Building America: The WPA’s Legacy in Public Works, Culture, and Relief (1938)
📌 This 1938 report provides an extensive review of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), documenting its vast contributions to public infrastructure, education, conservation, arts, and disaster relief during the Great Depression. A valuable resource for teachers, students, genealogists, and historians.
Front Cover, Inventory: An Appraisal of Results of the Works Progress Administration, Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1938. GGA Image ID # 151d5cc2c2
Inventory: An Appraisal of Results of the Works Progress Administration – 1938
A Comprehensive Look at the WPA’s Legacy & Its Impact on America
📝 Overview of the WPA’s Accomplishments
The Inventory: An Appraisal of Results of the WPA (1938) is a comprehensive and detailed report showcasing the full scope of public facilities, services, and infrastructure projects undertaken by WPA workers from 1935 to 1937.
With a staggering 150,000 projects completed, this document provides statistical insights, narrative descriptions, and visual documentation of how the New Deal reshaped America during one of its darkest economic periods.
The most fascinating aspect of this report is how it balances data with real-world impact, illustrating how WPA initiatives not only employed millions but also left behind lasting improvements in communities across the nation.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document offers a rare and invaluable glimpse into a transformative period in American history.
This report, therefore, is a detailed examination of the public facilities and services built or performed by WPA workers up to October 1, 1937, obtained by individual inventory of the 150,000 projects that had been operated up to that time. The few selected illustrations of each type of work are for the purpose of giving visual as well as narrative evidence of the scope and quality of the works and services. The report also contains, in the form of occasional footnotes or addenda, examples of the relationship between these data and the total accomplishments of all three Federal relief agencies.
Chapters
📖 How the WPA Transformed America: Projects, Organization, and Impact (1938)
Overview of WPA Projects, Organization, Plans, Operation (1938) provides a detailed assessment of the accomplishments and structure of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), one of the most significant programs of the New Deal. This document, featuring a transmittal letter from Harry L. Hopkins, highlights the evolution of federal relief efforts, the organization of WPA projects, and the tangible improvements made across the country.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this primary source offers a comprehensive look at how government-funded employment transformed the United States, ensuring economic survival for millions while constructing essential public infrastructure. It also addresses criticisms of work relief and explains the careful balance between public employment and private industry.
📖 The 1938 report on WPA Roads & Bridges provides a detailed examination of how the Works Progress Administration (WPA) transformed transportation infrastructure in the United States. Covering one-third of the entire WPA program, the report highlights the construction of roads, bridges, culverts, sidewalks, and street safety features—critical elements that enabled economic mobility, emergency access, and national connectivity.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document is a valuable primary source on how New Deal policies addressed rural isolation, unemployment, and public safety during the Great Depression.
📖 The 1938 WPA report on parks, playgrounds, and recreational facilities showcases one of the most transformative public works programs of the Great Depression. More than 11 percent of the WPA’s total effort was devoted to developing public spaces for leisure, fitness, and community engagement—second only to road and bridge construction. This initiative provided employment to thousands of workers while creating permanent recreational assets that improved quality of life across the United States.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this report offers a wealth of primary source material on how the federal government reshaped American cities and rural areas through the development of parks, sports facilities, swimming pools, golf courses, and even ski trails. The WPA’s efforts laid the foundation for modern recreational infrastructure, making outdoor activities accessible to millions.
📖 The 1938 WPA report on public buildings highlights the tremendous impact of the New Deal on America’s infrastructure. More than 12,000 new public buildings were constructed, while over 36,000 existing structures were renovated—representing one of the largest construction efforts in U.S. history.
This initiative not only provided much-needed employment during the Great Depression but also modernized schools, courthouses, hospitals, libraries, fire stations, and public service buildings, ensuring lasting benefits for future generations.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this report provides a rich source of information on how the federal government’s work relief programs reshaped communities, especially in terms of education, public administration, recreation, and safety.
💧 How the WPA Brought Clean Water & Modern Sanitation to America (1938)
📖 The 1938 WPA report on water and sewer projects underscores the critical role of the New Deal in modernizing public health infrastructure. Water supply systems, sanitation facilities, reservoirs, and drainage projects accounted for nearly 10% of the entire WPA construction program. This massive investment improved public health, reduced the spread of disease, and lowered fire insurance rates, particularly in small towns and rural communities that previously lacked modern sanitation.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document serves as an invaluable resource in understanding:
🔹 The public health crisis of the 1930s and how the WPA addressed it.
🔹 The impact of work relief programs on sanitation and infrastructure.
🔹 The role of local governments in utilizing federal assistance to improve living conditions.
🛠️ This report provides a compelling look at how WPA projects improved the daily lives of millions by expanding clean water access and building critical sanitation infrastructure.
🛩️ How the WPA Built America’s Airports & Advanced Aviation (1938)
📖 The 1938 WPA report on aviation projects highlights the massive impact of the Works Progress Administration in modernizing America’s air travel infrastructure. The report details how WPA labor helped construct and improve landing fields, runways, hangars, airport terminals, and lighting systems, directly contributing to the growth of commercial aviation and national defense.
For historians, teachers, genealogists, and aviation enthusiasts, this document serves as a vital record of:
- The rapid expansion of aviation infrastructure during the Great Depression.
- How WPA projects supported both civilian air travel and military preparedness.
- The role of federal funding in modernizing local and national airports.
🛠️ This report provides an in-depth look at how government-sponsored public works shaped the future of air travel in America.
🏛️ How the WPA Saved America’s Historic Landmarks (1938)
📖 The 1938 WPA report on historic shrine restoration highlights how New Deal programs played a crucial role in preserving America’s heritage. The WPA restored forts, historic homes, battlefields, monuments, and landmarks spanning every era of American history, from Native American settlements to early colonial sites, Revolutionary War landmarks, and even the boyhood home of Charles Lindbergh.
For teachers, historians, genealogists, and preservationists, this document serves as a goldmine of historical information about:
- How the WPA saved historic sites from decay or demolition.
- The role of federal funding in restoring national heritage.
- The types of projects undertaken and their cultural significance.
🏗️ This report provides an extraordinary look at how federal work relief programs protected America’s historic legacy for future generations.
📖 How the WPA Expanded Education for Adults & Children During the Great Depression
📖 This 1938 report on the Works Progress Administration (WPA) education projects highlights how the New Deal provided lifelines to unemployed teachers, illiterate adults, immigrant communities, and impoverished children. Through its adult literacy programs, vocational training, and nursery schools, the WPA expanded education to millions of Americans who otherwise had no access to learning opportunities.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document is a goldmine of information on:
✔️ How the WPA helped the unemployed find work through education.
✔️ How literacy programs improved the lives of millions of Americans.
✔️ How vocational and workers' education reshaped American labor.
✔️ The long-term impact of WPA educational initiatives on U.S. public schooling.
📌 This report is a compelling historical resource that demonstrates how education was central to national recovery during the Great Depression.
🏥 How the WPA Transformed Public Health & Medical Care During the Great Depression
📖 The 1938 WPA health services report reveals an incredible effort to provide medical care, nutrition, and public health improvements to millions of struggling Americans. The program tackled malaria control, school lunches, sanitation, and healthcare access—critical needs during the Great Depression.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document provides:
✔️ Insights into public health before modern healthcare systems.
✔️ Evidence of how New Deal programs transformed medical access.
✔️ Details on WPA-employed doctors, nurses, and public health workers.
✔️ Information on how WPA projects improved sanitation and disease prevention.
📌 This report showcases the WPA’s lifesaving contributions to public health, making it an essential historical resource!
📚 How the WPA Transformed Public Libraries & Literacy in the Great Depression
📖 The 1938 WPA report on library projects showcases a remarkable expansion of public access to books, literacy programs, and community libraries. Through the creation of bookmobiles, pack horse libraries, rural reading rooms, and book repair projects, the WPA helped millions of Americans—especially in rural areas—gain access to books and education.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document provides:
✔️ Insights into the role of libraries before modern public funding.
✔️ Details on how WPA workers helped revive struggling library systems.
✔️ Evidence of how rural and underserved communities gained access to books.
✔️ A record of how WPA library workers and cataloging projects helped preserve books.
📌 This report demonstrates how the WPA played a critical role in expanding literacy, education, and public knowledge in America.
🌿 The WPA’s Fight to Save America’s Lands: Conservation Projects of the 1930s
📖 The 1938 WPA report on conservation projects reveals a comprehensive effort to protect natural resources, improve environmental conditions, and provide sustainable employment. WPA workers engaged in reforestation, erosion control, flood prevention, irrigation, fish hatcheries, and wildlife conservation—ensuring long-term benefits for future generations.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document provides:
✔️ A record of large-scale environmental conservation efforts during the Great Depression.
✔️ Insights into how WPA projects improved flood control, reforestation, and wildlife habitats.
✔️ Details on WPA workers’ contributions to modern conservation practices.
✔️ Examples of government intervention in resource preservation and ecological restoration.
📌 This report showcases the WPA's critical role in mitigating environmental damage and securing natural resources for future generations.
📖 The WPA's 1938 report on production activities showcases how thousands of workers, especially women and unskilled laborers, were employed to produce clothing, preserved foods, furniture, and handicrafts for relief distribution and public use. This effort, comprising 10% of the WPA’s total program, not only sustained the workers but also provided much-needed goods for struggling families and institutions during the Great Depression.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document provides:
✔️ A detailed look at Depression-era work programs that helped individuals develop skills for future employment.
✔️ A window into gendered labor roles, especially women’s participation in WPA projects.
✔️ A historical record of how communities leveraged WPA resources to address poverty and unemployment.
✔️ Insights into how WPA projects revived traditional crafts and local industries.
📌 This report highlights the WPA’s social and economic impact, showing how government intervention helped sustain struggling families and preserve American craftsmanship.
📖 The WPA’s 1938 report on historical surveys and records preservation highlights one of the most significant yet often overlooked contributions of the program. While much of the WPA’s work focused on construction and relief efforts, this initiative provided employment for historians, architects, clerks, and researchers, who meticulously documented historic buildings, merchant marine records, court archives, and archaeological sites. The result was a treasure trove of permanent records, blueprints, and inventories that continue to aid genealogists, historians, and preservationists today.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document provides:
✔️ Invaluable insights into how the WPA saved historic documents and sites from destruction.
✔️ A deep dive into early efforts at architectural preservation and archival organization.
✔️ A resource for understanding how genealogical and historical records were cataloged.
✔️ A rare glimpse into early federal support for the preservation of American history.
📌 This report highlights the WPA’s role in ensuring that future generations have access to historical records and national heritage materials.
🔬 Advancing Science During the Great Depression: How WPA Research Projects Shaped Public Knowledge
📖 The 1938 WPA report on Science and Research Projects highlights the far-reaching contributions of government-funded scientific studies. Unlike infrastructure and relief programs, this initiative provided employment for researchers, technicians, and scientists while expanding the nation’s understanding of critical issues—from public health and traffic safety to economic policy and natural resource management.
For teachers, students, historians, and genealogists, this document provides:
✔️ A rare glimpse into how federal funding supported scientific inquiry and data collection.
✔️ Examples of how scientific research directly impacted communities.
✔️ Insights into WPA projects that influenced modern scientific, economic, and policy research.
✔️ Evidence of how these studies shaped public health, taxation, environmental science, and urban planning.
📌 This report highlights the WPA’s unparalleled role in advancing scientific research and providing a foundation for future studies.
📖 The WPA’s 1938 report on recreational activities showcases how federal funding helped establish and expand public recreation programs across the United States. With over 34,000 trained recreation leaders and 15,000 community centers, this initiative provided structured leisure activities that promoted physical fitness, social engagement, and cultural enrichment.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document provides:
✔️ A comprehensive look at how government-sponsored recreation shaped modern community programs.
✔️ Examples of how organized activities benefited both children and adults during economic hardship.
✔️ Insight into how public opinion on recreation shifted, leading to permanent programs.
✔️ Evidence of how WPA initiatives contributed to long-term municipal and state recreation policies.
📌 This report underscores the importance of structured recreation for mental and physical well-being, particularly during times of economic uncertainty.
📖 The WPA’s 1938 report on the Federal Music Project (FMP) reveals how this initiative provided thousands of unemployed musicians with meaningful work while enriching American cultural life. Through symphonies, choral groups, radio broadcasts, and music education, the FMP brought classical and folk music to communities that previously had little or no access to live performances. This document is invaluable for teachers, students, genealogists, and historians seeking insight into the government’s role in preserving the arts during the Great Depression.
For educators, historians, and music enthusiasts, this document provides:
✔️ A detailed record of how government-funded music programs shaped American cultural life.
✔️ Examples of how WPA orchestras and bands helped train musicians for careers in the arts.
✔️ Insights into how the project increased access to symphonies, operas, and American folk music.
✔️ Evidence of how WPA programs influenced modern music education and public performances.
📌 This report highlights the importance of public funding for the arts, ensuring that both artists and audiences benefited during economic hardship.
📖 The WPA Federal Theatre Project (FTP) was one of the most ambitious government-sponsored arts initiatives in U.S. history. This article provides a detailed account of how the FTP revitalized American theatre, employed thousands of artists, and introduced live drama to millions of people who had never experienced it before. With a strong emphasis on accessibility, social themes, and artistic innovation, the project played a pivotal role in shaping modern American theatre. This document is invaluable for teachers, students, genealogists, theatre historians, and cultural scholars seeking insight into one of the most significant public arts programs of the 20th century.
For educators, historians, and theatre enthusiasts, this document provides:
✔️ A comprehensive record of how the WPA employed thousands of actors, directors, playwrights, and stagehands.
✔️ Examples of innovative productions that tackled social and political issues.
✔️ Insights into how theatre was used as an educational and therapeutic tool.
✔️ Evidence of how the FTP laid the foundation for public theatre programs across the U.S.
📌 This report highlights the importance of government support for the arts, proving that public funding can sustain artistic innovation while making theatre accessible to diverse audiences.
🖌️ The WPA Federal Art Project: How Public Art Transformed America During the Great Depression
📖 The WPA Federal Art Project (FAP) played a vital role in sustaining American artists during the Great Depression while enriching public spaces with murals, sculptures, and prints that celebrated American life. This report documents how thousands of unemployed artists received government support to create works of art that remain an enduring part of the country’s cultural heritage. For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document is a treasure trove of information on the impact of public arts funding, the development of regional American art, and the careers of artists who later gained national and international recognition.
For educators, historians, and art enthusiasts, this document provides:
✔️ A comprehensive record of WPA-supported murals, paintings, sculptures, and prints.
✔️ A list of notable artists and their contributions to American art.
✔️ Evidence of how public art projects expanded artistic opportunities beyond major cities.
✔️ Insights into how WPA programs fostered American artistic identity during economic hardship.
📌 This report underscores the importance of government support for the arts, demonstrating how public investment can sustain creativity while making art more accessible to the public.
📚 The WPA American Guide Series: Preserving History, Culture & Travel Writing in the 1930s
The WPA Federal Writers' Project (FWP), through the American Guide Series, created one of the most comprehensive and ambitious documentation efforts in U.S. history. Written by thousands of unemployed writers, researchers, and editors, these guides covered every state, major cities, regions, and cultural groups—offering a deeply researched, literary, and historical portrait of the United States during the 1930s.
For teachers, students, genealogists, historians, and researchers, this report highlights:
✔️ How the FWP preserved historical, cultural, and geographical records of every U.S. state.
✔️ Notable authors who contributed to the project and went on to literary success.
✔️ The impact of the American Guide Series on travel literature and cultural history.
✔️ How the WPA guides helped shape modern tourism, historical preservation, and local storytelling.
📌 This document is a goldmine for those studying American history, regional identity, folklore, and literature—as well as those tracing ancestors who contributed to WPA projects.
🌪️ The WPA’s Forgotten Heroes: How Workers Became America’s First Disaster Responders
The WPA Disaster Relief efforts represent one of the most crucial and life-saving contributions of the Works Progress Administration. When America faced floods, tornadoes, droughts, hurricanes, and wildfires, WPA workers became a mobile army of emergency responders, rebuilding shattered communities, distributing supplies, and saving lives.
For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this report highlights:
✔️ The WPA’s role in disaster response and emergency management during the 1930s.
✔️ How thousands of unemployed workers found a sense of purpose through public service.
✔️ The sheer scale of devastation caused by natural disasters and the resilience of WPA workers.
✔️ Valuable genealogical and historical insights into affected communities and families.
📌 This document is a testament to the power of community-driven recovery efforts and provides an important perspective on the history of disaster relief in the United States.
🏛️ Beyond the WPA: The Other New Deal Agencies That Rebuilt 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.
📖 Noteworthy Sections & Most Engaging Content
📜 1. Transmittal Letter from WPA Administrator Harry L. Hopkins
One of the most compelling elements of this report is Harry L. Hopkins’ letter, which provides a personal and administrative perspective on the WPA’s objectives, struggles, and achievements.
