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Holger Cahill papers, 1910-1993, bulk 1910-1960

Creator:
Cahill, Holger, 1887-1960  Search this
Subject:
Brown, Samuel Joseph  Search this
De Rivera, José Ruiz  Search this
Hopkins, Harry Lloyd  Search this
Halpert, Edith Gregor  Search this
Abbott, Berenice  Search this
Rowan, Edward Beatty  Search this
Scaravaglione, Concetta  Search this
Speck, Walter  Search this
Ward, Lynd  Search this
Weisenborn, Rudolph  Search this
Morris, Carl  Search this
Segal, George  Search this
Olds, Elizabeth  Search this
Roosevelt, Eleanor  Search this
Knaths, Karl  Search this
Miller, Dorothy Canning  Search this
American Federation of Arts  Search this
Artists' Union (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Cartoonists Guild  Search this
Federal Art Project (U.S.)  Search this
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Federal Music Project (U.S.)  Search this
Index of American Design  Search this
American Council of Learned Societies  Search this
New York World's Fair (1939-1940 : New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Shakers  Search this
American Artists' Congress  Search this
United States. Work Projects Administration  Search this
The Design Laboratory (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Treasury Relief Art Project  Search this
United States. Works Progress Administration  Search this
Type:
Prints
Government records
Interviews
Scrapbooks
Photographs
Slides (photographs)
Photograph albums
Drawings
Place:
United States -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945
United States -- Social conditions -- 1933-1945
Citation:
Holger Cahill papers, 1910-1993, bulk 1910-1960. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Federal aid to the public welfare  Search this
Art and state  Search this
Federal aid to the arts  Search this
New Deal, 1933-1939  Search this
Public officers  Search this
Theme:
New Deal  Search this
Research and writing about art  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)6730
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)208855
AAA_collcode_cahiholg
Theme:
New Deal
Research and writing about art
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_208855
Online Media:

Federal art program papers of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry L. Hopkins, 1932-1942

Creator:
Roosevelt, Franklin D., 1882-1945,  Search this
Hopkins, Harry Lloyd, 1890-1946  Search this
Subject:
Biddle, George  Search this
Bruce, Edward  Search this
Chambless, Edgar  Search this
Dows, Olin  Search this
Kent, Rockwell  Search this
Rockefeller, Nelson A. (Nelson Aldrich)  Search this
Zorach, William  Search this
American Institute of Architects  Search this
Federal Art Project  Search this
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Public Works of Art Project  Search this
Treasury Relief Art Project  Search this
United States. Department of the Treasury. Section of Fine Arts  Search this
United States. President (1933-1945 : Roosevelt)  Search this
Place:
United States -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945
United States -- Social conditions -- 1933-1945
Citation:
Federal art program papers of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry L. Hopkins, 1932-1942. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
New Deal, 1933-1939  Search this
Federal aid to the arts  Search this
Federal aid to the public welfare  Search this
Art and state  Search this
Theme:
Patronage  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)9867
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)212368
AAA_collcode_roosfran
Theme:
Patronage
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_212368

Federal art program papers of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry L. Hopkins

Creator:
Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945  Search this
Hopkins, Harry Lloyd, 1890-1946  Search this
Names:
American Institute of Architects  Search this
Federal Art Project  Search this
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Public Works of Art Project  Search this
Treasury Relief Art Project  Search this
United States. Department of the Treasury. Section of Fine Arts  Search this
United States. President (1933-1945 : Roosevelt)  Search this
Biddle, George, 1885-1973  Search this
Bruce, Edward, 1879-1943  Search this
Chambless, Edgar, d. 1936  Search this
Dows, Olin, 1904-1981  Search this
Kent, Rockwell, 1882-1971  Search this
Rockefeller, Nelson A. (Nelson Aldrich), 1908-1979  Search this
Zorach, William, 1887-1966  Search this
Extent:
4 Microfilm reels
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Microfilm reels
Place:
United States -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945
United States -- Social conditions -- 1933-1945
Date:
1932-1942
Scope and Contents:
Correspondence of Roosevelt, Edward Bruce, Nelson Rockefeller, Hopkins, George Biddle, William Zorach, Olin Dows, Rockwell Kent and others regarding the Public Works of Art Project, the Federal Theater Project, and the Federal Art Project; reports on regional Federal Art Project offices in Florida, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Pennsylvania; shipping receipts for works of art; clippings; photographs of works of art; correspondence between White House staff and members of the American Institute of Architects concerning federal architecture, 1934; correspondence of Edgar Chambless regarding his urban design, "Roadtown"; and miscellaneous correspondence.
Biographical / Historical:
President of the United States of America, 1933-1945. Instituted the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and its programs. Harry L. Hopkins was the Director of the WPA. The Federal Art Project was one of five projects in Federal Project No. 1 of the WPA. Holger Cahill was director.
Provenance:
The Franklin D. Roosevelt Library donated the microfilm copies of these papers to AAA in 1982. The microfilming was done by the donor.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Rights:
Authorization to publish, quote, or reproduce requires written permission from Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park N.Y. Contact Reference Services for more information.
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Topic:
New Deal, 1933-1939  Search this
Federal aid to the arts  Search this
Federal aid to the public welfare  Search this
Art and state  Search this
Identifier:
AAA.roosfran
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw99e7cc37c-288c-4fe3-a04f-5d9d39f8e4e4
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-roosfran

