Artwork Photoshoot: WJC Federal Building WPA Artwork
Image of the iconic stairs in the William Jefferson Federal Building.
Every day federal employees pass by these 1930s Work Project Administration artwork commissioned as part of the Great Works Projects initiated by President FDR as a way to put depression era painters to work assisting with federal work projects. The William Jefferson Federal Building in Washington DC (previously called the Ariel Rios Building, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Offices) was the US Post Office Headquarters at the time these were commissioned as a result, a number of the paintings have US Mail themes given the building use at the time. General Services Administration oversees the maintenance and restoration of the paintings.
I took these photos as I have not seen other high resolution photos of these paintings posted on the internet. You are welcome to copy and use these images, please include attribution to Mark Seltzer Photography and a link back to the blog post: http://mark.seltzer.org/photo/index.php/2018/02/24/wpa.
Please note, some of the photos are misguided, alter history and portray negative stereotypes of American Indians. Please see this website for the Society of American Indian Government Employees for more information. One of the paintings called “Danger of the Mail” has been covered with curtains as a result.
Below is the gallery of images.
South 2nd Floor- Rockwell Kent “Mail Service in the Tropics”
South 2nd Floor- Rockwell Kent “Mail Service in the Artic”
South 4th Floor- Alfredo di Giorgio Crimi; “Post Office Work Room”
South 4th Floor- Alfredo di Giorgio Crimi; “Transportation of Mail”
South 5th Floor- Ward Lockwood “Opening of the Southwest”
South 5th Floor- Ward Lockwood “Consolidation of the Southwest”
South 6th Floor- George Harding “Ben Franklin, Colonial Postmaster”
South 6th Floor- George Harding; “Post Dispatch Rider”
Sourth 7th Floor Karl Free “French Huguenots in Floridia”
Sourth 7th Floor Karl Free “Arrial of the Mail in New Amsterdam”
North 2nd Floor- Eugene Francis Savage “Carrier of News & Knowlege; Instrument of Trade & Industry.”
North 2nd Floor- Eugene Francis Savage “Message of Sympathy and Love”
North 4th Floor Reginald Marsh- “Sorting the Mail”
North 4th Floor Reginald Marsh- “Unloading the Mail”
North 5th Floor- Frank Mechau “Dangers of the Mail” – Painting is covered as it incorrectly depicts Native Americans killing mail carriers. You can find a photo of this painting here: https://www.gsa.gov/fine-arts#/artwork/18359
North 5th Floor- Frank Mechau “Pony Express” — This painting is under restoration. You can find a copy of it on GSA’s website, here: https://app_gsagov_prod_rdcgwaajp7wr.s3.amazonaws.com/finearts/large/Mechau,F.FA13-A.CH2011.png
North 6th Floor- Doris Lee – “Country Post”
North 6th Floor- Doris Lee- “General Store and Post Office”
North 7th Floor- William C. Palmer- “Covered Wagon Attacked by Indians”
William C. Palmer- “Mail Coach Attacked by Bandits”
