Collection is open to research.
There are no restrictions.
Works Progress Administration oral histories collection, Collection #C0153, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University.
Donated by the Institute on the Federal Theatre Project and New Deal Culture.
Processed by Special Collections and Archives staff. EAD markup completed by Eron Ackerman and Jordan Patty in March 2009.
In 2009, staff discovered that a number of the interviews listed in the finding aid were not actually located in the boxes. Those interview names are still included in alphabetical order in the finding aid, but they are unnumbered signifying that no folder exists.
The interviews in the WPA Oral Histories Collection were conducted from between 1961 and 1984. The majority of the interviews were done in the 1970s and 1980s by Lorraine Brown and John O'Connor as part of the Institute on the Federal Theatre Project and New Deal Culture.
This compilation describes oral interviews with persons who were associated with various Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects in the 1930s. These include the Federal Art Project, Federal Music Project, and Federal Writers Project.
The interviews (transcripts and tapes) are arranged in alphabetical order by the subject's last name. The date of the interview is included along with the type of work or position held by the interviewee during the 1930s, with the location when known. The name of the interviewer(s) follows. In some cases a notation is made indicating that an interview is untaped. If the interview was a joint one, this information is noted. The type of media available (abstract, letter, notes, tape, and/or transcript)is then listed along with the number of pages or minutes of each type. Restrictions that may apply to certain interviews is the last information in an entry.
List of Abbreviations:
CCC - Civilian Conservation Corps, FAP - Federal Art Project, FERA - Federal Emergency Relief Administration, FMP - Federal Music Project, FTP - Federal Theatre Project, FWP - Federal Writers Project, GSA - General Services Administration, NYA - National Youth Administration, SECT - Section of Painting and Sculpture, WPA - Works Projects Adminstration
This collection is arranged alphabetically by last name of interviewee.
Special Collections and Archives also holds the
Widow of playwright Hughes Allison, whose work was produced by FTP.
Stage manager and director with the Negro unit, NYC FTP.
Costume designer with SF FTP.
Actress who auditioned for Negro Unit, NYC FTP.
Composer and director, SF FMP.
Technician, marionette artist, and actor with the Classical unit, NYC FTP.
Conductor, FMP's Virginia Symphony Orchestra and North Carolina-Virginia Symphony.
Dancer and assistant to Charles Weidman, with NYC Federal Dance Theatre.
Dancer with the Negro unit, NYC FTP. Closed pending release.
Administrative director of the NYC FTP.
Administrative director of the NYC FTP.
Dancer with Federal Dance Project, NYC.
Worked with the Radio Division of FTP. This is an untaped interview.
Stage manager with the Manhattan City Projects, NYC.
Dancer and actor with NYC FTP units.
Set designer for various NYC FTP productions.
Son-in-law of Hallie Flanagan; writer and critic of modern drama.
Step-daughter of Hallie Flanagan. Closed pending release.
Artist, muralist. Unidentified interviewer may have residual rights to interview.
Actor with Children's Theatre and Living Newspaper units of NYC FTP.
Writer who worked with the National Play Bureau, NYC FTP. Restricted during interviewee's lifetime.
Novelist, film writer, journalist, NYC, LA. Approval of Sylviane Bessie required.
Costume designer with SF FTP.
Administrator with NYC FTP Radio Division; also worked as publicist with NYC FTP. This is an untaped interview.
Composer, musician; wrote Swing It for NYC FTP. Closed pending release.
Playwright whose play, Battle Hymn, written with Michael Gold, was produced by various FTP units.
Artist, muralist with NYC FAP. Permission for publication required.
[see Bolton, Philip.]
Son of Harold (director and choreographer with NYC FTP) and Rhoda Rammelkamp Bolton (costume designer, NYC FTP). This is an untaped interview.
[see Bolton, Philip.]
Costume designer with NYC FTP.
Director of Play Bureau; in charge of exhibits; head of Play Reading Bureau within the National Office of FTP.
Actor with LA FTP. This is an untaped interview.
Director and actor with Chicago FTP.
Director and actress with Chicago FTP.
Actor with LA FTP.
Director of marionette unit of LA FTP.
Artist with FAP. Permission for publication required.
Playwright whose work was produced by Seattle FTP; also a writer with Boston FTP.
Actor with Children's unit of NYC FTP.
Sound technician with Living Newspaper unit of NYC FTP.
Publicist with NYC FTP.
