- Collection:
- Turning Points in Wisconsin History
- Title:
- A block-print wall hanging from the Milwaukee Handicraft Project
- Creator:
- Milwaukee Handicraft Project
- Date of Original:
- 1935/1941
- Subject:
- Social integration--Wisconsin--Milwaukee
Civil Rights--Wisconsin--Milwaukee--History
African Americans--Civil rights--Wisconsin--Milwaukee--History
Discrimination in employment--Wisconsin--Milwaukee
United States. Works Progress Administration
Handicraft--Wisconsin--Milwaukee
Block printing--Wisconsin--Milwaukee - Location:
- United States, Wisconsin, Milwaukee County, Milwaukee, 43.0389, -87.90647
- Medium:
- relief prints
- Description:
- The Milwaukee Handicraft Project (MHP) began in 1935 when Harriet Clinton, head of the Women's Division of Wisconsin's WPA, saw a need to put female head-of-householders to work. Clinton hired art professor Elsa Ulbricht to lead the project which put women to work producing functional decorative arts for institutions like the Milwaukee Public Schools. The MHP was particularly unique for its willingness to hire African Americans--something most WPA projects would not--and the offices were soon swarmed with eager workers. Although some tensions surfaced between white and black workers, the overall project proved successful. This block-print wall hanging is an example of the attractive and useful work created by MHP workers.
The Civil Rights Digital Library received support from a National Leadership Grant for Libraries awarded to the University of Georgia by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for the aggregation and enhancement of partner metadata. - Metadata URL:
- http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1497
- Rights Holder:
- Milwaukee Handicraft Project. Wisconsin Historical Museum. Online facsimile at: http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/search.asp?id=1497
- Additional Rights Information:
- Please contact holding institution for information regarding use and copyright status.
- Contributing Institution:
- Wisconsin Historical Society
