Works Progress Administration (WPA) Collection - 1935-1942

2 boxes (15 folders)

The WPA Collection was assembled through individual gifts and include the;

Federal Writers' Project transcripts : Individual papers written by several authors on a variety of South Florida topics for the Federal Writers' Project.  Includes articles by Alfred Coe pertaining to the sale of poison fish in Miami and architecture. Three articles: Architecture of the Miami area, Architectural development in the Miami area, Miami city guide. Articles were based in part on interviews with noted Miami architects Phineas Paist and Richard Kiehnel.

Legend of Black Caesar and Gasparilla [expanded paper by Natalie Newell]

William Wendt Papers : Mostly pertain to his employment with the City of Miami's Works Progress Administration Bureau (WPA), a New Deal program. Contains correspondence, memos, notices, specifications and other documents pertaining to projects. Of note is a copy of the Annual Report on City – Sponsored WPA and National Youth Administration (NYA) Projects for 1939-40. A set of captioned photographs show the following WPA projects underway: Miami International (Master) Airport, Shenandoah Park, Commercial Riverside Park, Little River Park, Morningside Park, Sewing Project, Housekeeping Aide Project, Handicraft Project, Toy Project, Commodity Warehouse, Gardening and Canning Project, street rebuilding and Federal Music Project. NYA projects include Bryan Park, the Miami Public Welfare Department, sail making, seaplane float construction, public service project, recreational leadership project and recreational leadership – Miami Negro Section.

The Wendt Papers also includes a blueprint for a proposed fountain for Bayfront Park and a property record from the City of Miami with construction specifications for a bungalow in East Shenandoah.

Federal Music Project (FMP) : Photographs of theatre and musical productions produced by the Federal Music Project (FMP) of the Works Progress Administration. The bulk of the photographs were shot in Miami, and a few from elsewhere in Florida. Of interest are those of the musicians who performed at the dedication of the 1935 Hurricane monument on Islamorada.  Included are two folders holding sheet music, programs and ephemera from around Florida between 1916 and 1926 that may have been used as reference material.

Gift from undocumented source. Gift of Mrs. Walter C. Gibson. Gift of Robert Carr, 2004. Gift of Susan Weiss, 2016

Housed in the Objects Collection are two works of art executed by WPA artists that were located at the original Booker T. Washington school building. 1. Low relief sculpture on a rectangular plate show two boys boxing and a girl applauding.  2. Low relief sculpture on rectangular plaque show two boys playing baseball and one boy pulling a hoop with a stick.

Other Information

Accession:
2004-380
2004-281

X-2205 William C. Wendt Papers

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