The collection consists of posters created for the Indian Court exhibit at the Golden Gate International Exposition. The posters were created as part of the Federal Art Project (FAP) of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The designs were adapted by Louis Siegriest from work produced by indigenous artists. The artists who contributed resource material received limited recognition for their work; some remain unknown.
Siegriest created eight (8) posters for the Indian Court exhibit. This collection includes one complete set of all eight (8) posters and one (1) explanatory label, and one incomplete set of seven (7) posters.
Please note that the contents of the collection and the language and terminology used reflect the context and culture of the time of its creation. As an historical document, its contents may be at odds with contemporary views and terminology and considered offensive today. The information within this collection does not reflect the views of the Smithsonian Institution or National Anthropological Archives, but is available in its original form to facilitate research.
Biographical Note:
Louis Bassi Siegriest (1899-1989) was an American painter and commerical artist based in California.
Historical Note:
The Golden Gate International Exposition (1939=1940) was a World's Fair celebrating "Pacific Unity" and the opening of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Local Numbers:
NAA MS 4883
Related Materials:
The Archives of American Art holds the Louis Siegriest papers and an Oral history interview with Louis Siegriest.
Provenance:
The provenance of the collection is unknown. It is possible that the two sets of posters were received from different sources.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research.
Access to the collection requires an appointment.
Rights:
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Genre/Form:
Works of art
Posters
Citation:
MS 4883 Posters from the Indian Court in the Federal Building at the Golden Gate International Exposition, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution
