Copyright 1999 University of Kentucky. All Rights Reserved.
5,699 online images
Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
Copyright to the images not already in public domain is held by the University of Kentucky.
[Identification of item], Goodman-Paxton Photographic Collection, PA64M1,Special Collections, University of Kentucky.
Photographs scanned by Cassie Domek, Thomas Enneking, Kimberly Harris, and Joe Knipp.
The collection was donated to the University of Kentucky in 1964 by Edwin J. Paxton.
In 1900, George H. Goodman (1876-1961) founded a mail order whiskey business which he continued until the enactment of the 1919 Volstead Act (Prohibition). In 1922 he bought the Paducah
The collection consists of 5699 black and white photographic prints, taken for and under the direction of George Goodman, Director of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in Kentucky. Cover in the years 1934 to 1942, these images document the accomplishments of the WPA within the state. Views of building and road construction predominate, although photographs of people enrolled in various WPA training programs are located at the end of each album. The collection documents the construction of schools, hospitals, courthouses, libraries, and municipal buildings.
Items #1-423 were in the original donation as loose photographs, so designated because the remaining 5276 items in the collection were affixed in either albums, scrapbooks, or as photographic supplements to narrative reports.
Items #424-989 were originally presented in nine separate albums. The photographs in the albums were arranged by county, this order has been retained.
Items #990-4968 were originally presented in scrapbook format. The scrapbooks were dissembled, and the photographs have been grouped by county where the projects being documented took place.
Items #4969-5094 were original presented as part of the First Annual Report of the Second District. Second District refers to the Second Congressional District of Kentucky, which comprised most of Western Kentucky at the time. The report was produce in 1937. The photographs are described from the report, and most include the individual project numbers of their subjects.
Items #5095-5174 were the photographic supplement to the Semi-Monthly Narrative Reports. The months of September through December of 1936 are represented.
Items #5175-5640 are the photographic supplement to the full, by-project number narrative reports of WPA progress from the years 1935 through 1937.
Items #5641-5966 are duplicate of photographs in the collection. They are identified by the item number of the image they duplicate. The duplicate images are not pictured in the container list.