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Works Progress Administration, Historical Data Project: Pioneer Biography Files
Works Progress Administration, Historical Data Project: Pioneer Biography Files, 1936-1940
Collection Overview
Title: Works Progress Administration, Historical Data Project: Pioneer Biography Files, 1936-1940
ID: OGLMC1119
Primary Creator: Works Progress Administration
Extent: 34.0 Microfilm Reels
Date Acquired: 03/00/1989
Subjects: Genealogy and Family History, Great Depression
Languages: English
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The North Dakota records related to the Works Progress Administration's Historical Data Project are housed at the State Historical Society of North Dakota. The Department of Special Collections purchased a microfilmed set of the records in March 1989, consisting of thirty-four microfilm rolls of over 5000 files. The records were filmed alphabetically by county, and within each county, alphabetically by name. The last roll is an alphabetical name index which includes the following information: pioneer's name, city or town, county, occupation, nationality, date and place of birth, whether still living or date and place of death, and marital status. If married, the above information is included for the spouse.
The files themselves consist of a Pioneer Data Form or Old Settler Questionnaire filled out by either a Project survey worker or the pioneers themselves. The Data Forms provide the following information: pioneer's name, birth and death dates, nationality, occupation, name of spouse, parents, and children, marital status, dates of immigration to the United States and arrival in Dakota Territory, education, religion, political affiliation, and family and community historical sketches. Also frequently included are small township maps, archaeological and historical survey forms, pioneer biographical sketches, reminiscences, and newspaper clippings.
The records in this collection are indexed in the North Dakota Biography Index: http://library.ndsu.edu/db/biography/
Collection Historical Note
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository: Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections
Access Restrictions: Open for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections.
Acquisition Method: Purchased from the State Historical Society of North Dakota; 89-1643
Original/Copies Note: Originals held by the State Historical Society of North Dakota
Related Materials: Works Progress Administration, North Dakota Writers Project: Ethnic Group Files: OGLMC 1380
Preferred Citation: (Description of Item). Works Progress Administration, Historical Data Project: Pioneer Biography Files. OGLMC 1119. Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks.
Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid added to Archon in February 2015.
Other URL: http://library.und.edu/holdings.php?id=ODIN_ALEPH000735773
Box and Folder Listing
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- Microfilm Reel :
- Microfilm Reel 1: ADAMS: Arnold - BARNES: Prey
- Microfilm Reel 2: BARNES: Rensbye - BENSON: Martinson, August
- Microfilm Reel 3: BENSON: Martinson, Cecelia - BOTTINEAU: Robillard
- Microfilm Reel 4: BOTTINEAU: Rogers - BURLEIGH: Knowles
- Microfilm Reel 5: BURLEIGH: Kuchl - CASS: Teichmann
- Microfilm Reel 6: CASS: Thompson - DICKEY: Nill
- Microfilm Reel 7: DICKEY: Noess - EDDY: Tarbell
- Microfilm Reel 8: EDDY: Thompson - FOSTER: Warren
- Microfilm Reel 9: FOSTER: Wentland - GRAND FORKS: Johnson, Martin
- Microfilm Reel 10: GRAND FORKS: Johnson, Olaus - Turner
- Microfilm Reel 11: GRAND FORKS: Tweten - KIDDER: Coulter
- Microfilm Reel 12: KIDDER: Devore - MCHENRY: Klere
- Microfilm Reel 13: MCHENRY: Lang - MCLEAN: Mathews
- Microfilm Reel 14: MCLEAN: McAdoo - MERCER: Richter
- Microfilm Reel 15: MERCER: Richaw - MORTON: Linstad
- Microfilm Reel 16: MORTON: Loers - MOUNTRAIL: Neset
- Microfilm Reel 17: MOUNTRAIL: Ness - OLIVER: Miner
- Microfilm Reel 18: OLIVER: Molander - PIERCE: Brager
- Microfilm Reel 19: PIERCE: Breger - RAMSEY: McKay
- Microfilm Reel 20: RAMSEY: McKone - RANSOM: White, Elizabeth
- Microfilm Reel 21: RANSOM: White, Samuel - RICHLAND: Gilles
- Microfilm Reel 22: RICHLAND: Goff - Stack, Albert
- Microfilm Reel 23: RICHLAND: Stack, Mrs. Carl - ROLETTE: LaFountaine
- Microfilm Reel 24: ROLETTE: LaFrance - SARGENT: Johnson
- Microfilm Reel 25: SARGENT: Keating - STARK: Walton
- Microfilm Reel 26: STARK: White - STUTSMAN: Klaus
- Microfilm Reel 27: STUTSMAN: Kneebone - TRAILL: Grinde
- Microfilm Reel 28: TRAILL: Gronna - WALSH: Hoople
- Microfilm Reel 29: WALSH: Hylden - WARD: Clemons
- Microfilm Reel 30: WARD: Clouse - Rowan
- Microfilm Reel 31: WARD: Rubbelke - WELLS: Tuffli
- Microfilm Reel 32: WELLS: Turnbull - WILLIAMS: Poe
- Microfilm Reel 33: WILLIAMS: Porger - Zahl
- Also includes a small number of files from former North Dakota pioneers living in California, Minnesota, Montana, South Dakota, Washington and Wisconsin
- Microfilm Reel 34: Name Index
- One index is for complete biographies and another is for incomplete biographies
- Microfilm Reel 1: ADAMS: Arnold - BARNES: Prey
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