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Documenting and Presenting the Posters of the WPA
(U.S. Works Progress Administration 1936 -1943)

BEHIND THE PROJECT

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Posters for the People is a "People's 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 cataloged 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 or lost. Since there is no central historical steward of these artifacts, it’s hard to know exactly how many may still exist.

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 documented federally 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 is the founder and director of Social Impact Studios. 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 is the principal at Peltz Creative. Alex studied Art and Anthropology at Hamilton College.

Posters for the People is presented by Social Impact Studios
Since 1996, the people at Social Impact Studios have combined artistry & activism to promote important social issues. We believe good causes should get more attention than anything else. And we believe thoughtful, beautiful and meaningful communication is still the best way to engage and motivate people. Social Impact Studios is a creative hub where groups and creative activists collaborate, learn and do the work. From concept to creation, we design action plans, visuals, messages and moving grassroots experiences that make a social impact - together.

SPECIAL THANKS


Henry Vizcarra, 30Sixty 
Poster data and images; silkscreen poster reproductions

Tom DuRant & Wade Dyers from the National Parks Services
Poster data and images

Art Institute of Chicago, department of Prints and Drawings 
Poster data and images

Boston Public Library 
Poster data and images

Northwestern University 
Poster data

George Mason University Libraries 
Poster data and images

Jim Findlay from Broward County Library 
Poster data and images

Pennsylvania Historical Society 
Poster data and images

Free Library of Philadelphia 
Poster data and images

Roger Van Oosten
Poster data and images

Sid Brion
Poster data and images

Christopher DeNoon
Author, Posters of the WPA; Foreword author, Posters for the People (the book)

Ann Koivunen
Project Manager 2008

Cara Cox 
Designer, Posters for the People (the book)

JJ Tiziou 
Event photography

Works Progress Administration – the Band
Free music download and promotion. Check them out when they roll into your town!


a project of
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For more information:
215-922-7303 
info@postersforthepeople.com
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