Selected Federal Art Project of the Work Projects Administration records from the United States National Archives (microfilm), 1935-1948

Creator:
Federal Art Project (U.S.)  Search this
Subject:
Cahill, Holger  Search this
Rourke, Constance  Search this
Index of American Design  Search this
Federal Art Project. National Art Week  Search this
United States. Works Progress Administration  Search this
United States. Work Projects Administration  Search this
Federal Music Project (U.S.)  Search this
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Federal Writers' Project (U.S.)  Search this
Place:
United States -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945
United States -- Social conditions -- 1935-1945
Citation:
Selected Federal Art Project of the Work Projects Administration records from the United States National Archives (microfilm), 1935-1948. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Federal aid to public welfare  Search this
Art and state -- United States  Search this
New Deal, 1933-1939  Search this
Federal aid to the arts  Search this
Theme:
New Deal  Search this
Patronage  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)9777
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)212199
AAA_collcode_fedeartp09
Theme:
New Deal
Patronage
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_212199

Sheldon Cheney papers, 1915-1972

Creator:
Cheney, Sheldon, 1886-1980  Search this
Subject:
Stieglitz, Alfred  Search this
Wyeth, Andrew  Search this
Barnsdall, Aline  Search this
Federal Art Project  Search this
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Citation:
Sheldon Cheney papers, 1915-1972. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art, Modern -- 20th century  Search this
Modernism (Art)  Search this
Theme:
Diaries  Search this
Research and writing about art  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)7234
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)209375
AAA_collcode_chenshel
Theme:
Diaries
Research and writing about art
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_209375

Nina Perera Collier papers, 1934-1950

Creator:
Collier, Nina Perera  Search this
Subject:
Federal Art Project  Search this
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Federal Writers' Project (U.S.)  Search this
Federal Music Project (U.S.)  Search this
Index of American Design  Search this
United States. Federal Emergency Relief Administration  Search this
United States. Works Progress Administration  Search this
United States. Work Projects Administration  Search this
New York World's Fair (1939-1940 : New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Place:
United States -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945
United States -- Social conditions -- 1933-1945
Citation:
Nina Perera Collier papers, 1934-1950. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art and state  Search this
New Deal, 1933-1939  Search this
Federal aid to the arts  Search this
Federal aid to the public welfare  Search this
Women arts administrators  Search this
Theme:
Women  Search this
Patronage  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)7490
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)209649
AAA_collcode_collnina
Theme:
Women
Patronage
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_209649

Hallie Flanagan papers from the Federal Theater Project, 1935-1939

Creator:
Flanagan, Hallie, 1890-1969  Search this
Subject:
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Place:
United States -- Social conditions -- 1933-1945
Citation:
Hallie Flanagan papers from the Federal Theater Project, 1935-1939. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Theater and state  Search this
Federal aid to the performing arts  Search this
New Deal, 1933-1939  Search this
Theme:
Patronage  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)9916
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)212427
AAA_collcode_flanhall
Theme:
Patronage
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_212427

Federal Art Project, Photographic Division collection, circa 1920-1965, bulk 1935-1942

