An introduction to WPA Poster Art for DD114 Digital Illustration class at Hostos Community College.

1. WPA Poster Art
Digital Illustration

2. WPA stands for Works Progress Administration

3. What was the WPA?
• Part of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s
New Deal
• 1936-1943
• WPA Posters were designed to
publicize
– health and safety programs
– cultural programs including art
exhibitions, theatrical, and musical
performances
– travel and tourism
– educational programs
– community activities

4. Why did America need the New Deal?
The Great Depression which began with the stock market crash of October 28, 1929

5. What did the WPA do?
• Put some 8.5 million people to work (over 11 million were unemployed in
1934)
• At a cost to the federal government of approximately 11 billion dollars
• The agency's construction projects produced
– more than 650,000 miles (1,046,000 km) of roads
– 125,000 public buildings
– 75,000 bridges
– 8,000 parks
– 800 airports
• The Federal Arts Project, Federal Writers' Project, and Federal Theater
Project—all under WPA aegis—employed thousands of artists, writers,
and actors in such cultural programs as the creation of art work for public
buildings, the documentation of local life, and the organization of
community theatres. The WPA also sponsored the National Youth
Administration, which sought part-time jobs for young people.

6. http://www.theretrovert.com/cgi-
bin/cpshop.cgi?i=wpa14_po/the_retrovert.84975421

7. 51st annual exhibition - American painting and
sculpture. 1940. Library of Congress Prints and
Photographs Division. Reproduction Number:
LC-USZC2-3739.

8. John is not really dull - he may only need his
eyes examined. [1936 or 1937]. Library of
Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Reproduction Number: LC-USZC2-5332.

9. http://www.theretrovert.com/cgi-bin/cpshop.cgi?i=wpa14_po/the_retrovert.84970245/-/2

10. Is there use of texture?
Low rent - Woodhill Homes, 2567 Woodhill
Road. Earl Schuler. [between 1936 and 1940].
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Division. Reproduction Number: LC-USZC2-5660.

11. Techniques used on the Posters
• Silkscreen
• Woodcut
• Lithographs

12. East side, West side exhibition of photographs.
Anthony Velonis. 1938. Library of Congress Prints
and Photographs Division. Reproduction Number:
LC-USZC4-6179 DLC.

14. Visit the zoo - Philadelphia. [between
1936 and 1941]. Library of Congress
Prints and Photographs Division.
Reproduction Number: LC-USZC2-1885.

17. How would you describe
the use of typography?
See America : Welcome to Montana / R.
Halls. Richard Halls. [between 1936 and
1938]. Library of Congress Prints and
Photographs Division. Reproduction
Number: LC-USZC4-4240.

18. See America / Dux. Alexander Dux.
[between 1936 and 1939]. Library of
Congress Prints and Photographs
Division. Reproduction Number: LC-
USZC4-4243.

19. http://www.theretrovert.com/cgi-bin/cpshop.cgi?i=wpa14_po/the_retrovert.84966942/-/2

20. In March read the books you've always meant to
read. [between 1936 and 1941]. Library of
Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Reproduction Number: LC-USZC2-5175.

21. Airplane mechanics course. Blanche L.
Anish. 1937. Library of Congress Prints
and Photographs Division. Reproduction
Number: LC-USZC2-1095.

22. This is the market where the
storekeeper buys the food and brings it
to his store near your house. [1936 or
1937]. Library of Congress Prints and
Photographs Division. Reproduction
Number: LC-USZC2-999.

23. National letter writing week, Oct. 1-7 : That letter
will be appreciated. [between 1936 and 1940].
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Division. Reproduction Number: LC-USZC2-855.

24. Final barber shop quartet contest
presented by Park Department on the
Mall, Central Park Sept. 10, 8:15 p.m.
Jack Rivolta. [1936]. Library of Congress
Prints and Photographs Division.
Reproduction Number: LC-USZC4-5154.

25. Annual farm and home week. 1941. Library of
Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Reproduction Number: LC-USZC2-3742.

26. January--A year of good reading ahead /
Hazlett. [between 1936 and 1941]. Library of
Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Reproduction Number: LC-USZC2-5186.

27. The Works Progress Administration in
Ohio presents the Federal Theatre for
youth in "A Christmas Carol".
[between 1936 and 1941]. Library of
Congress Prints and Photographs
Division. Reproduction Number: LC-
USZC2-3737.

28. No enemy sub will dare lift its eye if you lend
your Zeiss or Bausch & Lomb bino culars to the
Navy : pack carefully, include your name and
address : send to Naval Observatory
Washington D.C. [between 1941 and 1943].
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs
Division. Reproduction Number: LC-USZC2-

29. Are you helping? with salvage. [between
1941 and 1943]. Library of Congress Prints
and Photographs Division. Reproduction
Number: LC-USZC2-1179.

30. Sew for victory / Pistchal. [between 1941 and
1943]. Library of Congress Prints and
Photographs Division. Reproduction Number: LC-
USZC2-5382.

31. Smoking stacks attract attacks : Don't
invite disaster / PvP. Phil von Phul.
[1940 or 1941]. Library of Congress
Prints and Photographs Division.
Reproduction Number: LC-USZC4-5065.

32. Stamp 'em out : Buy U.S. stamps and
bonds / T.A. Byrne. Thomas A. Byrne.
[between 1941 and 1943]. Library of
Congress Prints and Photographs Division.
Reproduction Number: LC-USZC2-1142.

33. LC-USZC2-1002 DLC (color film copy
slide)

34. Resources
Library of Congress Online Exhibit “By the People, For the People: Posters
from the WPA, 1936-1943”