From 1934 to 1943, the Procurement Division of the United States Department of the Treasury commissioned murals in post office buildings across the country. Part of the New Deal, the stated objective of commissioning United States post office murals was to secure artwork that met high artistic standards for public buildings, where it would be accessible to all people. The murals were intended to boost the morale of the American people suffering from the effects of the Depression by depicting uplifting subjects the people knew and loved.
Murals produced through the Treasury Department's Section of Painting and Sculpture (1934âÂÂ1943) were funded as a part of the cost of the construction of new post offices, with one percent of the cost set aside for artistic enhancements. Murals were commissioned through competitions open to all artists in the United States. Almost 850 artists were commissioned to paint 1,371 murals, most of which were installed in post offices; 162 of the artists were women and three were African American.
The Treasury Relief Art Project (1935âÂÂ1938), which provided artistic decoration for existing Federal buildings, produced a smaller number of post office murals. TRAP was established with funds from the Works Progress Administration. The Section supervised the creative output of TRAP, and selected a master artist for each project. Assistants were then chosen by the artist from the rolls of the WPA Federal Art Project.
Artists were asked to paint in an "American scene" style, depicting ordinary citizens in a realistic manner. Abstract and modern art styles were discouraged. Artists were also encouraged to produce works that would be appropriate to the communities where they were to be located and to avoid controversial subjects. Projects were closely scrutinized by the Section for style and content, and artists were paid only after each stage in the creative process was approved.
The Section and the Treasury Relief Art Project were overseen by Edward Bruce, who had directed the Public Works of Art Project (1933âÂÂ1934). They were commission-driven public work programs that employed artists to beautify American government buildings, strictly on the basis of quality. This contrasts with the work-relief mission of the Federal Art Project (1935âÂÂ1943) of the Works Progress Administration, the largest of the New Deal art projects. So great was its scope and cultural impact that the term "WPA" is often mistakenly used to describe all New Deal art, including the U.S. post office murals. "New Deal artwork" is a more accurate term to describe the works of art created under the federal art programs of that period.
The murals are the subject of efforts by the United States Postal Service to preserve and protect them. This is particularly important and problematical as some of them have disappeared or deteriorated. Some are ensconced in buildings that are worth far less than the artwork.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Alaska.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Arizona.
A review of murals in Colorado's post offices found there were no frescos, but rather all had been painted on canvas.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Delaware.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Hawaii.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Idaho.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Montana.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Nevada.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in New Hampshire.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in New Mexico.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in North Dakota.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Oregon.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Puerto Rico.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Rhode Island.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in South Dakota.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Utah.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Vermont.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in the United States Virgin Islands.
Following is a list of United States post office murals created in Wyoming.