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.
Repository
View Inventory
Abramovitz, Albert (1879-1963), circa 1935-1943, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes linocut Rickets (circa 1935-1943), number 7 of 25 for the NYC-WPA. Signed in pencil. Stamped. Purchase, November 2019.
Barlow, Lou (1908-2011), 1936
Scope and Contents Note
Includes wood engraving Sweet Potato Man (1936). Purchased 1983.
Berman, Sarah (1895-1957), circa 1936-1942
Scope and Contents Note
Includes lithograph Harlem Street Scene (circa 1936-1942). Purchase, November 2015.
Botts, Hugh (1903-1964), 1937, inclusive
Scope and Contents Note
Includes: etching East River (1937), number 22. Signed in pencil. Stamped. Purchase, November 2015; aquatint Clinic (circa 1935-1943), number 5 of edition of 25. Signed in pencil. Stamped. Purchase, November 2019.
Burke, David, 1935
Scope and Contents Note
Includes color screenprint Going to Work (1935), number 2. Signed in pencil. Stamped. Purchase, November 2015.
Dwight, Mabel (1876-1955), 1936, 1939
Scope and Contents Note
Includes: lithograph Buried Treasure (1939), number 20, signed in pencil, stamped, purchased November 2016; General Seminary (1936),signed in pencil (no stamp), purchased October 2017.
Eichenberg, Fritz (1901-1990), 1935-1943
Scope and Contents Note
Includes wood engraving Lumber Yard (1935-1943), number 11, signed in pencil, stamped. Purchase, October 2017.
Feinstein, David, circa 1935-1943
Scope and Contents
Includes lithograph The Boss, signed in pencil, stamped. Purchase November 2019.
Gottlieb, Harry (1895-1992), 1936/1939
Scope and Contents
Includes lithograph Drydock. Edition of 25 made for NYC-WPA, with stamp. Signed in pencil, titled in lower margin. Purchase, January 2019.
Grambs, Blanche (1916-2010), circa 1935-1943
Scope and Contents
Includes drypoint Cold, number 16, for the NYC-WPA, signed in pencil (B.M. Grambs), stamped. Artist later known as Grambs Miller. Purchase, October 2018.
Jacobi, Eli (1898-1984), circa 1936-1939
Scope and Contents Note
Includes lithograph Tattoo Artist (ca. 1936-1939), depicting the interior of Apache Harry's tattoo shop at 22 Bowery. Signed in pencil, stamped. Purchase, 2016.
Mandelman, Beatrice (1912-1998), circa 1936-1941
Scope and Contents
Includes lithograph Shave 25 Cents, signed in pencil, stamped partially erased. Purchase, November 2019.
Markham, Kyra (1891-1967), 1936-1937, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes: lithograph The Flies at Minsky's (1936), signed in pencil, stamped, purchased October 2018; lithograph Stage Door Johnnie (1937), number 11, signed in pencil, stamped, purchased November 2019.
Nooney, Ann (1900-1970), circa 1935
Scope and Contents Note
Includes lithograph Fulton Street, Brooklyn (circa 1935), number 9, signed in pencil, stamped. Purchase, November 2015.
Nooney, Ann (1900-1970), circa 1936-1939, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Two lithographs: Demolition with Water Tower, NYC, signed and titled in pencil (Purchase, November 2019); Music in the Park, signed and titled in pencil (Purchase, November 2019).
Parish, Betty Waldo (1910-1986), 1936-1939
Scope and Contents
Includes wood engraving Our Lady of Pompeii (or "Church of Pompeii"). Signed in pencil, stamp on reverse. Purchase, January 2019.
Schardt, Bernard P. (1904-1979), 1936/1939
Scope and Contents
Includes wood engraving Women's Court, Jefferson Market. Signed (B.P. Schardt) and titled in pencil, stamped. Purchase, January 2019.
Velonis, Anthony (1911-1997), 1938
Scope and Contents
Includes serigraph, mounted to support sheet 6:30 P.M. Edition of 25 made for NYC-WPA, with stamp. Signed, titled, dated, and annotated "Working proof on illustration board." Purchase, January 2019.