1. The Enduring Character:
Exploring the Great Depression through WPA prints from Mississippi University for Women’s permanent collection

2. Table of Contents Review Video: Crash Course US History
Setting the Stage for the New Deal
The Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration
The New Deal
The Works Progress Administration
Federal Project Number One
Federal Art Project
WPA Prints at The W
Resources
*The Table of Contents can be accessed from any slide by clicking this icon 

3. Review Videos: Crash Course US History
Link to Maximizable Version
Link to Maximizable Version

4. Setting the Stage for the New Deal
The Great Depression:
Worldwide economic depression which began in the United States and spread to the rest of the industrialized world
Unemployment skyrocketed
People in both industrialized cities and rural farming communities were affected
Lasted until 1939 in U.S.

5. Setting the Stage for the New Deal
President Herbert C. Hoover ( )
Initially opposed providing federal aid to combat the Depression
Believed this would trespass on the duties of state governments and philanthropic agencies such as charities to provide aid to those in need
President Herbert C. Hoover ( )
Initially opposed providing federal aid to combat the Depression
Believed this would trespass on the duties of state governments and philanthropic agencies such as charities to provide aid to those in need
Relied on Public Works Projects like the Hoover Dam to create employment
At the start of Hoover’s presidency, unemployment was at 8.1% - by the end, it had reached 25%
Relied on Public Works Projects like the Hoover Dam to create employment
At the start of Hoover’s presidency, unemployment was at 8.1% - by the end, it had reached 25%
Steel Riggers – No. 3 – Bay Bridge, Arthur George Murphy, 1936

6. The Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration
President Franklin D. Roosevelt ( )
Followed Herbert Hoover after one term in office
Hoover was immensely unpopular due to his failing to deal with the Depression
Roosevelt won the election with the promise of a New Deal
Only president in U.S. history to serve three terms
Title, Artist Unknown

7. The New Deal Enacted by Roosevelt in response to the Great Depression
Series of programs introduced during the thirties to address problems caused by the Depression
Provided aid to unemployed, farmers, the youth, and the elderly
Two parts:
First New Deal – financial focus
Second New Deal – more liberal, focus on social reforms
Here are a few familiar programs created by the New Deal:
The Social Security Act, U.S. Housing Authority, Tennessee Valley Authority
The Chemist, Lawrence E. Kupferman

8. The Works Progress Administration
Largest and most ambitious of the New Deal projects
Renamed the Works Projects Administration in 1939
Employed 8.5 million workers overall
3.5 million at its peak in 1938
Banana Man. Jacob Kainen

9. The Works Progress Administration
Put the unemployed to work on public projects such as parks, roads, bridges, dams, schools, post offices, and other public buildings and structures
Made the federal government by far the largest employer in the United States
Its goal was not full employment, but rather to provide a paid job for each household’s “breadwinner”
Gas Station, Theodore C. Polos

10. The Works Progress Administration
Was split into many divisions to manage different aspects of reemploying the populace
Most WPA projects were sponsored by states or communities, though federal funded projects lasted through 1939
Nearly every community in the U.S. has at least one public building or space built by WPA workers
Banana Man. Jacob Kainen

11. The Works Progress Administration
In the early years of the WPA, the goal of the project was to work on improving infrastructure
Projects such as highways, bridges, water conservation facilities, and bringing electricity to rural areas were the focus
The Royal Patio Restaurant (New Orleans, Knute August Heldner

12. Federal Project Number One
Aimed at those who were less- suited for the manual labor typical of other WPA projects
Employed thousands of artists, actors, stagehands, writers, musicians, and more
Included the Federal Theater Project, Federal Writers’ Project, Federal Music Project, Federal Art Project, and Historical Records Survey
The Sea Lion’s Pool, Raymond White Skolfield, 1936

13. Federal Art Project Division of Federal Project Number One
Employed thousands of artists across the United States
Five thousand at its peak, with estimates of over ten thousand total
Received a basic wage of $ a week
Sought to bring art and artists into the everyday life of communities through community art centers, exhibitions, and classes
The Sea Lion’s Pool, Raymond White Skolfield, 1936

14. WPA Prints at the W
MUW has a collection of around 120 prints made by WPA artists
Collection was amassed some time during the 1940’s
Fifteen of these were chosen for the online exhibit
Themes were work, diversion, and place
Amusement Park, Ann Nooney, 1936

15. Resources
“WPA Federal Art Project,” Encyclopædia Britannica
“Federal Project Number One (Project One) (1935)” LivingNewDeal.Org
“Federal Art Project,” Library of Congress
“Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration,” The Art Story
To learn more about MUW Gallery’s The Enduring Character Exhibition, WPA prints, and the artists featured, visit our online exhibit at (insert link here)