May 6, 1935 – By presidential order, Franklin Roosevelt forms the Works Progress Administration (WPA) – renamed, in 1939, as the Work Projects Administration – which employs 8.5 million people across America between 1935 and 1943.
In a concentrated effort to stir the U.S. economy during the Depression, President Franklin Roosevelt initiated numerous federally-funded projects throughout the 1930’s – all under the larger theme of offering struggling Americans a New Deal. As a result, the WPA – Works Progress (Projects) Administration – began programs that literally transformed Iowa City in the mid-to late 1930’s.
While most WPA jobs around the country were involved with infrastructure construction projects, the Iowa-born director of the WPA – Harry Hopkins – believed the arts needed to be supported as well. Thus, $27 million was approved for the employment of artists, musicians, actors, directors and writers under the WPA’s Federal Project Number One, and in its prime, FPNO employed up to 40,000 people – because, as Hopkins put it – “Hell, they’ve got to eat, too”.
Read more about Iowa – A Guide to the Hawkeye State – a 583-page book (pictured above) produced by FDR’s WPA fine arts program and released in 1938 – just in time for the Iowa Territorial Centennial Celebration.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS IOWA STORY HERE.
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