The Federal Writers' Project was undertaken as part of the New Deal's Work Projects Administration, in order to provide work relief for unemployed writers and white-collar workers whose skills would not have been well utilized in construction projects. This historical account is based on extensive examination of surviving documents and on interviews with participants. The study chronicles the birth, progress, and eventual demise of the project. It discusses both the extensive American Guide Series and the auxiliary projects in black studies, folklore, and other areas. (AA)