Archives of American Art

Federal Art Project card file of artists

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.fedeartp10
Creators:
Federal Art Project (U.S.)
United States. Works Progress Administration
United States. Work Projects Administration
Dates:
[ca. 1935-1943]
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear feet
(ca. 650 cards on partial microfilm reel)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
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

Biographical / Historical
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.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel 3244 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Provenance unknown.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
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.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
New Deal, 1933-1939 Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Federal aid to the arts Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Federal aid to public welfare Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Artists -- United States Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Agencies Function Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Programs (organizations) Function Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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