🏛️ Beyond the WPA: The Other New Deal Agencies That Rebuilt America

📌 The WPA wasn’t the only agency transforming America during the Great Depression. Discover how over 40 federal programs tackled conservation, public health, housing, roads, and infrastructure—laying the foundation for modern America.

Front Cover, WPA and Other Agencies. Inventory: An Appraisal of Results of the Works Progress Administration, Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1938. GGA Image ID # 1530f107d4

📜 Other Agencies During the Great Depression Era - 1938

How Federal Programs Beyond the WPA Transformed America

The Great Depression was a time of widespread suffering, economic turmoil, and joblessness, but it was also an era of unprecedented government intervention and innovation. While the WPA is often seen as the centerpiece of New Deal work programs, this document sheds light on more than 40 other Federal agencies that played vital roles in economic recovery, infrastructure development, and public welfare.

For teachers, students, genealogists, historians, and researchers, this report offers:

✔️ A broader understanding of the New Deal beyond the WPA.

✔️ Insight into major projects that reshaped America’s landscape, economy, and society.

✔️ Key details on conservation, public works, roads, utilities, housing, and scientific research.

✔️ Genealogical leads for families who may have worked on non-WPA New Deal projects.

📌 This is essential reading for those studying how federal intervention helped America recover from the Great Depression.

While operations of the WPA have accounted for over half of the funds used in conducting the Works Program (including both Federal and sponsors' funds for projects drawing upon ERA Act money as well as the PWA non-Federal project money and the CCC appropriations after the fiscal year ending in June 1936) and for about three-quarters of total Works Program employment, more than forty other Federal agencies also have conducted extensive operations of widely varied types.

The Works Program funds of these agencies aggregate more than four billion dollars. More than four-fifths of value of the projects of agencies other than the WPA has been for conservation, public buildings—including housing, public roads, sewer, water, and other utilities.

Much of this construction work has been of the heavier type, performed by private contract, and none of it is, of course, reflected in the previous pages of this report. A few brief highlights of the major Works Program activities of the other Federal agencies are listed here to show the general nature of the work.

Conservation

About 40 percent of the outlay by other Federal agencies has been devoted to conservation of natural resources. This includes the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps, which in the first 2 years of Works Program activities built over 2,000,000 erosion check dams, planted or moved 15,000,000 trees or shrubs, built 45,000 miles of roads and trails, and 8,000 bridges, as well as many other related facilities in parks and National forests.

It also includes work on more than a score of major irrigation developments by the Bureau of Reclamation, such as the Grand Coulee Dam and the Casper-Alcova irrigation project.

Conservation, in the broad sense, likewise embraces the flood-control program of the corps of engineers and the channel dredging and waterpower developments of PWA non-Federal projects, as well as the general work of the Forest Service, which has built over 4,000 miles of fence, collected 1,200,000 pounds of tree seed and constructed many facilities to check forest fires.

In the same category is much work by the Soil Conservation Service, which has protected over 1,500,000 acres against erosion by 74,000 miles of terracing, planted 250,000,000 trees, strip-cropped almost 1,000,000 acres of land, built over 2,500,000 gully-controlling structures, and 20,000 storage ponds for the watering of livestock.

The Farm Security Administration has protected land resources by promoting proper land use and has aided more than 400,000 families through rehabilitation loans and another 400,000 through rehabilitation grants.

The Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine has surveyed over 100,000,000 acres and waged a widespread fight against the Dutch Elm disease and many other tree or plant maladies.

Public Buildings

Nearly one-fourth of the program of other Federal agencies has been devoted to construction of public buildings, the major portion of which is represented by some 4,000 schoolhouses, city halls, courthouses, and other major public structures built as non-Federal projects of the Public Works Administration.

This field also includes two major low-cost housing programs—the urban housing projects of the PWA Housing Division such as Williamsburg Houses in New York City, and the rural or suburban developments of the Farm Security Administration such as the "Green- belt Towns."