Creator:
Federal Art Project. Photographic Division  Search this
Subject:
Berger, Andrew  Search this
Blanch, Lucile  Search this
Kuniyoshi, Yasuo  Search this
Guston, Philip  Search this
Olds, Elizabeth  Search this
Goodman, Bertram  Search this
Criss, Francis  Search this
Benson, John Howard  Search this
Dehn, Virginia E. (Virginia Engleman)  Search this
Greenwood, Marion  Search this
Chodorow, Eugene (1910-2000)  Search this
Refregier, Anton  Search this
Ennis, George Pearse  Search this
McMahon, Audrey  Search this
Arenal, Luis  Search this
Herman, Andrew  Search this
Horn, Sol  Search this
Barthé, Richmond  Search this
Robbins, David  Search this
Seltzer, Leo  Search this
Brann, Louise  Search this
Levi, Julian E. (Julian Edwin)  Search this
Laning, Edward  Search this
Gorky, Arshile  Search this
Zorach, William  Search this
Calapai, Letterio  Search this
Karp, William  Search this
Hovell, Joseph  Search this
Davis, Stuart  Search this
Burke, Selma  Search this
Dehn, Adolf  Search this
Shuster, Will  Search this
Evergood, Philip  Search this
Bloch, Lucienne  Search this
Gershoy, Eugenie  Search this
De Rivera, José Ruiz  Search this
Hord, Donal  Search this
Bolotowsky, Ilya  Search this
Alston, Charles Henry  Search this
Cahill, Holger  Search this
Abbott, Berenice  Search this
Harlem Art Center  Search this
Federal Writers' Project (U.S.)  Search this
United States. Work Projects Administration  Search this
United States. Works Progress Administration  Search this
Federal Art Project. Graphic Arts Division  Search this
Federal Art Project (N.Y.)  Search this
Federal Art Project. Easel Division  Search this
Federal Art Project. Poster Division  Search this
Federal Art Project (Wash.)  Search this
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Federal Music Project (U.S.)  Search this
Federal Art Project  Search this
Type:
Photographs
Citation:
Federal Art Project, Photographic Division collection, circa 1920-1965, bulk 1935-1942. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Children's art  Search this
Photography  Search this
Art -- United States -- Exhibitions -- Photographs  Search this
Art -- United States -- Study and teaching -- Photographs  Search this
Art centers  Search this
Federal aid to the public welfare -- Photographs  Search this
Theater and state -- United States -- Photographs  Search this
Music and state -- United States -- Photographs  Search this
Federal aid to the arts -- Photographs  Search this
Art -- Technique  Search this
Artists -- United States -- Photographs  Search this
Art -- Exhibitions  Search this
Latino and Latin American artists  Search this
Art -- Study and teaching  Search this
African American artists  Search this
Theme:
African American  Search this
Latino and Latin American  Search this
New Deal  Search this
Patronage  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)5467
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)216466
AAA_collcode_fedeartp14
Theme:
African American
Latino and Latin American
New Deal
Patronage
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_216466
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Rosamond Gilder, 1965 Apr. 1

Interviewee:
Gilder, Rosamond  Search this
Interviewer:
Phillips, Harlan B., 1920-1979,  Search this
Subject:
Flanagan, Hallie  Search this
O'Shay, Madalyn  Search this
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
New Deal and the Arts Oral History Project  Search this
Type:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Rosamond Gilder, 1965 Apr. 1. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Federal aid to the arts  Search this
Theater critics -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
Theme:
New Deal  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)12716
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)213488
AAA_collcode_gilder65
Theme:
New Deal
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_213488

"Art in a Democracy" radio broadcast

Creator:
WQXR (Radio station : New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Evergood, Philip, 1901-1973  Search this
Subject:
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Type:
Sound Recording
Date:
1938 April 29
Citation:
WQXR (Radio station : New York, N.Y.) and Philip Evergood. "Art in a Democracy" radio broadcast, 1938 April 29. Philip Evergood papers, 1890-1971. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Record number:
(DSI-AAA)11027
See more items in:
Philip Evergood papers, 1890-1971
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_item_11027

Holger Cahill papers

Creator:
Cahill, Holger, 1887-1960  Search this
Names:
American Artists' Congress  Search this
American Council of Learned Societies  Search this
American Federation of Arts  Search this
Artists' Union (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Cartoonists Guild  Search this
Federal Art Project (U.S.)  Search this
Federal Music Project (U.S.)  Search this
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Index of American Design  Search this
New York World's Fair (1939-1940 : New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Shakers  Search this
The Design Laboratory (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Treasury Relief Art Project  Search this
United States. Work Projects Administration  Search this
United States. Works Progress Administration  Search this
Abbott, Berenice, 1898-1991  Search this
Brown, Samuel Joseph, 1907-1994  Search this
De Rivera, José Ruiz, 1904-1985  Search this
Halpert, Edith Gregor, 1900-1970  Search this
Hopkins, Harry Lloyd, 1890-1946  Search this
Knaths, Karl, 1891-1971  Search this
Miller, Dorothy Canning, 1904-2003  Search this
Morris, Carl, 1911-1993  Search this
Olds, Elizabeth, 1896-1991  Search this
Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962  Search this
Rowan, Edward Beatty, 1898-1946  Search this
Scaravaglione, Concetta, 1900-1975  Search this
Segal, George, 1924-2000  Search this
Speck, Walter, 1895-  Search this
Ward, Lynd, 1905-1985  Search this
Weisenborn, Rudolph, b. 1881  Search this
Extent:
15.8 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Prints
Government records
Interviews
Scrapbooks
Photographs
Slides (photographs)
Photograph albums
Drawings
Place:
United States -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945
United States -- Social conditions -- 1933-1945
Date:
1910-1993
bulk 1910-1960
Summary:
The papers of Holger Cahill (1887-1960) date from 1910 to 1993, with the bulk of the material dating from 1910-1960, and measure 15.8 linear feet. The collection offers researchers fairly comprehensive documentation of Cahill's directorship of the Works Progress/Projects Administration's (WPA) Federal Art Project (FAP) in addition to series documenting his work as a writer and art critic. Material includes correspondence, reports, artist files, scrapbooks, printed material, and photographs.
Scope and Content Note:
The papers of Holger Cahill (1887-1960) date from 1910 to 1993, bulk 1910-1960, and measure 15.8 linear feet. The collection offers researchers fairly comprehensive documentation of Cahill's directorship of the FAP in addition to series documenting his work as a writer and art critic. FAP records include national and state administrative reports, records of community art centers, photographic documentation of state activities, artist files, divisional records about teaching, crafts, murals, and poster work, files concerning the Index of American Design, scrapbooks, and printed material.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into nine series:

Missing Title

Series 1: Biographical Material and Personal Papers, 1931-1988 (Box 1; 19 folders)

Series 2: Correspondence Files, 1922-1979, 1993 (Boxes 1-2; 1.5 linear ft.)

Series 3: Works Progress Administration Federal Art Project, 1934-1970 (Boxes 2-14, 18, MMs009; 10.75 linear ft.)

Series 4: Writings, Lectures and Speeches, 1916-1960 (Boxes 14-15, 18; 1.0 linear ft.)

Series 5: Minutes of Meetings and Panel Discussions, Non-FAP, 1939-1947 (Box 15; 5 folders)

Series 6: Notes and Research Material, 1935-1970 (Boxes 15-16; 0.25 linear ft.)

Series 7: Artwork, undated (Boxes 16, 18; 2 folders)

Series 8: Printed Material, 1910-1985 (Boxes 16-17; 1.8 linear ft.)

Series 9: Photographs, circa 1917-1960 (Box 17; 6 folders)
Biographical Note:
Holger Cahill was born Sveinn Kristjan Bjarnarson in Iceland in a small valley near the Arctic Circle, on January 13, 1887. His parents, Bjorn Jonson and Vigdis Bjarnadottir, immigrated to the United States from Iceland sometime later in the 1880s. In 1904, his father deserted the family, forcing Sveinn to be separated from his mother and sister to work on a farm in North Dakota. He ran away and wandered from job to job until settling in an orphanage in western Canada, where he attended school and became a voracious reader.

As a young man, he worked at many different jobs and attended night school. While working on a freighter, he visited Hong Kong, beginning his life-long interest in the Orient. Returning to New York City, he eventually became a newspaper reporter, continued his studies at New York University, and changed his name to Edgar Holger Cahill. In 1919 he married Katherine Gridley of Detroit. Their daughter, Jane Ann, was born in 1922, but the couple divorced in 1927.

Cahill met John Sloan circa 1920, and they shared a residence. Cahill also wrote publicity (until 1928) for the Society of Independent Artists, through which he made many friends in the arts. From 1922 to 1931, he worked under John Cotton Dana at the Newark Museum, where he received his basic experience in museum work, organizing the first large exhibitions of folk art.

From 1932 to 1935, he was the director of exhibitions for the Museum of Modern Art. In 1935, Cahill was appointed director of the Works Progress/Projects Administration (WPA) Federal Art Project (FAP), until its end in June 1943. In 1938, Cahill organized a countrywide exhibition "American Art Today" for the New York World's Fair. He also married MoMa curator Dorothy Canning Miller in that year.

Profane Earth, Cahill's first novel, was published in 1927, followed by monographs on Pop Hart and Max Weber, miscellaneous short stories, and a biography of Frederick Townsend Ward, entitled A Yankee Adventurer: The Story of Ward and the Taiping Rebellion. Following the end of the Federal Art Project, Cahill wrote two novels, Look South to the Polar Star (1947) and The Shadow of My Hand (1956).

Holger Cahill died in Stockbridge, Massachusetts in July 1960.
Provenance:
The Holger Cahill papers were donated to the Archives of American Art through a series of gifts by Cahill's widow, Dorothy C. Miller, between 1964 and 1995.
Restrictions:
The microfilm of this collection has been digitized and is available online via the Archives of American Art website.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Occupation:
Arts administrators  Search this
Topic:
Federal aid to the public welfare  Search this
Art and state  Search this
Federal aid to the arts  Search this
New Deal, 1933-1939  Search this
Public officers  Search this
Genre/Form:
Prints
Government records
Interviews
Scrapbooks
Photographs
Slides (photographs)
Photograph albums
Drawings
Citation:
Holger Cahill papers, 1910-1993, bulk 1910-1960. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.cahiholg
See more items in:
Holger Cahill papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw93d4a8dc7-a7be-470b-8216-ae763d3bc9e2
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-cahiholg

Federal Art Project, Photographic Division collection

Creator:
Federal Art Project. Photographic Division  Search this
Names:
Federal Art Project (N.Y.)  Search this
Federal Art Project (Wash.)  Search this
Federal Art Project -- Photographs  Search this
Federal Art Project. Easel Division  Search this
Federal Art Project. Graphic Arts Division  Search this
Federal Art Project. Poster Division  Search this
Federal Music Project (U.S.) -- Photographs  Search this
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.) -- Photographs  Search this
Federal Writers' Project (U.S.) -- Photographs  Search this
Harlem Art Center  Search this
United States. Work Projects Administration  Search this
United States. Works Progress Administration  Search this
Abbott, Berenice, 1898-1991  Search this
Alston, Charles Henry, 1907-1977  Search this
Arenal, Luis  Search this
Barthé, Richmond, 1901-1989  Search this
Benson, John Howard, 1901-1956  Search this
Berger, Andrew  Search this
Blanch, Lucile, 1895-1981  Search this
Bloch, Lucienne, 1909-1999  Search this
Bolotowsky, Ilya, 1907-1981  Search this
Brann, Louise, 1906-  Search this
Burke, Selma, 1900-  Search this
Cahill, Holger, 1887-1960  Search this
Calapai, Letterio, 1902-1993  Search this
Chodorow, Eugene (1910-2000)  Search this
Criss, Francis, 1901-1973  Search this
Davis, Stuart, 1892-1964  Search this
De Rivera, José Ruiz, 1904-1985  Search this
Dehn, Adolf, 1895-1968  Search this
Dehn, Virginia E. (Virginia Engleman), 1922-2005  Search this
Ennis, George Pearse, d. 1936  Search this
Evergood, Philip, 1901-1973  Search this
Gershoy, Eugenie, 1901?-1983 or 6  Search this
Goodman, Bertram, 1904-1988  Search this
Gorky, Arshile, 1904-1948  Search this
Greenwood, Marion, 1909-1970  Search this
Guston, Philip, 1913-1980  Search this
Herman, Andrew  Search this
Hord, Donal, 1902-1966  Search this
Horn, Sol  Search this
Hovell, Joseph, 1897-  Search this
Karp, William, 1905-  Search this
Kuniyoshi, Yasuo, 1889-1953  Search this
Laning, Edward, 1906-1981  Search this
Levi, Julian E. (Julian Edwin), 1900-1982  Search this
McMahon, Audrey, 1900?-1981  Search this
Olds, Elizabeth, 1896-1991  Search this
Refregier, Anton, 1905-  Search this
Robbins, David  Search this
Seltzer, Leo, 1916-  Search this
Shuster, Will  Search this
Zorach, William, 1887-1966  Search this
Extent:
12.4 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Date:
circa 1920-1965
bulk 1935-1942
Summary:
The Federal Art Project, Photographic Division collection dates from circa 1920-1965, with the bulk of the records spanning the active years of the Federal Art Project (FAP), 1935-1942. The collection comprises 12.4 linear feet of mostly photographic prints and negatives that document primarily artwork produced by artists employed by the FAP. A smaller number of photographs also document other programs of the FAP, such as art classes and community centers, exhibitions by children and adults, artwork installed in public buildings, project divisions, and demonstrations of art processes by FAP artists.
Scope and Content Note:
The Federal Art Project (FAP), Photographic Division collection dates from circa 1920-1965, with the bulk of the records spanning the active years of the FAP: 1935-1942. The collection comprises 12.4 linear feet of photographic prints and negatives, including photos of FAP artists and the artwork created by them, and other activities of the FAP in communities throughout New York City and other states. Photographers include Andrew Herman, Sol Horn, David Robbins, Leo Seltzer, and others.

Artist files comprise three-quarters of the collection and consist primarily of photographs of artwork, as well as scattered photos of artists at work, including: Charles Alston, Luis Arenal, Richmond Barthe, John Benson, Andrew Berger, Lucille Blanch, Lucienne Bloch, Ilya Bolotowsky, Luise Brann, Selma Burke, Letterio Calapai, Eugene Chodorow, Francis Criss, Stuart Davis, Adolf Dehn, Virginia Dehn, Jose de Rivera, George Pearse Ennis, Philip Evergood, Eugenie Gershoy, Bertram Goodman, Arshile Gorky, Marion Greenwood, Philip Guston, Donal Hord, Joseph Hovell, William Karp, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Edward Laning, Julian Levi, Audrey McMahon, Elizabeth Olds, Anton Refregier, Will Shuster, William Zorach, and others.

The remainder of the collection consists of files documenting related activities and programs of the FAP, arranged by subject. The bulk of these files document the activities of the New York City FAP, including free art classes and art exhibitions for adults and children, exhibitions at the Harlem Art Center, and the work of FAP branches including the Easel Division, the Graphic Arts Division, and the Poster Division.

Other subjects documented include federal and community art centers in eleven states, most extensively Washington State; other WPA projects such as the Federal Theater Project, the Federal Music Project, and the Federal Writers' Project; buildings decorated with FAP artwork; art processes as demonstrated by FAP artists; special events; and people involved with the FAP, including director Holger Cahill.

One folder contains images that appear to have been taken by Berenice Abbott for the exhibition Changing New York (1935), for the Museum of the City of New York in collaboration with the WPA.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 2 series:

Missing Title

Series 1: Artist Files, circa 1920-1965 (Boxes 1-24; 9.6 linear feet)

Series 2: Subject Files, 1934-1956 (Boxes 25-32; 2.8 linear feet)
Historical Note:
The Federal Art Project (FAP) was one of the Depression-era work-relief programs of the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). The program was founded in August 1935 to provide employment for artists and to implement visual arts programs in local communities across the country.

Together with the Federal Music Project, the Federal Theater Project, and the Federal Writers' Project, the FAP formed part of the WPA's Federal Project No. 1. The WPA became the Work Projects Administration in 1939 when it fell under the administrative hand of the newly created Federal Works Agency; concurrently the Federal Art Project was officially re-named the Federal Art Program.

Under the direction of Holger Cahill, the goals of the FAP fell into three main areas: production of artwork, art education through art classes and community centers, and art research through the Index of American Design. During the course of the program, artists created murals and other works of art for many non-Federal government buildings such as schools, hospitals, and libraries. Separate photographic divisions were set up in several states, most notably in New York City, to document the work of artists employed by the program, activities in art education such as classes for children and adults, community center outreach programs, and other "Federal 1" projects, including the Federal Theater and Music Projects. Employees of the photographic division were also involved in other assignments, such as creating exhibitions and photo murals.

The Federal Art Project ended in 1943.
Related Material:
Among the holdings of the Archives of American Art are related collections, including the Federal Art Project of the Work Projects Administration records, 1935-1948. Additional FAP records are held by the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington D.C.
Provenance:
The collection was anonymously donated to the Archives of American Art in the late 1950s.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Topic:
Children's art  Search this
Photography  Search this
Art -- United States -- Exhibitions -- Photographs  Search this
Art -- United States -- Study and teaching -- Photographs  Search this
Art centers  Search this
Federal aid to the public welfare -- Photographs  Search this
Theater and state -- United States -- Photographs  Search this
Music and state -- United States -- Photographs  Search this
Federal aid to the arts -- Photographs  Search this
Art -- Technique  Search this
Artists -- United States -- Photographs  Search this
Art -- Exhibitions  Search this
Latino and Latin American artists  Search this
Art -- Study and teaching  Search this
African American artists  Search this
Function:
Programs (organizations)
Agencies
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Citation:
Federal Art Project, Photographic Division collection, circa 1920-1965, bulk 1935-1942. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.fedeartp14
See more items in:
Federal Art Project, Photographic Division collection
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw91f0216d7-ed8e-4482-8128-6def41dbe367
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-fedeartp14
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Rosamond Gilder

