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From:
Subject: Re: [OKTULSA] MOORE - W.P.A. (Dovie)
Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 13:39:05 EDT
In a message dated 6/13/01 11:31:35 PM Central Daylight Time,
writes:
<< I have a SS card for Fred S. Moore showing he was working for W.P.A. at
602 So. Cheyenne Tulsa, Okla. Could someone tell me any info on the co.
This was in 1937. >>
Dovie,
I was born in 1937 about 20 miles southeast of Tulsa, and about five miles
southwest of Broken Arrow.
W.P.A. is not a company. It was a U.S. government program, and a number of
activities were conducted or performed. It seems the initials stood for
"Works in Progress Administration." There are schools, bridges, and
buildings built by W.P.A. workers. Many structures in Oklahoma were marked
with the initials "W.P.A." Some clerical-types traveled about and documented
interviews--of former slaves, Indians on reservations, cowboys in Texas, etc.
I know the building well that was at 602 South Cheyenne Avenue. It was a
three- or four-story brick building. The Tulsa County courthouse was located
at the Northeast corner of Sixth and Boulder. Each year, my father came to
Tulsa to pay ad valorem taxes. We would usually park around Sixth and
Cheyenne and walk a block to Sixth and Boulder. His trip to the courthouse
coincided with my being out of school for Christmas and I got to come with
him. We would slip into a courtroom and listen to a court proceeding, which
made our trip more special.
In the 1950s, as a teenager, I worked a couple summers for Tulsa Community
Chest (now the United Way), which was located in the red-brick building at
602 South Cheyenne. Teenage girls were hired to perform a door-to-door
survey of downtown employers with fewer than twelve employees. After our
survey was completed, we typed pledge cards for the employees. It was an
interesting experience, sometimes met with hateful business people who didn't
want to cooperate--but most were nice.
I hope the above enlightens you on the W.P.A.
Peggy in Tulsa
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