Approximately 560 of the most relevant manuscripts pertaining to existing evaluative research literature in the areas of non-economic, southern rural development are presented in this preliminary bibliographical synthesis. Roughly covering the period 1950-75, this annotated bibliography is divided into the following six subject categories: (1) Major Sources (48 selected books, articles, and annotated bibliographies, with particular emphasis on evaluative research methodology); (2-A and B) Definitions of Rural Development and Evaluation (78 books, articles, and manuscripts on rural development problems, alternatives, future action and research, and 74 manuscripts, primarily journal articles, on the philosophy of evaluation and evaluation methodology, function, utility, and rationale); (3) Criteria-Setting (79 manuscripts on the determination of rural development programs and program evaluation goals, successes, models, and model critiques); (4-A and B) Strategies of Evaluation--Methodology and Case Studies (92 methodology manuscripts, primarily articles and unpublished papers, and 117 case studies); (5) Evaluative Research and the Evaluator's Responsibility (70 manuscripts on the climate, politics, paucity, and ethics of rural development program evaluations); (6) Research in Progress (99 research reports providing information re: ongoing research in rural development and evaluation). (JC)