New-York Historical Society collection of prints from the Works Progress Administration, Federal Art Project
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
The collection includes 22 prints produced by 17 artists in connection with the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project (1935-1943), specifically from New York City.
Biographical/Historical Note
The Federal Art Project (1935-1943) was a Depression-era relief program run by the Works Progress Administration. The art project employed thousands of artists across the United States to create paintings, murals, photographs, and other art forms for the public. This collection includes a relatively small number of the thousands of "portable" works, specifically prints from New York City, created during the program.
Arrangement Note
The collection is arranged by artist name.
Scope and Contents
The collection includes 22 prints produced by 17 artists in connection with the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Program, specifically from New York City. The specific artists and works included in the collection are detailed in the container list. Generally, the works focus on people, rather than structures or landscapes, in urban settings such as street scenes, getting tattoos, street cart sales, recreation, laborers, and searching through a garbage can.
Subjects
People
Access Restrictions
Open to qualified researchers.
Use Restrictions
Permission to reproduce any Print Room holdings through publication must be obtained from: Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 270. Fax: (212) 579-8794.
Preferred Citation Note
This collection should be cited as New-York Historical Society collection of prints from the Works Progress Administration, Federal Art Project, PR 345, Department of Prints, Photographs, and Architectural Collections, The New-York Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition Note
The prints were purchased over time by N-YHS. Dates for each are noted in the container list.
Accruals Note
Additional related prints may be acquired by purchase or donation in the future and added to the collection.
About this Guide
Processing Information Note
The collection was initially processed by archivist Larry Weimer in December 2017. The collection was formed at that time, primarily by transferring prints from the Printmaker File (PR 58) into this new collection. Two prints were added in November 2018, four prints in February 2019, and seven prints in November 2019.