Artist, muralist with FAP. Closed pending release.
Playwright whose work, Reward, was produced by the Tampa FTP. Closed during Fernando Mesa's lifetime.
Director of Lafayette Theatre's Negro unit of NYC FTP. This is an untaped interview.
Personnel administrator with NYC and Florida FTP units.
Artist, administrator with Ohio FAP. Permission with interviewer required for publication.
Artist, NY. Permission to quote over 100 words required.
Actor, stage manager with Portland, OR FTP. Closed during interviewee's lifetime.
Playwright whose work was produced by Denver FTP.
Publicist with Federal Dance Theatre, NYC FTP. Closed pending release.
Writer and theater critic. Closed pending release.
Director of marionette units, SF and LA FTP; costume designer.
Director of marionette units, SF and LA FTP; costume designer.
Choreographer and dancer with Federal Dance Project, NYC FTP.
Artist with the Illinois and District of Columbia FAP. Permission of interviewer required for publication.
See Schnitzer, Marcella Cisney.
With Children's Theatre unit, NYC FTP.
Theatrical director with Experimental and Children's units, NYC FTP.
Assistant stage manager with Classical unit, NYC FTP.
Concertmaster, Illinois Symphony Orchestra.
Director of Play Bureau, NYC FTP.
Director of Play Bureau, NYC FTP. Closed until completion of dissertation.
District supervisor with SF FTP.
Supervisor of Copyists unit of Philadelphia FMP; conductor of Philadelphia Orchestra.
Director of Negro unit, Boston FTP. Permission to quote required.
Director of Negro unit, Boston FTP.
Playwright whose works were produced by various FTP units.
Actor with NYC FTP.
Actor with Classical unit,NYC FTP.
Playwright whose work, Swamp Mud, was produced in Birmingham, AL.
WPA administrative assistant and secretary, Washington, D.C. and NY. Closed pending release.
Sculptor with FAP. Permission of interviewer required for publication.
Administrative assistant to Ellen Woodward, WPA's head of Woman's and Professional Division, Washington, D.C. FTP. This is an untaped interview.
Actress with Roslyn, NY unit of FTP.
Actress, dancer, playwright, and marionette manipulator with SF FTP.
Actor and director with Radio Division, NYC FTP.
Worked with various productions of FTP in California. Permission of interviewer required for publication.
Actor with the Roslyn, NY FTP unit.
Writer with Radio Division, NYC FTP.
Finance administrator, WPA arts projects, Washington, D.C.
Actor with Popular Price Theatre, NYC FTP. Closed pending release.
Music director with the Negro unit, NYC FTP.
Dancer and choreographer with the dance unit, NYC FTP.
Dancer with the dance unit, NYC FTP.
Play adapter and choreographer with Classical unit, NYC FTP.
Assistant to Hallie Flanagan at Smith College; playwright.
Playwright with Chicago FTP. Permission to quote over 100 words required.
Assistant stage manager with Negro unit, NYC FTP.
Worked in Herbert Hoover's and Harry Hopkins's press offices.
Student of Hallie Flanagan; expert in children's theater.
Director of Vaudeville unit, Los Angeles, FTP. Closed pending release.
Set designer with the Roslyn, NY unit of the FTP.
Actress with the Children's Theatre, NYC FTP.
Set designer with the Los Angeles FTP.
Actress with the Los Angeles FTP.
Musical composer and director with various units, NYC FMP and FTP.
Musical composer and director with various units, NYC FMP and FTP.
Director of Negro unit and Children's unit, Chicago, FTP. Closed pending release.
Director of Southwest Experimental unit, Los Angeles FTP.
Administrative assistant to Hallie Flanagan, national office, FTP.
Director, Midwest FTP; administrator for Federal Arts Projects in Chicago and Washington, D.C.
Lighting designer with the Negro and Classical units, NYC FTP. Closed pending release.
Brother of Hallie Flanagan. This is an untaped interview.
Administrator with the National Play Bureau; playwright, play reader, NYC FTP.
Director of Miami unit, FTP.
Actor with SF FTP
Actress with the Classical unit, NYC FTP
Actor with Children's Theatre, NYC FTP
Writer with Radio Division, Illinois Writers' Project
Producer and Theatrical Director, NYC FTP
Wife of Ralph Freud, theatrical director and actor with LA FTP
Wife of Ralph Freud, theatrical director and actor with LA FTP.