It also embraces work on many Federally owned buildings, including numerous military and naval facilities.

Roads and Streets

The highway and street program of the other Federal agencies represents an outlay about two-thirds as large as that for public buildings, and here the dominant agency has been the Bureau of Public Roads, which has built 23,000 miles of highways.

The bulk of this is high-type construction on primary routes. The Bureau also has eliminated over 1,600 dangerous grade crossings. The rest of this program is composed largely of PWA non-Federal road projects, chiefly on major highways entering cities or towns.

The only other major type of activity is the PWA's 1,500 projects to construct water and sewer systems, incinerators, and municipal gas or electric plants. Kindred work was done by the Rural Electrification Administration, the War and Navy Departments, and the Coast Guard.

Many Federal agencies have carried out major research projects, such as the Nationwide health inventory of the Public Health Service.

U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 16—7624

The Importance of Other New Deal Agencies

✔ For Teachers & Students:

Provides case studies of how different federal agencies tackled economic and social issues.

Demonstrates the lasting impact of New Deal policies on infrastructure, conservation, and housing.

Encourages discussions on government responsibility in times of crisis.

✔ For Genealogists & Historians:

Documents lesser-known federal programs that employed millions of Americans.

Highlights locations and projects that could provide family history leads.

Offers a timeline of New Deal interventions beyond the WPA.

✔ For Writers & Researchers:

Showcases how multiple federal agencies worked together to address economic collapse.

Explores the tension between federal intervention and private industry during the Depression.

Provides firsthand examples of long-lasting public works projects still in use today.

📌 This report expands the narrative beyond the WPA, proving that the New Deal was a multi-agency effort that touched every aspect of American life.

🏞️ Conservation Efforts: America’s First Major Environmental Initiatives

✔ Why This is Fascinating:

🔹 The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was one of the most popular New Deal programs, employing young men in reforestation, park improvements, and erosion control.

🔹 The Soil Conservation Service prevented devastating dust storms by planting over 250 million trees and constructing over 74,000 miles of terracing to fight soil erosion.

🔹 The Bureau of Reclamation built Grand Coulee Dam and other massive irrigation projects that reshaped the American West.

✔ Key Takeaway:

These programs set the foundation for modern environmental policy and turned conservation into a federal priority.

📌 Essential reading for those interested in environmental history, conservation policy, and rural economic development.

🏗️ Public Works & Infrastructure: America’s Greatest Building Boom

📍 Public Buildings: Schools, Courthouses, and Housing

🔹 The Public Works Administration (PWA) constructed over 4,000 public buildings, including schools, city halls, courthouses, and even military facilities.

🔹 PWA’s Housing Division launched some of the first low-income urban housing projects, such as Williamsburg Houses in NYC.

🔹 The Farm Security Administration (FSA) built "Greenbelt Towns", an early experiment in planned suburban communities.

📍 Roads & Bridges: Connecting a Nation

🔹 The Bureau of Public Roads built 23,000 miles of highways, focusing on major travel routes and eliminating over 1,600 dangerous railroad crossings.

🔹 PWA-funded road projects enhanced urban accessibility and helped create modern highway networks.

📍 Water & Sewer Systems: Bringing Sanitation to America

🔹 PWA funded 1,500 projects to develop water treatment plants, sewers, and municipal utilities.

🔹 The Rural Electrification Administration (REA) brought electricity to thousands of farm families who had never had access before.

✔ Key Takeaway:

Without these infrastructure investments, America’s rapid post-WWII expansion would have been impossible.

📌 Great for those studying urban development, transportation history, and public utilities.

🛠️ The Federal Government as Employer & Innovator

📍 The Farm Security Administration (FSA) & Rural Development 🚜

🔹 Helped 800,000 farm families survive the Great Depression through rehabilitation loans and grants.

🔹 Resettled farmers onto better land and promoted crop rotation to prevent further Dust Bowl conditions.

📍 Scientific Research & Public Health 🏥

🔹 The Public Health Service launched a nationwide health inventory to assess medical needs.

🔹 The Bureau of Entomology & Plant Quarantine conducted massive studies on plant diseases and pests, protecting agricultural industries.

🔹 Large-scale surveys on nutrition, public sanitation, and communicable diseases laid the foundation for modern public health programs.

✔ Key Takeaway:

These agencies transformed public health, agriculture, and scientific research in ways that still benefit us today.

📌 Crucial for those interested in healthcare history, agricultural policy, and government-led research.

📜 List of Federal Agencies & Their Goals During the Great Depression (1930s)

Below is a list of more than 40 Federal agencies mentioned in the WPA report on Other Agencies During the Great Depression Era (1938) along with their primary goals and contributions. These agencies were key players in the New Deal, focusing on public works, conservation, infrastructure, research, and social programs.

How Each Agency Helped Rebuild America

🔹 Infrastructure & Public Works Agencies

These agencies focused on building roads, bridges, public buildings, utilities, and other large-scale infrastructure to modernize America.

1. Public Works Administration (PWA) – Funded large-scale construction projects such as schools, courthouses, hospitals, bridges, and housing developments.
2. Bureau of Public Roads – Built 23,000 miles of highways and eliminated 1,600+ dangerous railroad crossings to improve transportation.
3. Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) – Built dams and hydroelectric plants in the Tennessee Valley to provide electricity, flood control, and irrigation to rural areas.
4. Rural Electrification Administration (REA) – Expanded electricity to rural farms and communities, bringing power to areas previously without access.
5. Civil Aeronautics Authority (CAA) – Funded airport construction and aviation safety improvements.
6. Federal Housing Administration (FHA) – Provided mortgage insurance and financing to help stabilize the housing market and encourage homeownership.
7. United States Housing Authority (USHA) – Built low-income housing projects to provide affordable homes to struggling families.
8. Coast Guard – Assisted with port security, emergency rescue operations, and coastal infrastructure improvements.

🔹 Conservation & Natural Resource Agencies

Focused on environmental restoration, erosion control, forestry, and wildlife preservation.

9. Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) – Employed young men in reforestation, park construction, erosion control, and firefighting.
10. Bureau of Reclamation – Built massive irrigation projects such as the Grand Coulee Dam to support agriculture in arid regions.
11. Forest Service – Constructed firebreaks, lookout towers, and forest roads to protect and manage national forests.
12. Soil Conservation Service – Planted 250+ million trees, built 74,000 miles of terraces, and controlled gully erosion to combat the Dust Bowl.
13. Farm Security Administration (FSA) – Assisted rural farmers by promoting sustainable farming and offering low-interest loans.
14. Bureau of Entomology & Plant Quarantine – Conducted nationwide surveys to control plant diseases and insect infestations such as the Dutch Elm disease.
15. Bureau of Biological Survey – Established wildlife refuges and game conservation programs.
16. National Park Service (NPS) – Developed visitor facilities in National Parks and improved scenic trails and camping areas.

🔹 Employment & Economic Recovery Agencies

These agencies helped create jobs, stabilize the economy, and improve living standards.

17. Works Progress Administration (WPA) – Employed millions in construction, arts, research, and public services.
18. Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) – Provided direct aid to unemployed families before being absorbed into the WPA.
19. National Youth Administration (NYA) – Provided job training and financial assistance to students and young workers.
20. Resettlement Administration (RA) – Relocated struggling farm families to government-planned communities with better land and resources.
21. Federal Surplus Commodities Corporation – Distributed government food surpluses to schools and low-income families.

🔹 Public Health & Science Agencies

Focused on healthcare, sanitation, disease prevention, and scientific research.

