Guide to NARA's
NEW DEAL Web Page Images


A New Deal For the Arts - The link to all of the following images is found on the NARA New Deal Art Exhibit:


The Guides to NARA Records are available at The Bodleian Library (the main research library of the University of Oxford).

Volume One
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/external/cross/natarch01.pdf

Volume Two
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/external/cross/natarch02.pdf

Volume Three
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/external/cross/natarch03.pdf

Volume Four
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/external/cross/natarch04.pdf

Volume Five
http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/external/cross/natarch05.pdf


Activist Arts, Part 1

"Lookit, I'm paying 55 cents for standing room and a week ago I could have seen the same dancers on the picket line for nothing"
Sketch By Don Freeman,
New York City Federal Art Project, WPA, 1937
Reproduced from Federal Theatre magazine National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration

"Friday the 13th Demonstration at Times Square,"
Poster ca. 1937
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration

South of Chicago
By Todros Geller,
Illinois Federal Art Project, WPA, 1937
Wood engraving
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration
(MO 56-314)

Lest We Forget
By Ben Shahn,
Resettlement Administration, 1937
Gouache and watercolor in bound volume
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration
(MO 74-311)

Mine Rescue
By Fletcher Martin,
Treasury Section of Fine Arts, 1939
Tempera on panel
National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, transfer from General Services Administration (77.1.54)


Activist Arts, Part 2

"Children in a democracy. A migratory family living in a trailer in an open field. No sanitation, no water. They come from Amarillo, Texas."
Photograph by Dorothea Lange,
Bureau of Agricultural Economics, November 1940
National Archives, Records of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (83-G-44360)

From the "One-Third of a Nation" photographic series, New York City
Photograph by Arnold Eagle and David Robbins,
New York City Federal Art Project, May to August 1938
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-ANP-1-2329-325)

Poster for The Revolt of the Beavers
By an unknown WPA artist, 1937
Silkscreen
Music Division, Library of Congress

"The Beavers gather under Oakleaf's (Jules Dassin) flag to discuss the overthrow of the Chief."
Photograph of a scene from The Revolt of the Beavers.
By an unknown photographer, 1937
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-TS-24J-400-3)

Design for poster for It Can't Happen Here
By an unknown WPA artist, 1937
Pencil, gouache, and colored pencil on board
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-TSR-132(3))

Shad Ledue, leader of the fascist "Corpos," beats Doremus Jessup, a Vermont newspaperman who has been opposing the dictatorship in his newspaper.
Photograph of a scene from It Can't Happen Here at the Blackstone Theatre, Chicago, IL, October 1936
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-N-17215)


Celebrating "the People" - Part 1 -

Michigan artist Alfred Castagne sketching WPA construction workers
Photograph by an unknown photographer, May 19, 1939
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-AG-410)

The Riveter
By Ben Shahn,
Treasury Section of Fine Arts, 1938
Tempera on paperboard
National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, transfer from General Services Administration (77.1.77)

Working Girls Going Home
By Raphael Soyer,
New York City Federal Art Project, WPA, 1937
Lithograph
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration
(MO 56-323)

El Station, Sunday Morning
By Jack Markow,
New York City Federal Art Project, WPA, ca.1935-39
Lithograph
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration
(MO 56-271)

In the Dugout
By Paul Clemens,
Wisconsin Federal Art Project, WPA, 1938
Oil on masonite
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration
(MO 56-330)

Waiting for the Mail
By Grant Wright Christian,
Treasury Relief Art Project, 1937/38
Oil on canvas
National Museum of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, transfer from General Services Administration (77.1.2)


Celebrating "the People," - Part 2 -

Children's festival for pupils of the Federal Music Project classes held in Central Park, New York City.
Photograph by an unknown photographer,
New York City Federal Music Project, undated
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-N-18359)

"Federal Ballet Presents" Poster for the Illinois Federal Theatre Project
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (Federal Theater Project, Vassar Collection of Programs and Promotional Material Jericho-PA folder, Box 159)