Theatrical director and actor with LA and SF FTP.
Playwright and technical assistant with the Detroit FTP.
Composer; accompanist with Dance Project, LA FTP.
Dancer and assistant to Doris Humphrey with the Dance Project, NYC FTP.
Actor, NYC FTP.
Writer and Publicist with FWP and the Negro unit, NYC FTP; play reader with FTP Play Bureau. Closed pending release.
Dancer with the Dance Project, NYC FTP
Actor and founder of Chicago Repertory Group, 1933.
Administrator, Bureau of research and Publications of FTP.
Administrator, Bureau of Research and Publications of FTP.
Actor with the Chicago FTP.
Dancer with the Chicago FTP.
Actress and dancer with the Vaudeville unit, LA FTP
Actor with the LA FTP; director with the Seattle FTP.
State director of the Illinois FMP.
Publicist with NYC FTP; director, Department of Information, FTP.
Designer, theater historian; critic.
Theatrical director with the Atlanta, Tampa, and Chicago units of the FTP.
Theatrical director with the Atlanta, Tampa, and Chicago units of the FTP.
Playwright, some of whose works were produced by various FTP units.
Musical director with the LA and SF FTP. Permission to quote more than 100 words required.
Musical director with the LA and SF FTP.Closed until 1996; or permission of interviewee.
Art director with the Atlanta FTP.
Staff composer and arranger with FTP.
Stage manager and publicity director with the Living Newspaper unit, NYC FTP.
Writer and researcher with the Living Newspaper unit, NYC FTP.
Play reader and playwright with the NYC FTP. Permission required for commercial use.
Play reader and playwright with the NYC FTP. Closed pending release.
Muralist with the FAP and SECT in NY and Ohio. Permission of interviewer required for publication.
Writer, critic, producer, designer with the NY theaters i the 1930s.
Producer and administrator with the Negro and Classical units, NYC FTP.
Participated in the Resettlement Administration.
Son of Edith Isaacs, editor of Theatre Arts Magazine; friend of FTP. This is an untaped interview.
Lighting designer with the LA FTP. This is an untaped interview.
Theatrical director familiar with the LA and NYC FTP.
Publicist and promotion officer with the NYC FTP.
Director of information with the NYC FMP.
Actor with the SF FTP.
Songwriter and composer with the NYC FTP.
Choreographer and dancer with the Dance Project, LA FTP.
Actress with the San Bernardino/Riverside and LA FTP.
Stagehand with the NYC FTP.Closed pending release.
Playwright with the NYC FTP.
Administrative director, Chicago and NYC FTP.
Concertmaster of the Grand Rapids, MI FTP orchestra.
Stage manager, administrator, theatrical director with the FTP in NYC, Washington, D.C., and Seattle, WA.
Stage manager, administrator, theatrical director with the FTP in NYC, Washington, D.C., and Seattle, WA.
Playwright whose works were produced by the NYC FTP. Closed pending release.
Actress with the SF and Oakland FTP. This is an untaped interview.
Dancer with the Dance Project, NYC FTP.
Actress with the Classical unit, NYC FTP.
Administrator with the National Service Bureau of the FTP.
Director, National Service Bureau of the FTP.
Director of Bureau of Research and Publication, NYC FTP.Bound with the 1-4-76 transcript.
Director of Bureau of Research and Publication, NYC FTP.Bound with the 1-3-76 transcript.
Actress with the Negro unit, NYC FTP. Closed during interviewee's lifetime.
Puppeteer with the Marionette Project, NYC FTP.Closed during lifetime.
Publicist with NYC and Chicago FTP. Interview not to be used for gain or profit without the consent of the interviewee.
Actor with the several units of the NYC FTP.
Lyricist whose work was featured in the NYC FTP production of Sing For Your Supper.
Administrator with the New Orleans and Atlanta FTP.Permission for use required during Mr. Lentz's lifetime.
Actor with NYC FTP.
Set designer with NYC FTP.
Playwright whose Model Tenements was produced by the Chicago FTP.
Dancer with the Dance Project, LA FTP.
Teacher and conductor with NYC FMP. Closed during interviewee's lifetime.
Interviewee's husband, Gerhardt Lindemulder, was a director with the FTP in Louisiana and Florida.
Vaudeville performer with the FTP.
Dancer with the Children's unit and Dance Project, NYC FTP.Tape restricted.
