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Archives of American Art
Treasury Relief Art Project selected administrative and business records
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.treareap
- Creators:
-
Treasury Relief Art Project
- Dates:
-
1935-1939
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
25 Microfilm reels
- Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
Selected records of TRAP include the following series: General Administrative and Reference File of the Chief of TRAP, Olin Dows, includes correspondence, reports, planning projects for artists, and memoranda (reel DC14); Correspondence of the New York City Supervisor with the Washington, D.C. office (reels DC14-15); and the bulk of the records, Central Office Correspondence with Field Offices, State Supervisors and Others (reels DC16-38). Each series has been described separately in this database.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
The Treasury Relief Art Project (TRAP) was established in 1935 under the Department of the Treasury with special funds allocated from the Works Progress Administration (later the Work Projects Administration) to decorate those federal buildings not funded by the Section of Fine Arts and as a relief agency for unemployed, but highly competent artists. The Chief of TRAP was Olin Dows, Forbes Watson was Director, and Cecil H. Jones Assistant Chief, later replacing Dows.
Administration
Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reels DC14-DC38 available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals in the National Archives; record group 121, entries 118-120.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Series microfilmed in 1966 by AAA were selected from the National Archives record group 121, records of the Public Buildings Service. Additional records of TRAP are preserved at the National Archives. Series which were not microfilmed include a card record by artist of art works submitted in competitions, 1936-1939.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
AAA has filmed and described separately, selected records of the Public Works of Art Project (reels DC1-13 and DC112-115), and the Section of Fine Arts (reels DC38-43), also from record group 121. Researchers may also wish to consult the personal papers of Forbes Watson and Olin Dows.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
Patrons must use microfilm copy.
More Information
Other Finding Aids
Other Finding Aids
A finding aid, "Preliminary Inventory 110 for record group 121 of the National Archives", is annotated with Archives of American Art reel numbers and is located in the reference office of Archives of American Art offices.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| New Deal, 1933-1939 | Topic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Federal aid to the arts | Topic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Art and state -- United States | Topic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Federal aid to public welfare | Topic | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Watson, Forbes, 1880-1960 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| United States. Department of the Treasury | Corporate Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| United States. Works Progress Administration | Corporate Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions
