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George Mason University. Libraries. Special Collections Research Center
Fenwick Library, MS2FL4400 University Dr.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Business Number: 703-993-2220
Fax Number: 703-993-8911
speccoll@gmu.edu
URL: https://scrc.gmu.edu
Greta Kuriger Suiter
Administrative Information
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research.
Preferred Citation note
Ben Russak papers, Collection C0221, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries.
Acquisition Information
Papers donated to Special Collections and Archives 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.
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, 1937-1942Related Material
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.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)
- Federal Writers' Project
- New Deal, 1933-1939
- Theater -- United States
Container List
Series one consists of material from the Federal Theatre Project and includes playscripts, magazine publications, and folk songs.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 1
Ballads and songs from broadsides 1773-1776February 3, 1939
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2
The Better Sort playscriptFebruary 1938
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 3
Brother Mose playscript1930s
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 4
Chalk Dust playscriptSeptember 1936
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 5
DonogooSeptember 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 6
ExcursionSeptember 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 7
Federal Theatre Magazine (volume I number I)November 25, 1935
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 8
Folk music in AmericaJune 1939
- Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 9
Folk songs mainly from West VirginiaJune 1939
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 1
Folk songs of AmericaDecember 1938
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 2
Folk tunes from MississippiJuly 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 3
Folk tunes from MississippiJuly 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 4
Generations (Yiddish playscript)1930s
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 5
Haven playscript (reissue)February 1938
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 6
Help Yourself playscriptNovember 1936
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 7
Injunction Granted playscript1936
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 8
It Can't Happen Here playscriptSeptember 18, 1936
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 9
Magazine of ArtJanuary 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 2 folder: 10
The Man of the Times playscript1930s
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 1
1935 playscriptOctober 16, 1936
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 2
Power playscript1937
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 3
Precious Land playscriptFebruary 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 4
Program of the Federal Arts ProjectsJune 25-July 1, 1938
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 5
Prologue to Glory playscriptMay 1938
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 6
The Second Shepherd's Play playscriptOctober 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 7
Southwestern folk history (Oklahoma)May 27, 1939
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 8
The Theatre Abroad (volume I, number VI)May 1939
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 9
Theatre of the gold rush decade in San Francisco1930s
- Mixed Materials box: 3 folder: 10
Traditional ballads mainly from West VirginiaMarch 1939
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 1
Triple A Plowed Under playscript1936
Series two consists of material from the Federal Writers' Project including manuscripts, Nebraska folklore, and research pamphlets.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 2
Balance in (square dances, Kentucky)October 1942
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 3
The builders of timberline lodge1937
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 4
Conference on contemporary cultureNovember 16-17, 1938
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 5
Hoosier folklore bulletin (Indiana)December 1942
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 6
MSS…manuscripts - Federal Writers Project (South Dakota)circa 1930sScope and Content
3 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.
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 7
Nebraska folklore pamphlets (numbers 1 to 18)1937-1938
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 8
Nebraska folklore: Animal legendsAugust 1, 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 9
Nebraska folklore: BalladsOctober 1938
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 10
Nebraska folklore: Children's gamesSeptember 1, 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 11
Nebraska folklore: Children's singing gamesJune 1, 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 12
Nebraska folklore: Cowboy songsMay 15, 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 13
Nebraska folklore: Cowboy songsNovember 1, 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 14
Nebraska folklore: Farmers' alliance songs of the 1890'sDecember 1938
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 15
Nebraska folklore: Historical legendsJune 15, 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 16
Nebraska folklore: Indian ghost legendsNovember 15, 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 17
Nebraska folklore: Indian place legendsMay 29, 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 18
Nebraska folklore: More Santee-Sioux Indian legendsOctober 1939
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 19
Nebraska folklore: Nebraska cattle brandsNovember 1938
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 20
Nebraska folklore: Pioneer recollectionsJanuary 1940
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 21
Nebraska folklore: Proverbs, prophesies, signs and sayings,October 1, 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 22
Nebraska folklore: Proverbs, prophesies, signs and sayings (part II)October 15, 1937
- Mixed Materials box: 4 folder: 23
Nebraska folklore: Reminiscences of Dad StreeterFebruary 1939
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 1
Nebraska folklore: Songs about NebraskaSeptember 1938
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 2
Nebraska folklore: Tall talesJuly 1938
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 3
New Jersey volume II research pamphlets (Federal Writers Project)1937
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 4
Over the Turquoise trail (volume I, number I and II)1930s
- Mixed Materials box: 5 folder: 5
We ain't down yet (song)1930s