These Are Our Lives
Written Oral Histories from the North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia Federal Writers' Project, 1939
National Archives, Records of the Work Project Administration

"Walkin' Boss"
Song as sung by Tricky Salmon, Johnny Smith, and Alexander Williams
Recorded by Herbert Halpert, Joint Committee on Folk Art, WPA, ca. 1940
Transcribed by Frank Harmon, Joint Committee on Folk Art, WPA, ca. 1940
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration

Robert Sonkin and Charles Todd recording a fiddler at a Farm Security Camp in California
Photograph by Robert Hemmig, 1940-41
American Folklife Center, Library of Congress


Rediscovering America - Part 1 -

Fishermen's Village
By Edmund Lewandowski,
Wisconsin Federal Art Project, WPA, 1937
Watercolor and gouache over pencil
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration
(MO 56-332)

History of Southern Illinois
By Karl Kelpe,
Illinois Federal Art Project, WPA, ca. 1935-39
Gouache
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration
(MO 56-331)

Untitled Winter Scene
By Ceil Rosenberg,
Public Works of Art Project, 1934
Oil on canvas
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration
(MO 69-62)

Indian Village
By Julius Twohy,
Washington Federal Art Project, WPA, ca. 1935-39
Lithograph
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration
(MO 56-327)

"Church in shacktown community. It is used by different sects, including Pentecostal. The curtains are made of flour sacks. . . .Near Modesto, Stanislaus County, California, May 10, 1940"
Photograph by Dorothea Lange,
Bureau of Agricultural Economics National Archives, Records of the Bureau of Agricultural Economics (83-G-41382)

Photograph from the "Food for New York City" series
Photograph by Sol Libsohn,
New York City Federal Art Project, WPA, 1939
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-ANP-8-P3032-85)


Rediscovering America - Part 2 -

"Grocery store and filling station in the High Plains. Dawson County, Texas, March 1940"
Photograph by Russell Lee,
Farm Security Administration Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (LC-USF 34-35806-D)

"Newsstand, Omaha, Nebraska, November 1938"
Photograph by John Vachon,
Farm Security Administration Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (LC 8939-D)

Poster for production of Battle Hymn Production
By the Northern California Federal Theatre Project, WPA, 1937
Silkscreen
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-TP-32)

"John Brown" costume design for Battle Hymn
By Zoray Andrus,
Northern California Federal Theatre Project, WPA, 1937
Watercolor and pencil
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-TSR-100)

Jane Addams Memorial
By Mitchell Siporin,
Illinois Federal Art Project, WPA, 1936
Tempera on paper
Fine Arts Collection, General Services Administration (FA 216)

Poster for Festival of American Dance
Poster by an unknown artist,
Los Angeles Federal Theatre Project, WPA, 1937
Silkscreen
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (619-TP-145)

Myra Kinch and Clay Dalton in the Los Angeles production of American Exodus
Photograph by an unknown photographer, 1937
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-N-13159)


Useful Arts - Part 1 -

"See America Visit the National Parks"
Poster by Harry Herzog,
New York City Federal Art Project, WPA, undated
Silkscreen
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration (Y-15)

"Midsummer Night Symphonies"
Poster by an unknown artist,
Southern California Federal Art Project, WPA, ca. 1937
Silkscreen National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-TP-132)

"May Day--Child Health Day, 1939"
Poster by F. Luis Mora,
Children's Bureau, Department of Labor, 1939
Photolithograph
National Archives, Publications of the U.S. Government (287-P-L5.14:M45 939)

"East Side West Side Exhibition of Photographs"
Poster by Anthony Velonis,
New York City Federal Art Project, WPA, 1938
Silkscreen
Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (B WPA NY V 44 2)

Printers making serigraph posters for New York City WPA Federal Art Project, 1940
Photograph by Rose, 1940
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration



Useful Arts - Part 2 -

Magnus Fossum, a WPA artist, copying the 1770 coverlet "Boston Town Pattern" for the Index of American Design.
Photograph, Coral Gables, Florida, February 1940
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-N-22577)

