Funds through the U.S. Federal Emergency Relief Administration were made available for student employment at W.S.U from 1934 to 1936. During part of this time period there were also funds available through the Civil Works Administration but these were primarily for public works projects. The F.E.R.A. funds at W.S.U. were administered by a Central Faculty Committee made up of the Dean of Men, the Dean of Women, the Superintendent of the Central Correspondence Office and one faculty member. The Committee operated through the office of the Dean of Men.
The requirements for the use of the funds were that they be used to employ not more that 10% of the total full time student population, of which 25% had to be students not pre- viously enrolled. Although the F.E.R.A. funds enabled many students to attend W.S.U. who could not otherwise afford to, the program was terminated in 1936 when this relief activity was transferred to the Works Progress Administration.
The F.E.R.A. records at W.S.U. cover the years 1933-l935 and consist primarily of correspondence. Arranged chronologically, the correspondence is between the Dean of Men, President Holland, deans, professors, parents and students and concerns the projects and students which are to be funded. An annual report for the year 1934-1935 describes the distribution and use of the funds. Also in the records are undated payrolls and time sheets as well as C.W.A. work assignment cards.
The Collection is open for research use.
The records of the Dean of Men relating to the Federal Emergency Relief Administration activities at Washington State University were accessioned prior to 1970.
The records were reprocessed by Anne Frantilla in June l983.