MICHIGAN HISTORY

WPA projects in Michigan, 1935-43

The Detroit News
Among the dozens of federal programs and agencies created for President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930s, the most ambitious was the Works Progress Administration (renamed in 1939 as the Work Projects Administration). It hired millions of unemployed people to carry out public works projects all across the country, including many in Michigan. Above, men employed by the WPA work on a street project on Grand River near Lothrop in Detroit.
Among the dozens of federal programs and agencies created for President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930s, the most ambitious was the Works Progress Administration (renamed in 1939 as the Work Projects Administration). It hired millions of unemployed people to carry out public works projects all across the country, including many in Michigan. Above, men employed by the WPA work on a street project on Grand River near Lothrop in Detroit.
The Detroit News Archives
Established by executive order during the Depression in 1935, the Works Progress Administration reached its peak employment of 3.3 million people in 1938. Workers, mostly unskilled men, were paid the local prevailing wage.
Established by executive order during the Depression in 1935, the Works Progress Administration reached its peak employment of 3.3 million people in 1938. Workers, mostly unskilled men, were paid the local prevailing wage.
The Detroit News Archives
In Trenton in 1938, a WPA viaduct was built at the West Road crossing. The majority of WPA projects involved infrastructure, such as bridges, airports, streets, schools, parks, and water lines.
In Trenton in 1938, a WPA viaduct was built at the West Road crossing. The majority of WPA projects involved infrastructure, such as bridges, airports, streets, schools, parks, and water lines.
The Detroit News Archives
In order to be eligible for WPA employment, an individual had to be an American citizen who was between 18 and 65, able-bodied, unemployed, and certified as in need by a local public relief agency. Above, workers unload a dump truck to build a viaduct in Trenton.
In order to be eligible for WPA employment, an individual had to be an American citizen who was between 18 and 65, able-bodied, unemployed, and certified as in need by a local public relief agency. Above, workers unload a dump truck to build a viaduct in Trenton.
The Detroit News Archives
Women also found work in WPA projects, such as those involving sewing, school lunches, education, libraries or domestic employment. Here, women work in a sewing factory at West Jefferson and Clark in Detroit in 1939.
Women also found work in WPA projects, such as those involving sewing, school lunches, education, libraries or domestic employment. Here, women work in a sewing factory at West Jefferson and Clark in Detroit in 1939.
The Detroit News Archives
The vast majority of women in the WPA either were not married or were married to a man who could not work because of a disability or because they were not between 18 and 65 years old.
The vast majority of women in the WPA either were not married or were married to a man who could not work because of a disability or because they were not between 18 and 65 years old.
The Detroit News Archives
Women in a WPA sewing project in Detroit make gowns, sheets, and bandages for local hospitals. When they worked on hospital projects they had to wear the hats and aprons for sanitary reasons.
Women in a WPA sewing project in Detroit make gowns, sheets, and bandages for local hospitals. When they worked on hospital projects they had to wear the hats and aprons for sanitary reasons.
The Detroit News Archives
WPA policy, reflecting the attitude of the time, was not to hire both a husband and wife, but just a single breadwinner. The average WPA worker was about 40 years old, about the same as the average head of a family on relief.
WPA policy, reflecting the attitude of the time, was not to hire both a husband and wife, but just a single breadwinner. The average WPA worker was about 40 years old, about the same as the average head of a family on relief.
The Detroit News Archives
The WPA also created separate Federal Projects for Theatre, Music, the Visual Arts and Writers. A poster for a Detroit Federal Theatre Project presentation of "It Can't Happen Here" by Sinclair Lewis at the Lafayette Theatre shows a stylized Adolf Hitler carrying a rifle standing behind a U.S. map and a fist in a raised-arm salute. The poster dates to 1936-37.
The WPA also created separate Federal Projects for Theatre, Music, the Visual Arts and Writers. A poster for a Detroit Federal Theatre Project presentation of "It Can't Happen Here" by Sinclair Lewis at the Lafayette Theatre shows a stylized Adolf Hitler carrying a rifle standing behind a U.S. map and a fist in a raised-arm salute. The poster dates to 1936-37.
Library Of Congress
WPA artist Joe Sparks paints soldiers on mural at Fort Wayne in Detroit in 1938.
WPA artist Joe Sparks paints soldiers on mural at Fort Wayne in Detroit in 1938.
The Detroit News Archives
The WPA funded the construction of the Board of Water and Light public utility in Lansing in 1938-39, along with several art projects in the building, including "Aquarius," a 32-foot limestone relief above the front entrance, by Samuel Cashwan.
The WPA funded the construction of the Board of Water and Light public utility in Lansing in 1938-39, along with several art projects in the building, including "Aquarius," a 32-foot limestone relief above the front entrance, by Samuel Cashwan.
The Detroit News Archives
A ceramic fountain by Clivia Calde graces the the grand two-story lobby. The stairs with streamlined metal railings evoke machines found in the plant.
A ceramic fountain by Clivia Calde graces the the grand two-story lobby. The stairs with streamlined metal railings evoke machines found in the plant.
The Detroit News Archives
Artist Frank Cassara created two murals for the upper lobby of the Board of Water and Light, including "Beneficial Force of Water," showing farmers reaping a harvest and recreational activities.
Artist Frank Cassara created two murals for the upper lobby of the Board of Water and Light, including "Beneficial Force of Water," showing farmers reaping a harvest and recreational activities.
The Detroit News Archives
Otto Krueger conducts the Detroit WPA Orchestra in a performance for schoolchildren on Jan. 21, 1937. The Federal Music Project employed instrumental and vocal performing groups as well as music copyists and binders, who copied music for the WPA music groups to perform.
Otto Krueger conducts the Detroit WPA Orchestra in a performance for schoolchildren on Jan. 21, 1937. The Federal Music Project employed instrumental and vocal performing groups as well as music copyists and binders, who copied music for the WPA music groups to perform.
The Detroit News Archives
People were hired to copy existing music, both conductors' scores and individual parts. Once the pages were copied, another group of workers bound them together. Above, two women work on copying scores in Detroit in 1938.
People were hired to copy existing music, both conductors' scores and individual parts. Once the pages were copied, another group of workers bound them together. Above, two women work on copying scores in Detroit in 1938.
The Detroit News Archives
When the WPA orchestras and music libraries were disbanded in 1943, all of the music was given to local state and city libraries and orchestras. The Michigan collection was given to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
When the WPA orchestras and music libraries were disbanded in 1943, all of the music was given to local state and city libraries and orchestras. The Michigan collection was given to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
The Detroit News Archives
The DSO has more than 90,000 pages of music from the copying project, including important works by American and European composers, as well as compositions by women and composers of color whose contributions have long been neglected. The DSO and Wayne State are currently working on a digitization project with the goal of bringing the scores online. Above: the Detroit WPA Orchestra in 1937.
The DSO has more than 90,000 pages of music from the copying project, including important works by American and European composers, as well as compositions by women and composers of color whose contributions have long been neglected. The DSO and Wayne State are currently working on a digitization project with the goal of bringing the scores online. Above: the Detroit WPA Orchestra in 1937.
The Detroit News Archives
Women WPA workers take health information at a school in Detroit in 1938.
Women WPA workers take health information at a school in Detroit in 1938.
The Detroit News Archives
A woman holds an iron in front of WPA posters promoting a "Scrap for Victory Rally" at the Michigan State Fair Coliseum in Detroit in 1942. People were urged to turn in any kind of metal for recycling for the war effort.
A woman holds an iron in front of WPA posters promoting a "Scrap for Victory Rally" at the Michigan State Fair Coliseum in Detroit in 1942. People were urged to turn in any kind of metal for recycling for the war effort.
Library Of Congress
A man carries a spring and license plates to the scrap metal rally sponsored by the Work Projects Administration at the state fairgrounds in 1942.
A man carries a spring and license plates to the scrap metal rally sponsored by the Work Projects Administration at the state fairgrounds in 1942.
Library Of Congress
A woman stands on top of the pile of metal, which included a car with a note that read: Donated by Louis Catenacci, 5350 Crane, to the National Defense, WPA.
A woman stands on top of the pile of metal, which included a car with a note that read: Donated by Louis Catenacci, 5350 Crane, to the National Defense, WPA.
Library Of Congress
Boxes of license plates top a pile of scrap metal at the 1942 WPA salvage drive in Detroit.
Boxes of license plates top a pile of scrap metal at the 1942 WPA salvage drive in Detroit.
The Detroit News Archives
Jitterbug dancing was part of the entertainment at the 1942 scrap salvage rally at the state fairgrounds.
Jitterbug dancing was part of the entertainment at the 1942 scrap salvage rally at the state fairgrounds.
Library Of Congress
WPA workers demonstrate outside of the GAR Building in Detroit against wage cuts and layoffs on April 22, 1939. The GAR building was used as one of the administration buildings for WPA projects during the tenure of the program in the area.
WPA workers demonstrate outside of the GAR Building in Detroit against wage cuts and layoffs on April 22, 1939. The GAR building was used as one of the administration buildings for WPA projects during the tenure of the program in the area.
The Detroit News Archives
Street repaving like this one at Warren at Riopelle in Detroit was part of a 10-week WPA project in 1938.
Street repaving like this one at Warren at Riopelle in Detroit was part of a 10-week WPA project in 1938.
The Detroit News Archives
Men with shovels and picks wait for orders on a 1940 street project in Detroit.
Men with shovels and picks wait for orders on a 1940 street project in Detroit.
The Detroit News Archives
Sign in a Detroit storefront: "WPA workers, your credit is good here."
Sign in a Detroit storefront: "WPA workers, your credit is good here."
Library Of Congress
Men employed by the WPA work on a street project on Grand River near Lothrop in Detroit in 1940.
Men employed by the WPA work on a street project on Grand River near Lothrop in Detroit in 1940.
The Detroit News Archives
By the time the WPA was discontinued in 1943, it had put 8.5 million Americans back to work. Among its many accomplishments were 650,000 miles of new or improved roads, 40,000 new and 85,000 improved buildings, 382 million articles of clothing, 1.2 billion school lunches, 8,000 new or improved parks and 16,000 miles of new water lines.
By the time the WPA was discontinued in 1943, it had put 8.5 million Americans back to work. Among its many accomplishments were 650,000 miles of new or improved roads, 40,000 new and 85,000 improved buildings, 382 million articles of clothing, 1.2 billion school lunches, 8,000 new or improved parks and 16,000 miles of new water lines.
The Detroit News Archives