Summary
Abstract
Douglas C. McMurtrie, based in Chicago, served as national editor of the American Imprints Inventory (1939-1942) of the Work Project Administration (WPA) Historical Records Survey. The Douglas C. McMurtrie papers include financial papers, published materials, and correspondence largely documenting the Historical Records Survey of Pennsylvania (1934-1938).
Dates
- Creation: 1927-1945
Extent
0.8 Linear Feet
Background
Biographical / Historical
Douglas C. McMurtrie, bibliographer and historian of printing, served as national editor of the American Imprints Inventory (1939-1942) of the nationwide Historical Records Survey, a Work Project Administration (WPA) project of the Federal Works Agency in Washington, D.C. Mr. McMurtrie, based in Chicago, Illinois, later was the Director of Advertising and Typography for the Ludlow Typograph Company until his death in September of 1944. The National Historical Survey, under the directorship of Luther H. Evans, was initiated in 1935 as part of the Federal Writers' Project, to document resources for research in U.S. history and consisted of a county-by county inventory of each state and the chronology of local records such as newspapers, the holdings of local historical societies, church records and tombstone inscriptions. The survey was terminated in February of 1943 by a 1942 presidential order.
Scope and Contents
The Douglas C. McMurtrie papers consist of general and personal correspondence, financial papers, and published materials. The collection's correspondence largely concerns the Historical Records Survey of Pennsylvania (1934-1938), and includes letters to and from state archivists, librarians, the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, and state, regional, and county directors of the Historical Survey. Daily expense reports, committee lists, booklets, and archives division papers are also included in the collection.
Location
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Penn State University Libraries catalog via the link above. Archival collections may be housed in offsite storage. For materials stored offsite, please allow 2-3 business days for retrieval.
Processing Information
Processed by Special Collections staff.
Subjects
- Archival surveys Subject Source: Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms
- Information scientists Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Using These Materials
Repository Details
Part of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library Repository
104 Paterno Library
Penn State University
University Park 16802 USA
(814) 865-1793
spcollections@psu.edu
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research
Conditions Governing Use
Photocopies of original materials may be made available for research purposes at the discretion of the Eberly Family Special Collections Library. Photocopies or reproductions of original materials may be subject to fees as outlined by the Pennsylvania State University Libraries reproduction policies.
Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law. Patrons seeking advice on the availability of unpublished materials for publication should consult relevant copyright law and laws of libel.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Douglas C. McMurtrie papers, 01653, Eberly Family Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania State University.
- Title
- Guide to the Douglas C. McMurtrie papers
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Prepared by Special Collections Library faculty/staff
- Date
- 2011
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- 2023: Lexy deGraffenreid updated standardized notes to current standard, October 2023