Annunciation to the Virgin Printed and hand-colored by the workers of the Index of American Design,
New Mexico Federal Arts Project, WPA, 1938
Original rendering by E. Boyd,
Index of American Design, New Mexico Federal Art Project, WPA, 1936
Hand-colored woodblock
From Portfolio of Spanish Colonial Design in New Mexico
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration
(MO 56-237 (11))

The Holy Family Printed and hand-colored by the workers of the Index of American Design,
New Mexico Federal Arts Project, WPA, 1938
Original rendering by E. Boyd,
Index of American Design, New Mexico Federal Art Project, WPA, 1936
Hand-colored woodblock
From Portfolio of Spanish Colonial Design in New Mexico
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration
(MO 56-237 (28))

Figurehead for Lady Blessington
By Jerome Hoxie,
Index of American Design,
Connecticut Federal Art Project, WPA, ca. 1936-41
Watercolor
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration (MO 42-35-1)

Figurehead Carving for State of Maine
By John Davis,
Index of American Design,
Maine Federal Art Project, WPA, ca. 1936-41
Watercolor
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration
(MO 56-227)



Useful Arts, Part 3 -

Wall Hanging by WPA Handcraft Project, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
By an unknown artist,
Milwaukee Handcraft Project, WPA, ca. 1935-42
Block-printed cloth
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration
(MO 70-117B)

"Mrs. Lizzie Chambers and Mrs. Mary Collier piecing quilts while Mrs. Octa Self, forelady of the quilting project directs the pattern they are to follow." WPA, Nashville, Tennessee, March 9, 1936
Photograph by an unknown photographer
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-MP-3-21-550)

Federal Art Project 1939
Poster by Jerome Roth,
New York Federal Art Project, WPA, 1938
Silkscreen on coated paper
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration

"June" (page from "Federal Art Project 1939")
Poster by Alexander Dux,
Poster Division, New York City Federal Art Project, WPA, 1938
Silkscreen
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration

Handbills for Chicago, Illinois, production of Spirochete
Illinois Federal Theatre Project, WPA, 1938
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (Federal Theater Records, Vassar Collection of Programs and Promotional Materials, Box 156)



Work Pays America -

"USA Work Program WPA"
Poster by an unknown artist, 1936
Photolithograph
National Archives, Publications of the U.S. Government (Y3w 892 8w89)

"Leaning on a shovel" skit from New York City production of Sing for Your Supper New York City Federal Theatre Project, WPA, May 1939
Photograph by an unknown photographer
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-TS-737-923-106)

"C.C.C. A Young Man's Opportunity for Work Play Study & Health"
Poster by Albert Bender,
Chicago Federal Art Project, WPA, ca. 1935
Silkscreen
Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress (B WPA Ill.B46 1)

"The slogan of the Civilian Conservation Corps is 'We can take it!' Building strong bodies is a major CCC objective. More than half the enrollees who entered CCC the last year were seventeen years of age. Work, calisthenics, marching drill, good food, and medical care feature the CCC health program." Photograph by Wilfred J. Mead, Civilian Conservation Corps, undated
National Archives, Records of the Civilian Conservation Corps (35-G-830)

Painting depicting the activities of the National Youth Administration
By Alden Krider, Kansas National Youth Administration, 1936
Oil on canvas
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration (44-107-1)

"Years of Dust"
Poster by Ben Shahn,
Resettlement Administration, 1937
Photolithograph
Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, National Archives and Records Administration
(MO 90-10)

Poster for Portland, Oregon, production of One-Third of a Nation Poster
By an unknown artist,
Oregon Federal Art Project, WPA, 1938
Silkscreen
National Archives, Records of the Work Projects Administration (69-TP-160)

Electrification
By David Stone Martin,
Treasury Section of Fine Arts, 1940
Tempera on cardboard
Fine Arts Collection, General Services Administration (FA4703)

"Rural Electrification Administration co-op office. Lafayette, Louisiana. 1939" Photograph by Peter Sakaer,
Rural Electrification Administration National Archives, Records of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture (16-G-112-2-S-3522A)


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