Behind the Project
Posters for the People is a Citizens' Initiative started in 2002 and dedicated to building the most comprehensive record of the posters created under the New Deal's Federal Art Project.
During the 1930s and 1940s, the government-supported Works Progress Administration (WPA) employed thousands of citizens, including hundreds of out-of-work artists. From 1935 to 1943, the WPA Poster Division was responsible for designing, printing, and distributing millions of posters to raise awareness about public issues and civic life. Unfortunately, the government did not keep a central record of these graphic artworks.
The largest public collection is housed at the Library of Congress, which has catalogued slightly more than 900 posters, a number the U.S. government deems is satisfactory for their records. With more than 35,000 designs created and two million posters printed, the majority of the WPA posters are scattered in other collections across the country.
Posters for the People searches private and public holdings to create the most comprehensive Web-based database of known posters - a living archive. We preserve our American graphic design heritage through research, outreach, site visits, photography, and archiving.
A growing virtual collection, the archive has already doubled the number of posters thought to exist, and it has brought many to light that have not been seen by the public in more than seventy years.
Posters for the People was created by Ennis Carter & Alex Peltz
Ennis Carter
Ennis Carter is the founder and director of Design for Social Impact. Ennis studied Philosophy at New York University and worked as a community and student organizer in the late 1980s. Carter was named one of the 50 Best Women in Business by PA by Governor Rendell’s administration in 2006. She lives with her husband and daughter in Philadelphia.
Alex Peltz
Alex Peltz is the Creative Director at Design for Social Impact. Alex studied Art and Anthropology at Hamilton College.
Posters for the People is presented by
Design for Social ImpactEstablished in 1996 in Philadelphia, Design for Social Impact is among the first and foremost creative workshops devoted exclusively to promoting public interest social issues through artistry and activism.
The Living Archive is generously programmed and hosted by
GuavabyteGuavabyte is a technical development firm that connects life with the world wide web. Focused on website production and strategic online marketing, Guavabyte creates a natural environment for sites to surface, grow and flourish. They balance technology with human connections, and embrace client and audience needs to cultivate a thriving online experience.
