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George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections & Archives
Special Collections & ArchivesOctober 2012
Finding aid prepared by Greta Kuriger Suiter
There are no restrictions on personal use. Permission to publish material from the Ben Russak papers must be obtained from Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
There are no access restrictions.
Ben Russak papers, C0221, Special Collections and Archives, George Mason University Libraries.
Papers donated to Special Collections and Archives by Ben Russak on March 26 and April 17, 1979.
Processing and EAD markup completed in October 2012 by Greta Kuriger Suiter.
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.
The Ben Russak papers is a collection of Federal Theatre Project and Federal Writers' Project material collected by Ben Russak from 1935 to 1942. The papers include playscripts and publications created by the Federal Theatre Project, as well as pamphlets and collections of folklore material created by the Federal Writers' Project. The collection is divided into two series based on origination of the material. Series one consists of material from the Federal Theatre Project and includes playscripts, magazine publications, and folk songs. Series two consists of material from the Federal Writers' Project including manuscripts, Nebraska folklore, and research pamphlets.
Collection is organized into two series. Each series is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Series 1: Federal Theatre Project, 1935-1939 (Boxes 1-4) Series 2: Federal Writers' Project, 1937-1942 (Boxes 4-5)The Works Progress Administration oral histories collection, the Federal Theatre Project collection, the Federal Theatre Project photograph collection, as well as numerous other personal papers.
Series one consists of material from the Federal Theatre Project and includes playscripts, magazine publications, and folk songs.
Series two consists of material from the Federal Writers' Project including manuscripts, Nebraska folklore, and research pamphlets.
3 issues - February, March, and September, of a periodical for and by WPA writers and workers prepared and published "after hours" by members of the state staff, Federal Writers Project in Pierre, South Dakota.