The photographs include scenes from Mayor Maestri's first three years in office, with emphasis on activities connected with Works Progress Administration public works projects in New Orleans. Also included are photographs taken on the occasion of a celebration at City Hall to mark Maestri's first anniversary in office, two photographs of the city's 1937 Armistice Day parade, and several photos showing Maestri on various other ceremonial/official occasions. A single photograph dates from 1944.

The majority of the photographs were separated from the Louisiana Division's Works Progress Administration collection by a former Louisiana Division photograph curator. Several were reprinted in "annual reports" highlighting accomplishments of the Maestri administration published in the Item-Tribune. Captions have been supplied by the arranger, or they are quoted from those supplied by the WPA or from clippings of Item-Tribune cut lines pasted on the reverse of the photos. The 1944 photograph was published in the February 1944 issue of the New Orleans Port Record.