During the height of the Great Depression an innovative Works Progress Administration project in Milwaukee gained national attention for its original designs. Between 1935 and 1942 the Milwaukee Handicraft Project hired thousands of workers to produce textiles, furniture, toys and books. This lecture will feature period images of the workers and products from this project and provide context of WPA projects in Milwaukee at that time.
Jackie Schweitzer is the History Department Collection Manager at the Milwaukee Public Museum. Her interests include American and local history with a special interest in Milwaukee WPA projects, especially the Milwaukee Handicraft Project. Jackie is also an instructor in the UW-Milwaukee Museum Studies graduate program.
Thursday, March 9 @ 4pm