One of many relief efforts to combat the effects of the "Great Depression" of the 1930s was the establishment of the Work Projects Administration (WPA) in 1935. The WPA created a variety of jobs in the construction field. The authorizing legislation also permitted the establishment of the Federal Writers' Project along with other cultural projects in theater, music and art. The Savannah Unit of the Georgia Writers' Project was begun as a unit of the Federal Writers Project in 1936 and operated continuously, first as a unit of a Federal Project, then as a unit of a State Project until December 31, 1942. During this period the local unit produced a number of complete projects as well as contributing its area of district share in projects undertaken by the State and National Offices. The unit made significant contributions to the state guide, Georgia: the WPA Guide to Its Towns and Countryside (1940). In addition, the unit compiled material for a State Encyclopedia, life histories for a State volume, local food recipes for a national volume and a number of smaller assignments. The Savannah Unit also produced The Savannah Guide (1937), Drums and Shadows (1940), Chatham County Map Portfolio (1942), military camp newspaper articles, and other projects. An outstanding contribution to Savannah's written history by the Savannah Unit was Savannah River Plantations, which was published serially in the Georgia Historical Quarterly from March, 1939 through March, 1943. It was edited by Mary Granger and published in book form in 1947. It was reprinted in 1972 and 1998.
From the description of Georgia Writers' Project, Savannah Unit research materials, 1739-1943. (Georgia Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 173482485