Creator:
Gilder, Rosamond  Search this
New Deal and the Arts Oral History Project  Search this
Interviewer:
Phillips, Harlan B. (Harlan Buddington), 1920-1979  Search this
Names:
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
New Deal and the Arts Oral History Project  Search this
Flanagan, Hallie, 1890-1969  Search this
O'Shay, Madalyn  Search this
Extent:
1 Sound tape reel (Sound recording, 7 in.)
34 Pages (Transcript)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Sound tape reels
Pages
Sound recordings
Interviews
Date:
1965 Apr. 1
Scope and Contents:
An interview of Rosamond Gilder conducted by Harlan Phillips on 1965 Apr. 1 for the Archives of American Art.
Gilder speaks of the WPA Federal Theater Project, its success, and her opinions of federal support for theater. She recalls Hallie Flanagan and Madalyn O'Shay.
Biographical / Historical:
Drama critic; New York, N.Y. Born in 1896. Died in 1986.
General:
An interview of Henry La Farge conducted by H. Phillips is also on this tape.
Provenance:
This interview conducted as part of the Archives of American Art's New Deal and the Arts project, which includes over 400 interviews of artists, administrators, historians, and others involved with the federal government's art programs and the activities of the Farm Security Administration in the 1930s and early 1940s.
Restrictions:
Use requires an appointment.
Topic:
Federal aid to the arts  Search this
Theater critics -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews  Search this
Genre/Form:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Identifier:
AAA.gilder65
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw960eb9642-aa1f-4180-8617-b4ff185d6041
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-gilder65

Nina Perera Collier papers

Creator:
Collier, Nina Perera  Search this
Names:
Federal Art Project  Search this
Federal Music Project (U.S.)  Search this
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Federal Writers' Project (U.S.)  Search this
Index of American Design  Search this
New York World's Fair (1939-1940 : New York, N.Y.)  Search this
United States. Federal Emergency Relief Administration  Search this
United States. Work Projects Administration  Search this
United States. Works Progress Administration  Search this
Extent:
1,500 Items ((on 2 microfilm reels))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Place:
United States -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945
United States -- Social conditions -- 1933-1945
Date:
1934-1950
Scope and Contents:
Correspondence and records regarding the Index of American Design, Federal Art Project, Federal Recreation Project, National Symphony Orchestra Summer Concerts, Washington Summer Concerts Association; New York World's Fair, National Fact Finders Exhibition, Federal Writer's Project, Federal Music Project, Federal Theater Project, and the movement for permanent government art programs.
Biographical / Historical:
Administrator for the Section of Professional and non-Manual Projects of Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA), Washington, D.C. Became publicist for the Information Service of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). FERA was the forerunner of the WPA.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming by Nina Perera Collier.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Occupation:
Arts administrators -- Washington (D.C.)  Search this
Topic:
Art and state  Search this
New Deal, 1933-1939  Search this
Federal aid to the arts  Search this
Federal aid to the public welfare  Search this
Women arts administrators  Search this
Identifier:
AAA.collnina
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9254571b4-a76f-4bd7-adee-833cdccfd928
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-collnina

Sheldon Cheney papers

Creator:
Cheney, Sheldon, 1886-  Search this
Names:
Federal Art Project  Search this
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Barnsdall, Aline, 1882-1946  Search this
Stieglitz, Alfred, 1864-1946  Search this
Wyeth, Andrew, 1917-2009  Search this
Extent:
0.4 Linear feet ((on 2 microfilm reels))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1915-1972
Scope and Contents:
Journal of a 1922 European trip and correspondence (1915-1972), notes and writings, and printed material concerning Alfred Steiglitz, New Deal art and other topics.
REEL 3947: Seventeen letters from Alfred Stieglitz (1921-1938) discuss modern art, his 291 gallery, and the artists exhibiting there. Other correspondents include Aline Barnsdall, principally writing about the theatre, Simon Lissim, Dorothy Norman, Faith Vilas and Andrew Wyeth. Additional materials consist of notes (1939), Cheney's manuscript on "Stieglitz and Modern Art", writings (ca. 1930s) including "A Brief Delivered to the WPA-Federal Theatre Project," clippings (1921-1972), exhibition announcements and catalogs (1923-1969) and miscellaneous printed material.
REEL 4283: An undated letter to Cheney from Egmont Arens, editor of PLAYBOY, inviting him to a New Year's Eve party; and a 65-page journal (January 4 - March 13, 1922) in which Cheney records his impressions of museums, art galleries, architecture, and the theater in Europe. Cheney was especially interested in the state of "modern" art and was most impressed with Berlin, Munich, and Dresden. He also visited Amsterdam, Brussels, Oxford, London, Antwerp, Paris, and several places in Italy. In addition to critiques of the museums and art he saw, the journal records conversations with collectors and museum officials. Much of this work was in preparation for his book A PRIMER OF MODERN ART, published in 1924.
Biographical / Historical:
Art historian and writer; b. 1886; d. 1980.
Related Materials:
Papers of Sheldon Cheney, 1900-1980, are also located at UC Berkeley's The Bancroft Library.
Provenance:
The donor, John T. Cheney, is the son of Sheldon Cheney.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Microfilmed materials must be consulted on microfilm. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Occupation:
Art historians  Search this
Topic:
Art, Modern -- 20th century  Search this
Modernism (Art)  Search this
Identifier:
AAA.chenshel
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9a04db10c-7b01-412b-8e6a-5f98395f77a1
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-chenshel

Hallie Flanagan papers from the Federal Theater Project

Creator:
Flanagan, Hallie, 1890-1969  Search this
Names:
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Extent:
17 Reels (ca. 4,000 items (on 17 negative microfilm reels))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Reels
Place:
United States -- Social conditions -- 1933-1945
Date:
1935-1939
Scope and Contents:
Correspondence, administrative records, personal files, articles, scripts, playbills, clippings, other printed material, and photographs.
Biographical / Historical:
National Director of the Federal Theater Project. FTP was established in 1935 as part of the Works Progress Administration Federal Project No. 1. It was abolished in 1939 when funding was cut in the Reorganization Act of 1939.
Provenance:
Flanagan's papers were filmed by AAA during a project called "New Deal and the Arts" which AAA directed from 1963-1966.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Rights:
Unpublished material: Authorization to publish, quote or reproduce requires written permission from New York Public Library Theatre Collection. Contact Reference Services for more information.
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Topic:
Theater and state  Search this
Federal aid to the performing arts  Search this
New Deal, 1933-1939  Search this
Identifier:
AAA.flanhall
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9881beedb-b9dc-451d-ba64-63107de28227
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-flanhall

White grease paint on Black performers : a study of the Federal Theatre of 1935-1939 / Glenda E. Gill

Author:
Gill, Glenda Eloise  Search this
Subject:
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.) History  Search this
Physical description:
xvi, 220 p. : ill. ; 23 cm
Type:
Biography
Place:
United States
Date:
1988
C1988
20th century
Topic:
African American entertainers  Search this
Theater--History  Search this
Federal aid to the performing arts--History  Search this
Call number:
PN2270.F43G54 1988X
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_389113

Arena; the history of the Federal Theatre, by Hallie Flanagan

Author:
Flanagan, Hallie 1890-1969  Search this
Subject:
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Physical description:
ix, 475 p. illus. 24 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1965
[1965, c1940]
20th century
Topic:
American drama--History and criticism  Search this
Call number:
PN2266 .D26 1965
PN2266.D26 1965
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_47947

Free, adult, uncensored : the living history of the Federal Theatre Project / foreword by John Houseman ; edited by John O'Connor and Lorraine Brown

Author:
O'Connor, John 1946-  Search this
Brown, Lorraine 1929-  Search this
Subject:
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Physical description:
x, 228 p. : ill. (some col.) ; 24 x 27 cm
Type:
Books
Date:
1978
20th century
Topic:
Theater--History  Search this
Call number:
PN2266.F66X 1978
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_423879

Cultural diversity in the Federal Theatre Project (1935-1939)

Title:
Federal theatre : cultural diversity in the Federal Theatre Project (1935-1939)
Author:
Library of Congress  Search this
George Mason University Libraries  Search this
Subject:
Federal Theatre Project Collection (Library of Congress)  Search this
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.)  Search this
Physical description:
iii, 68 pages : 1 map ; 28 cm
Type:
Collections
History
Place:
Virginia
Fairfax
United States
Date:
1992
[1992?]
20th century
Topic:
Theater--Library resources  Search this
Theater--History--Archival resources  Search this
Drama--Archival resources  Search this
Archival resources  Search this
African American theater  Search this
Hispanic American theater  Search this
Theater, Yiddish  Search this
Drama  Search this
Theater--Archival resources  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Libraries
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sil_428417

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