theater industry - indeed, the nation was their audience and the theater could provide entertaining distractions from the effects of Depression as well as offer commentary on present conditions.","But it was not enough to simply return to the pre-Depression concept of theater. In the first meeting with her staff Flanagan expressed her willingness to follow Roosevelt's experimental approach to public policy: \"In a changing world, a world of experiment, the stage too must experiment - with ideas, with the psychological relationship of men and women, with color and light.... The theatre must grow up.\"","Flanagan pursued her ideal of developing the relationship between the Federal Theatre and the federal government: \"Any theatre sponsored by the government of the United States should do no plays of a cheap, trivial, outworn or vulgar nature, but only such plays as the Government can stand proudly behind in a planned theatrical program, national in scope, regional in emphasis, and American in democratic attitude.\" To Flanagan, it was imperative that this new theater should be progressive and experimental, yet within a patriotic and informative framework.","The productions that best embodied Flanagan's views on theater were the Living Newspapers. These hard-hitting, poignant plays dealt with contemporary factual material, dramatizing issues such as housing, agriculture, labor, and destitution. Always ending on an upbeat note, Living Newspapers underscored the importance of hard work and morality in overcoming difficult times. Living Newspaper titles include: Triple A Plowed Under, Injunction Granted, One Third of a Nation, and Spirocheta.","The Federal Theatre was noted for employing Black Americans at a time when the Federal Government did not actively protect the rights of marginalized communities. This unit was called \"The Negro Unit,\" which at the time was a socially acceptable term used to describe people of African descent. All-Black theatre companies were an established industry before the Depression. As a result, the inclusion of this unit greatly contributed to the success of the Federal Theatre Project. Some of the most spectacular productions were put on by Black theater professionals, for example: Macbeth, Haiti, Turpentine, Run Little Chillun, and The Trial of Dr. Beck."],"prefercite_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eFederal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.\u003c/p\u003e"],"prefercite_tesim":["Federal Theatre Project collection, C0002, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries."],"processinfo_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eProcessed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023.\u003c/p\u003e"],"processinfo_heading_ssm":["Processing Information"],"processinfo_tesim":["Processed by Special Collections Research Center staff. Reprocessed and EAD completed in 2012 by Greta Kuriger. Finding aid updated by Robert Vay in February 2023."],"relatedmaterial_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe scripts are also available as a series in the \u003cextptr show=\"new\" title=\"FTP digital collection\" href=\"https://mars.gmu.edu/handle/1920/3478\"\u003e\u003c/extptr\u003e. \u003c/p\u003e"],"relatedmaterial_heading_ssm":["Related Material"],"relatedmaterial_tesim":["The Special Collections Research Center also holds the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, the Federal Theatre Project personal papers, the Arnold Sungaard papers, and the Works Progress Administration oral histories collection.","The scripts are also available as a series in the  . "],"scopecontent_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eContent Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.\u003c/p\u003e\n","\u003cp\u003eSeries 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project.\u003c/p\u003e"],"scopecontent_heading_ssm":["Scope and Content"],"scopecontent_tesim":["Content Warning: Some materials contain racist language and slurs, including play titles.","The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.","Series 1 contains correspondence, memoranda, reports, inventories, reorganization plans, briefs, and speeches relating to the background organization, policies, services, and procedures of the Federal Theatre Project (FTP). Publications featuring articles on productions and organizational activities such as Federal Theatre are included in this series. Personnel file information such as biographical and employee tests are also included, as is research studies of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), Federal Art Project (FAP) and the Historical Records Survey (HRS). This series is arranged alphabetically.","Series 2 is titled Play Service and Research Records and comprises two subseries. Subseries 2.1 contains research on drama, theatre technique, and theatre operations. This subseries is arranged alphabetically. Subseries 2.2 is titled Play Reader Reports and contains thousands of reports completed by the Federal Theatre for possible production or inclusion in play lists. This subseries is loosely arranged alphabetically by play title. Some duplicate material.","Series 3 is titled Library Records and consists of three subseries: Playscripts, Radio scripts, and Play lists. Subseries 3.1 includes hundreds of playscripts from over 900 productions performed or considered for production from around the United States. Most of the scripts are in English but some are in Yiddish or Italian. Some duplicate material. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 3.2 includes radio scripts. Series of shows include topics such as art, children's shows, mysteries, health, music, history, and science. Arranged alphabetically by series and single broadcast title. Subseries 3.3 consists of play lists. These lists were created to aid play selection among the various units of the Federal Theatre. Lists are arranged alphabetically by subject categories such as children's plays, historical drama, holidays, minstrel shows, operettas, puppet plays, and vaudeville.","Series 4 is titled Production Records and consists of three subseries: Production Title File, Playbills and Programs, and Music File. Subseries 4.1 includes memoranda, production bulletins, publicity, and reports relating to play productions. Each production bulletin contains some or all of the following: synopsis, director's report, set and costume designs, lighting scheme, blueprints, photographs, program, reviews, royalty information, and a script. Arranged alphabetically by title. Subseries 4.2 includes programs, heralds, handbills, and other announcements of FTP productions on different sized and colored paper. The first section of this subseries is arranged alphabetically by state in which the performance was produced and then it is arranged alphabetically by play title. The second section is arranged alphabetically by play title. There may be duplicates between the two arrangements. Subseries 4.3 includes manuscript scores and parts for multiple Federal Theatre productions. Resource material used for reference purposes for play productions and Federal Theatre units and regions throughout the United States consists of mostly printed music and is found under \"miscellaneous\". Chiefly arranged alphabetically by title and then according to standard orchestral instrument order. Some duplicates.","Series 5 is titled Costumes and includes two coats and two pairs of pants created and used by the Federal Theatre Project."],"userestrict_html_tesm":["\u003cp\u003eThe copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/).\u003c/p\u003e"],"userestrict_heading_ssm":["Use Restrictions"],"userestrict_tesim":["The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)."],"abstract_html_tesm":["\u003cabstract id=\"aspace_0f4707cda45d410e12f09ae2a350510a\" label=\"Abstract\"\u003eThe Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies.\u003c/abstract\u003e"],"abstract_tesim":["The Federal Theatre Project collection contains administrative records, play service and research records, library records, production records, and costumes created or collected by the Federal Theatre Project from 1935 to 1939. A few items in the collection were created before or after this time period but directly relate to the 1930s material. This collection consists of original materials with some duplicates and photocopies."],"physloc_html_tesm":["\u003cphysloc id=\"aspace_d65479dc2ffe44debbb5af464a6479da\"\u003e\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2\u003c/physloc\u003e"],"physloc_tesim":["\nR 1, C 8, S 6 - C 9, S 7\n\nR 2, C 1, S 1 - C 8, S 3\nOS R 7, C 1, S1\nOS R 3, C 5, S 5 - S 6\nMap Case 9.1, 11.1, 11.3-11.5, 21.2"],"names_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center","Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)"],"corpname_ssim":["George Mason University. Libraries. 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