George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Ben Russak papers
Russak, Ben, 1912-1988
C0221
/repositories/2/resources/339
2.25 Linear Feet
5 boxes
1935-1942
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.
English
Access Restrictions
There are no access restrictions.
Use Restrictions
The copyright and related rights status of this collection have not been evaluated (See http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/)
Preferred Citation note
Ben Russak papers, C0221, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
Acquisition Information
Donated by Ben Russak on March 26 and April 17, 1979.
Processing Information
Processing and EAD markup completed in October 2012 by Greta Kuriger Suiter.
Historical Information
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.
Scope and Content
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.
Related Materials
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.
Arrangement
Collection is organized into two series. Each series is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Missing Title
- Series 1: Federal Theatre Project, 1935-1939
- Series 2: Federal Writers' Project, 1937-1942
Theater -- United States
New Deal, 1933-1939
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)
Federal Writers' Project
Series 1: Federal Theatre Project/repositories/2/archival_objects/859721935-1939(3.5 boxes)Scope and ContentSeries one consists of material from the Federal Theatre Project and includes playscripts, magazine publications, and folk songs.
Ballads and songs from broadsides 1773-1776/repositories/2/archival_objects/85973February 3, 193911The Better Sort playscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/85974February 193812Brother Mose playscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/859751930s13Chalk Dust playscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/85976September 193614Donogoo/repositories/2/archival_objects/85977September 193715Excursion/repositories/2/archival_objects/85978September 193716Federal Theatre Magazine (volume I number I)/repositories/2/archival_objects/85979November 25, 193517Folk music in America/repositories/2/archival_objects/85980June 193918Folk songs mainly from West Virginia/repositories/2/archival_objects/85981June 193919Folk songs of America/repositories/2/archival_objects/85982December 193821Folk tunes from Mississippi/repositories/2/archival_objects/85983July 193722Folk tunes from Mississippi/repositories/2/archival_objects/85984July 193723Generations (Yiddish playscript)/repositories/2/archival_objects/859851930s24Haven playscript (reissue)/repositories/2/archival_objects/85986February 193825Help Yourself playscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/85987November 193626Injunction Granted playscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/85988193627It Can't Happen Here playscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/85989September 18, 193628Magazine of Art/repositories/2/archival_objects/85990January 193729The Man of the Times playscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/859911930s2101935 playscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/85992October 16, 193631Power playscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/85993193732Precious Land playscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/85994February 193733Program of the Federal Arts Projects/repositories/2/archival_objects/85995June 25-July 1, 193834Prologue to Glory playscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/85996May 193835The Second Shepherd's Play playscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/85997October 193736Southwestern folk history (Oklahoma)/repositories/2/archival_objects/85998May 27, 193937The Theatre Abroad (volume I, number VI)/repositories/2/archival_objects/85999May 193938Theatre of the gold rush decade in San Francisco/repositories/2/archival_objects/860001930s39Traditional ballads mainly from West Virginia/repositories/2/archival_objects/86001March 1939310Triple A Plowed Under playscript/repositories/2/archival_objects/86002193641Series 2: Federal Writers' Project/repositories/2/archival_objects/860031937-19421.5 boxesScope and ContentSeries two consists of material from the Federal Writers' Project including manuscripts, Nebraska folklore, and research pamphlets.
Balance in (square dances, Kentucky)/repositories/2/archival_objects/86004October 194242The builders of timberline lodge/repositories/2/archival_objects/86005193743Conference on contemporary culture/repositories/2/archival_objects/86006November 16-17, 193844Hoosier folklore bulletin (Indiana)/repositories/2/archival_objects/86007December 194245MSS…manuscripts - Federal Writers Project (South Dakota)/repositories/2/archival_objects/86008circa 1930s46Scope and Content3 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.
Nebraska folklore pamphlets (numbers 1 to 18)/repositories/2/archival_objects/860091937-193847Nebraska folklore: Animal legends/repositories/2/archival_objects/86010August 1, 193748Nebraska folklore: Ballads/repositories/2/archival_objects/86011October 193849Nebraska folklore: Children's games/repositories/2/archival_objects/86012September 1, 1937410Nebraska folklore: Children's singing games/repositories/2/archival_objects/86013June 1, 1937411Nebraska folklore: Cowboy songs/repositories/2/archival_objects/86014May 15, 1937412Nebraska folklore: Cowboy songs/repositories/2/archival_objects/86015November 1, 1937413Nebraska folklore: Farmers' alliance songs of the 1890's/repositories/2/archival_objects/86016December 1938414Nebraska folklore: Historical legends/repositories/2/archival_objects/86017June 15, 1937415Nebraska folklore: Indian ghost legends/repositories/2/archival_objects/86018November 15, 1937416Nebraska folklore: Indian place legends/repositories/2/archival_objects/86019May 29, 1937417Nebraska folklore: More Santee-Sioux Indian legends/repositories/2/archival_objects/86020October 1939418Nebraska folklore: Nebraska cattle brands/repositories/2/archival_objects/86021November 1938419Nebraska folklore: Pioneer recollections/repositories/2/archival_objects/86022January 1940420Nebraska folklore: Proverbs, prophesies, signs and sayings, /repositories/2/archival_objects/86023October 1, 1937421Nebraska folklore: Proverbs, prophesies, signs and sayings (part II)/repositories/2/archival_objects/86024October 15, 1937422Nebraska folklore: Reminiscences of Dad Streeter/repositories/2/archival_objects/86025February 1939423Nebraska folklore: Songs about Nebraska/repositories/2/archival_objects/86026September 193851Nebraska folklore: Tall tales/repositories/2/archival_objects/86027July 193852New Jersey volume II research pamphlets (Federal Writers Project)/repositories/2/archival_objects/86028193753Over the Turquoise trail (volume I, number I and II)/repositories/2/archival_objects/860291930s54We ain't down yet (song)/repositories/2/archival_objects/860301930s55