Puppet artist with the Marionette unit, NYC FTP.
Actor with the Living Newspaper unit, NYC FTP.
Costume designer with FTP units in Seattle and Tacoma, WA.Closed during Mr. Williams's lifetime.
Conductor with the Vermont FMP.
Father of Sidney Lumet, child actor with the Yiddish unit, NYC FTP.
Administrative director with the Florida FTP.
Actor with the Chicago FTP.Closed during interviewee's lifetime.
Actor with the Jacksonville and Miami FTP.Closed during interviewee's lifetime.
Marionette artist with the SF FTP.Quotations must be accurate.
Playwright whose work was produced by NYC FTP.
Actress with the Classical unit, NYC FTP.
Actor with the Chicago FTP.
Actor with the Atlanta FTP.
Playwright and researcher with the National Play Bureau of the FTP.Closed during interviewee's lifetime.
Publicist with the NYC FTP.
Actress and researcher with the LA FTP; researcher with the Seattle FTP.
Actress and researcher with the LA FTP; researcher with the Seattle FTP.
Costume designer with the NYC FTP.
Stage manager with the Tampa FTP.Closed during interviewee's lifetime.
Administrator with the Research Bureau, NYC FTP.This is an untaped interview.
Staff member with the Educational Division, NYC FTP.
Administrative director with the West Coast units of FTP; deputy National Director of FTP.
Administrative director with the West Coast units of FTP; deputy National Director of FTP.
Administrative director with the West Coast units of FTP; deputy National Director of FTP.
Member of the Seattle Negro Repertory Theatre in the 1930s.Closed to any government agency.
Set designer with the NYC FTP.
Worked with the NYC FTP. This is an untaped interview.
Director with the FTP in the South; later with the Detroit FTP.
Theatrical director with the Negro unit, NYC FTP.
Actor, director, writer with the Southwest Experimental unit of the LA FTP.
Director with the Negro unit, LA FTP.
Dancer with the NYC FTP.
Writer and playwright who submitted work to the Negro unit, NYC FTP.This is an untaped interview.
Director with the Indiana FTP.
Actor with the Seattle FTP.
Dancer and choreographer with the Chicago FTP.
Dancer with the NYC FTP.
Actor with the Chicago FTP.
Writer with the Southwest Experimental unit of the LA FTP.
Actress and student of Hallie Flanagan at Vassar College.This is an untaped interview.
Actor; director with Suitcase Theatre; assistant director with the Classical unit, NYC FTP.
Director of casting with the Talent Bureau, NYC FTP.Closed pending release.
Dancer with the NYC FTP.
Director of the Vaudeville productions, LA FTP.
Actor in Yiddish theater and New York University repertory groups during the FTP era.
Conductor with the Michigan WPA Symphony Orchestra.
Actor with the LA and Portland (OR) FTP units.This is an untaped interview.
With the WPA program in Connecticut; also with the CCC; founded the Plymouth Playhouse; worked briefly on the set of Faustus.
Actor with the Children's unit, NYC FTP.
Researcher of the Chinese theater, Research Department, SF FTP.
Choreographer with the Yiddish unit, NYC FTP.Closed during interviewee's lifetime.
Radio script writer, Radio Division, NYC FTP.This is an untaped interview.
Artist, muralist with the FAP in NY, NJ, and CA.Permission of interviewer required for publication.
Actress and director with the marionette unit of the Miami FTP.
Playwright in New York and San Francisco; write with the FWP.
Administrator and legal counsel for the National Service Bureau, FTP.
Administrator and legal counsel for the National Service Bureau, FTP.
Hallie Flanagan's assistant who collected Flanagan's papers which were donated to the Theatre Collection, New York Public Library.
Actor with the Cleveland (OH) FTP.
Composer for various productions, NYC FTP.
Writer and director with the Radio Division, NYC FTP.
Actress with the NYC FTP.
Lyricist who wrote the words for "Papa's Got a Job" for Sing For Your Supper under the pseudonym of Hector Troy.This is an untaped interview.
Playwright, play reader with the Playwriting Bureau, NYC FTP.Prior consent required for publication.
Muralist with the Massachusetts and New York FAP.Permission of interviewer required for publication.
Administrator, Playwriting Bureau, FTP.Permission of interviewee required; copyright conditions.
Playwright in NYC whose works were produced by FTP.This is an untaped interview.
Actor with the Negro unit, NYC FTP. This is an untaped interview.
