WPA Museum Extension Project Collection, c. 1935-1943
Collection context
Summary
- Extent:
- 750 Items
- Language:
- English
Background
- Scope and content:
The WPA Museum Extension Project Collection contains more than 750 children's books, handbooks, posters, and three-dimensional objects such as dioramas, puppets, and models. Works Progress Administration (WPA) visual education programs made these materials, The WPA programs included the Pennslvania Museum Extension Project (MEP) between 1935 and 1943, New York City's Objective Teaching Materials Project, the Kansas Museum Project, and the Wisconsin Visual-Aids Project. These visual education materials were used by public schools, libraries, and museums. As a result, many of the images and texts promote the history and culture of specific states and regions.
- Biographical / historical:
In 1935 President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Works Progress Administration in order to employ white-collar workers such as artists, writers, and historians during the Great Depression. The Pennsylvania Museum Extension Project (MEP) exsisted from 1935-1943 and employed an estimated 1,200 Pensylvania artists and other workers. Pennsylvania actively encouraged other states and cities to replicate the MEP program, and ultimately 24 states and some cities such as New York created similar visual education programs.
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Visual aids
Puppets
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
Bienes Museum of the Modern Book, Broward County Library100 S. Andrews AvenueFort LauderdaleFL33301USA
