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.
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.
United States. Work Projects Administration Search this
United States. Works Progress Administration Search this
Extent:
1 Volume ((on partial microfilm reel))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Volumes
Scrapbooks
Date:
1936-1937
Scope and Contents:
A scrapbook of clippings, programs, and photographs relating to the Indiana Federal Theater Project.
Biographical / Historical:
The Federal Theater Project (FTP) was a program established under the Federal Project No. One of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1935. It sought to create employment for actors and others involved in the performing arts during the Depression. Dr. Lee Norvelle was the director of the Indiana Federal Theater Project.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming 1964 by Dr. Lee Norvelle.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Correspondence; clippings; printed materials; and production notes for PRELUDE TO SWING.
Biographical / Historical:
Choreographer; Philadelphia, Pa. Choreographed several shows for Federal Theater Project productions in Philadelphia, Pa. Taiz choreographed PRELUDE TO SWING which opened in June 1939 at the Walnut Street Theater.
Provenance:
Donated 1963 by Malvena Fried Taiz.
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.
Topic:
Federal aid to the theater -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Search this
Federal aid to the public welfare -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Search this
Theater and state -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Search this
Federal aid to dance -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia -- Archival resouces Search this
United States -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945 -- New York (State)
United States -- Social conditions -- 1933-1945 -- New York (State)
Date:
1935-1939
Scope and Contents:
Correspondence with Falk regarding the Federal Theater Project in New York, particularly at the Civic University Theater in Syracuse. Correspondents include Hallie Flanagan, National Director of FTP. Also, programs, clippings, miscellaneous printed material, and a copy of INJUNCTION GRANTED, a play published in 1938.
Biographical / Historical:
Educator; Syracuse, New York. Director of the Drama Department at the University of Syracuse. Active in the Federal Theater Project.
Provenance:
The lender, Syracuse University Library and Archives, has Falk's papers. Falk was a professor of drama at the University.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
