WPA Posters – Selling America on Leisure Time, Health, and War
Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 | Pop Culture Notions, Power & Politics
Today on WNYC radio, Leonard Lopate spoke with Nick Taylor about his fascinating new book American-Made about Great Depression era Works and Progress Administration (WPA).
Listen to the segment online or download MP3 at WNYC.org
The WPA built roads, addressed public health issues, facilitated industry, spearheaded healthy recreation activities, and promoted tourism. Towards the end of its existence the WPA also played an important role in educating Americans about their place in the war effort (WWII)
It seems some fondly look back at the WPA as an all-purpose advocate for the common man, while others see it as the showcase example of wasteful government spending.
Franklin Roosevelt founded the WPA and I’ve noticed a number of historians and commentators forward to the Obama administration for a similarly efficient and wide-reaching program to pull us out of our current economic doldrums and to get Americans back to work. Perhaps this time they will build turbines and solar farms!
Nick Taylor mentioned how the WPA was officialy decommissioned during WWII. Take a look at this selection of WPA poster I found online at Library Of Congress site. Interesting how the content shifts from public service/recreation information to war propaganda.
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