22. Public Health Service (PHS) – Conducted nationwide health surveys, immunization campaigns, and disease research.
23. National Institute of Health (NIH) – Expanded medical research and clinical testing for major diseases.
24. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR, now the IRS) – Managed tax collections and revenue recovery during the economic crisis.
25. Bureau of Standards (now NIST) – Conducted research on industrial safety, pollution control, and chemical analysis.
26. Office of Education (now part of the U.S. Department of Education) – Improved school facilities, trained teachers, and expanded adult education programs.
27. Federal Security Agency (FSA, precursor to the Department of Health & Human Services) – Managed welfare programs, social security, and public assistance programs.

🔹 Disaster Relief & Emergency Response Agencies

These agencies responded to natural disasters such as floods, fires, droughts, and hurricanes.

28. Federal Disaster Relief Administration – Coordinated disaster response efforts, providing emergency aid and rebuilding damaged communities.
29. Army Corps of Engineers – Managed flood control projects, river dredging, and levee construction.
30. War Department – Assisted with national defense-related infrastructure projects.
31. Navy Department – Built and maintained naval bases, shipyards, and coastal defense systems.

🔹 Arts, Culture & Historical Documentation Agencies

These agencies supported unemployed artists, musicians, writers, and historians to preserve American culture and history.

32. Federal Art Project (FAP) – Hired artists to paint murals, create sculptures, and document American life.
33. Federal Music Project (FMP) – Sponsored orchestras, concerts, and music education programs.
34. Federal Theatre Project (FTP) – Produced plays, puppet shows, and operas for free public performances.
35. Federal Writers’ Project (FWP) – Created the American Guide Series, documenting state histories, folklore, and travel guides.
36. Historic American Building Survey (HABS) – Conducted architectural surveys to preserve historic landmarks and structures.
37. Index of American Design – Documented folk art, furniture, and historic crafts to preserve America’s cultural heritage.

🔹 Research, Transportation, and Industrial Regulation Agencies

These agencies focused on modernizing infrastructure and conducting research for future development.

38. National Resources Planning Board – Conducted economic planning and policy research for long-term development.
39. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) – Studied unemployment rates, wage trends, and labor conditions.
40. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA, then CAA) – Regulated air travel and airport safety.
41. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – Expanded radio broadcasting and telephone services.

📜 Final Thoughts: Why This List Matters

🌟 This report reminds us that the New Deal was far more than just the WPA. The work of these 40+ agencies transformed the United States, from building highways and parks to revolutionizing public health and arts programs.

📌 Who Should Study This?

✔ Historians interested in government policies during the Great Depression.

✔ Genealogists researching family members who worked in New Deal programs.

✔ Students & Educators studying New Deal economics, labor history, or American infrastructure.

✔ Writers & Researchers exploring how federal agencies shaped modern America.

🔥 These agencies laid the foundation for modern infrastructure, conservation policies, and government programs we still rely on today! 🚀

Bias & Perspective Considerations

✔ Focus on Government Successes

🔹 The report emphasizes the positive impact of these programs but does not mention:

🔹 Criticism that some agencies had inefficiencies and corruption.

🔹 Resistance from private industries fearing government overreach.

🔹 Exclusion of certain groups, particularly African Americans, from some benefits.

✔ Lack of Opposition or Challenges Faced

🔹 While the New Deal is often celebrated, some viewed it as excessive government control over private industry.

🔹 The Supreme Court overturned several programs as unconstitutional.

📌 A more balanced analysis would explore both the successes and the controversies of these federal programs.

Final Thoughts: Why This Report Matters

"Other Agencies During the Great Depression Era - 1938" is a must-read for understanding the full scope of the New Deal. While the WPA gets much of the credit, these additional programs shaped everything from conservation to public health, roads, and scientific research.

📌 Key Takeaways:

✔ The New Deal was far more than just the WPA.

✔ Massive conservation and infrastructure projects laid the foundation for modern America.

✔ Scientific research and public health programs expanded government responsibility in new ways.

✔ Federal programs shaped the way we live, travel, and work today.

🔍 This is a story of transformation, innovation, and resilience.

📌 Understanding these agencies helps us appreciate how government action can reshape a nation in times of crisis. 💪