Title: State Historical Society. North Dakota Writers' Project, Geographical Place Names Files
Dates: ca. 1935-1942
Record Series: 30556
Quantity: 1 foot
Abstract: Series consists of questionnaires furnishing information on physical features such as rivers, lakes, creeks, buttes, hills, and mountains. Includes names and pronunciations, origins of names, locations, size, altitudes, and special characteristics. Some files contain notes and transcripts of local government records dealing with the history of significant physical features.
Provenance: The North Dakota State Archives acquired these records series through the auspices of the Historical Data Project, Professional and Service Division, Work Projects Administration, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota, ca.1936-1940.
Copyright: Public records are not subject to copyright restrictions, although record series may contain copyrighted material. Consideration of such copyrights is the responsibility of the author and publisher.
Access: These records are available for public inspection under provision of the North Dakota Century Code, 55-02.1-08.
Citation: Researchers are requested to cite the record group, series name and number, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota in all footnote and bibliographic references.
HISTORICAL SKETCH
The North Dakota Writers’ Project began in 1935 and was sponsored by the Division of Women’s and Professional Projects, Works Progress Administration, and the State Historical Society of North Dakota. Many of the publications planned by the North Dakota Writers’ Project were never published. Three notable exceptions are:
North Dakota: A Guide to the Northern Prairie State, 1938
A History of Richland County and the City of Wahpeton, North Dakota, 1938 sponsored by the Wahpeton Park Committee
A History of Bismarck, 1938 sponsored by the Bismarck Association of Commerce
The North Dakota Writers’ Project gathered information for other proposed publications, including a history of grazing, a book on the origin of North Dakota place names, a folklore study, and a book entitled “America Eats.” Survey work of the North Dakota Writers’ Project ended in 1942.
Box / Folder Inventory
Box 106:
35 Instructions
36 Adams County
37 Barnes County
38 Benson County
39 Billings County
40 Bottineau County
41 Bowman County
42 Burleigh County
43 Burke County
44Cass County
45 Cavalier County
46 Dickey County
47 Divide County
48 Dunn County
49 Eddy County
50 Emmons County
51 Foster County
52 Golden Valley County
53 Grand Forks County
54 Grant County
55 Griggs County
56 Hettinger County
57 Kidder County
58 LaMoure County
59 Logan County
60 McHenry County
61 McIntosh County
Box 107:
1 McKenzie County
2 McLean County
3 Mercer County
4 Morton County
5 Mountrail County
6 Nelson County
7 Oliver County
8 Pembina County
9 Pierce County
10 Ramsey County
11 Ransom County
12 Renville County
13 Richland County
14 Rolette County
15 Sargent County
16 Sheridan County
17 Sioux County
18 Slope County
19 Stark County
20 Steele County
21 Stutsman County
22 Towner County
23 Traill County
24 Walsh County
25 Ward County
26 Wells County
27 Williams County
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