The plight of the unemployed writer—and those with similar skill sets such as a lawyer, a teacher or a librarian—during the early years of the Depression was of concern not only to the Roosevelt Administration but also to writers' organizations, liberals and academics. It was felt, generally, that the New Deal could come up with more appropriate work situations for this group than blue-collar jobs on construction projects.

Plans were generated from a series of meetings held in 1934 among Jacob Baker, administrator of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration and later the Works Progress Administration; Henry Alsberg, chief Civil Works Administration assistant in charge of special and professional programs; Baker’s assistant, Katherine Kellock, a writer familiar with international and social organizations; and others. The outcome of these sessions was a project for all the “arts,” (labeled Federal One), divided administratively by each specialty and headed by professionals in the field.

The Writers' Project, later characterized by some as the federal government's attempt to “democratize American culture,” was approved for federal monies in June 1935. Baker chose his assistant, Alsberg, as director. As the project continued into the late 30s, the director was powerless to stop increasing criticism by reactionary congressmen who were intent on shutting down the enterprise. In October 1939, the project's federal monies ceased, due to the administration's need for a larger defense budget. After 1939, the project sputtered along on monies funded to the states, closing completely one year or so after America's entry into World War II.

The Library is a major repository for the Federal Writers’ Project in addition to other New Deal initiatives, thanks in large part to the efforts of Librarian of Congress Archibald MacLeish (1939-1944).

Recently, journalist and filmmaker David A. Taylor, penned a book, “Soul of a People: The WPA Writers’ Project Uncovers Depression America,” and co-produced a documentary of the same name. To recognize the publication and film, the Library hosted a program that discussed the New Deal initiative and its significance, even in today’s day and age. The program is now available as a webcast and further reading can be found in an article in the May 2009 issue of the Library of Congress Information Bulletin.

In 2008, the Library’s American Folklife Center commemorated the 75th anniversary of the New Deal with a symposium discussing cultural documentation performed by New Deal programs, and its impact on collections at the Library of Congress and elsewhere. Webcasts were also made of the various programs. In addition, the center has an online collection of Florida’s contribution to the WPA programs. This web guide also presents selected New Deal resources at the Library.