Federal Art Project card file of artists, [ca. 1935-1943]

Collection Information

Size: 0.4 Linear feet, (ca. 650 cards on partial microfilm reel)

Summary: A card file containing biographical data on artists who participated in or were prospective participants for the Work Projects Administration of the Federal Works Agency. Information on each artist includes name, date and place of birth, state of residence, training, awards, activities, exhibitions of work, and collections containing the artist's work. Cards do not contain information about art work done for the WPA Art Program, although participation in earlier federal and state art patronage projects is mentioned. The creator of the card file is not known. Most of the biographical data covers artist's careers to ca. 1939.

Biographical/Historical Note

The Federal Art Project (FAP) fell under the jurisdiction of Federal Project No. 1 of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The WPA was established in May 1935 specifically as a work relief program for the millions of individuals left unemployed during the Depression. Its name changed to the Work Projects Administration in 1939 when it fell under the administrative hand of the newly created Federal Works Agency. The FAP was created in August 1935 to aid unemployed artists, following the precedent set by the Public Works of Art Project and other Treasury department art relief projects.

Provenance

Provenance unknown.

Language Note

English .