Playwright and director with the Seattle FTP.Closed during Guy Williams's lifetime.
Director with the Experimental unit, NYC FTP.Closed pending release.
Administrative assistant with the Negro and Classical units, NYC FTP.
Actress with the Radio Division, NYC FTP.
Administrator, Delaware FTP; with FTP national office, Washington, DC; with the San Francisco World's Fair, 1939.
Administrator, Delaware FTP; with FTP national office, Washington, DC; with the San Francisco World's Fair, 1939.
Administrative assistant to Philip Barber, NYC FTP. Closed during interviewee's lifetime.
Assistant stage manager with the Living Newspaper unit, NYC FTP.
Administrative assistant to Jasper Deeter, first director of the Pennsylvania/New Jersey FTP.
Audience member, NYC FTP productions.
Composer, NYC FMP.
Director of the Anglo-Jewish unit, NYC FTP.
Worked with Children's and Vaudeville units, Miami and Tampa FTP. Closed during Fernando Mesa's lifetime.
Puppeteer with the Marionette unit, NYC FTP.
Actor with the Classical unit, NYC FTP.
Writer and playwright in NYC at the time of the FTP. This is an untaped interview.
Actress, NYC FTP.
Actress, NYC FTP.
Publicist, NYC FTP.
Actor with the Chicago, Peoria, and Miami FTP; worked with sets and costumes in Chicago.
Actor with the Children's and Negro units, NYC FTP. Closed pending release.
Concertmaster with the FMP Illinois Symphony.
Composer with the NYC FTP; wrote the score for FTP's Created Equal.
Publicist with the Negro unit, NYC FTP.
Administrative director, NJ FTP; director of repertory unit, Roslyn, NY FTP. Written permission of interviewee required for publication.
Playwright in NYC whose work was produced by the FTP. Permission to quote required by interviewee.
Director, Denver FTP.
Worked with Composers's Forum and Copying Project of the FMP.
Choreographer, NYC FTP. This is an untaped interview.
Artist, NY FAP. Permission of interviewer required for publication.
Songwriter whose works were performed by NYC FTP.
Administrator with Iowa FTP; assistant to E.C. Mabie, regional director for the Midwest FTP.
Actor with the Seattle FTP.
Playwright whose work was produced by the FTP.
Composer and arranger with the Vaudeville unit, LA FTP.
Set designer, LA FTP.
Actor with the Anglo-Jewish unit, NYC FTP. Closed pending release.
Actor with the New Hampshire FTP. Closed pending release.
Puppeteer in NYC familiar with the Marionette and Children's units, NYC FTP.
Playwright in Chicago whose work was produced by the FTP.
Administrator, director, actor, and playwright involved with the Seattle and Tacoma FTP, and the Des Moines FTP.
Stage Manager with the Mercury Theatre, New York.
Theatrical director with the Classical unit, NYC FTP. Closed pending release.
Musical director with the Negro and Classical units, NYC FTP.
Musical director with the Negro and Classical units. NYC FTP.
Worked with the National Youth Administration and the WPA in Iowa. Closed pending release.
Administrator, National Play Bureau, NYC FTP.
Worked with the Resettlement Administration.
Actor with the Roslyn, NY FTP.
Dancer with Tamiris's group, Dance Project, NYC FTP.
Playwright based in Chicago whose works were produced by the FTP. Permission to quote over 100 words required.
Playwright based in Chicago whose works were produced by the FTP.
Actress with the Vaudeville unit, LA FTP.
Stage manager, actor, and lighting technician with the LA FTP.
Stage manager, actor, and lighting technician, LA FTP.
Administrator, Atlanta FTP.
Lawyer who represented Orson Welles and John Houseman.
Director with the NYC FTP.
Muralist with the Illinois FAP. Permission needed to quote over 100 words.
Lighting director and technician with the Chicago FTP.
Administrator with the Marionette unit of the NYC FTP.
Puppeteer and lighting designer with the Marionette unit, NYC FTP.
Theatrical director with the Seattle FTP. Closed during Mr. Williams's lifetime.
Theatrical director with the Seattle FTP. Closed during Mr. Williams's lifetime.
Stage manager with the Children's theater, NYC FTP.
Artist with the Illinois and New York FAP.
Research with the San Francisco Theatre History project; actor in several SF FTP productions.
Worked with the GSA; recovered many FAP works and murals.