Research Ancestors in the Civilian Conservation Corp

Did you know there was a National Youth Administration, the Works Progress Administration (WPA), through the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)? 

Your ancestor may have been reported as a “student” at any age. We've seen as late as 28, but the age was "fudged." Look for that also. Be sure to cross-reference your ancestor using multiple documents.
This program included a “Division of Negro Affairs” and was in existence until 1943; in later years the program fell under the Federal Security Agency.
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Where to start? 
>Census records
Most census records, especially those from 1940, include an embedded double-check process code denoting occupation. In our client's case, the ancestor worked in the nursing field as a “first aid” assistant in the forestry industry (not logging). This is one doc that agreed that 1) he was a worker in “Govt”. (1940 census). 2) he was “not employed for pay” but worked in the Public Emergency Work Program (received a stipend). 3) he worked for the C.C.C.
>Later military service papers confirmed this early CCC work history. 

Where are the records?
Personnel records are kept at the National Archives at St. Louis. You can request a search for an enrollee’s file to uncover their personal journey through the program.

Researchers can often find:

• Service records: Enrollment dates, discharge papers, and camp assignments.
• Camp life: Inspection reports and project descriptions.
• Personal details: Medical exams, pay records, and conduct reports.
• Visuals: Historic photographs of camp structures and daily work.
Pay: The pay was creative. Participants in these programs were to send home $22 of their $30 monthly pay.

To dig deeper

1) Look into Record Group 35 at the National Archives in College Park (Archives II) for administrative files, or ...

2) Check state archives for local camp newspapers and maps.

3) Into the Woods: The First Year of the Civilian Conservation Corps by Joseph Speakman, NARA