Hopkins emphasizes:
✅ The economic necessity of the WPA during the Great Depression.
✅ The balancing act between providing jobs and ensuring meaningful public projects.
✅ The WPA’s commitment to improving American infrastructure and culture.
🔥 Why It’s Engaging:
📌 This first-hand account from one of FDR’s closest advisors makes the report feel more personal and urgent. It reflects how New Deal programs were more than just government policy—they were a fight for survival.
🛣️ 2. Roads & Bridges: The Backbone of America’s Infrastructure
✔️ Nearly one-third of WPA projects were dedicated to road and bridge construction.
✔️ This section showcases the development of highways, rural roads, sidewalks, and bridges, allowing isolated communities to connect with economic centers.
✔️ WPA road projects were critical in modernizing America’s transportation network and ensuring economic mobility.
🔥 Why It’s Engaging:
📌 Imagine a world without modern roads and bridges. This section demonstrates the sheer scale of the WPA’s effort, showing how millions of Americans benefited from safer, more accessible roads.
🏞️ 3. Parks, Playgrounds, & Recreation Facilities
✔️ Over 11% of WPA projects focused on parks, playgrounds, golf courses, ski trails, and recreational areas.
✔️ These projects provided both employment and permanent spaces for leisure, fitness, and outdoor activities.
✔️ WPA parks remain some of the most visited public spaces today.
🔥 Why It’s Engaging:
📌 The WPA wasn’t just about roads and bridges—it was about building spaces for Americans to live, play, and thrive. This section is fascinating because many of these parks and playgrounds are still in use today!
🏛️ 4. Public Buildings: Schools, Courthouses, & Community Centers
✔️ The WPA built or renovated over 48,000 public buildings, including:
🔹 Schools
🔹 Hospitals
🔹 Libraries
🔹 Courthouses
🔹 Fire Stations
🔹 Municipal Offices
✔️ This was one of the most impactful WPA initiatives, ensuring that millions of Americans had access to public education, safety, and government services.
🔥 Why It’s Engaging:
📌 This section showcases how the WPA improved daily life for millions of Americans. The long-lasting impact on education and public services is still felt today.
💧 5. Water, Sewer, & Sanitation Improvements
✔️ Clean water and sanitation projects accounted for nearly 10% of WPA spending.
✔️ Key improvements included:
🔹 Water treatment plants
🔹 Reservoirs
🔹 Sewers and drainage systems
🔹 Fire hydrants & improved urban water supplies
✔️ These projects dramatically improved public health, reducing disease outbreaks and providing modern sanitation to rural and urban areas alike.
🔥 Why It’s Engaging:
📌 Before the WPA, many small towns had no running water or proper sewage disposal. This section highlights a public health revolution, showing how New Deal projects saved lives.
🛩️ 6. Aviation & Airports
✔️ The WPA played a huge role in advancing American aviation, constructing and upgrading runways, hangars, airfields, and control towers.
✔️ This helped boost commercial air travel and military preparedness.
🔥 Why It’s Engaging:
📌 This section connects the WPA to modern aviation, showing how the program helped shape air travel as we know it today!
🏛️ 7. Historic Preservation: Saving America’s Heritage
✔️ The WPA restored hundreds of historic sites, including:
🔹 Independence Hall
🔹 Fort Niagara
🔹 The Statue of Liberty
✔️ These efforts ensured the survival of many national treasures that might have been lost.
🔥 Why It’s Engaging:
📌 Imagine if America’s most famous landmarks had crumbled into ruins! This section shows how the WPA saved historic sites that are now part of the nation’s identity.
🎨 8. Arts, Music, Theater, & Literature
✔️ The WPA funded thousands of artists, musicians, writers, and performers, creating:
🎭 Live theater performances
🎵 Public concerts
🖼️ Murals in schools and post offices
📚 The American Guide Series, which documented the nation’s history and geography
🔥 Why It’s Engaging:
📌 The WPA wasn’t just about roads and bridges—it preserved American culture and gave opportunities to creative workers. This section showcases the deep cultural impact of the New Deal.
🌪️ 9. Disaster Relief: The WPA’s Forgotten Heroes
✔️ WPA workers became first responders in disasters like:
🔹 Floods
🔹 Tornadoes
🔹 Earthquakes
🔹 Hurricanes
✔️ They provided emergency aid, built shelters, and cleaned up devastated areas.
🔥 Why It’s Engaging:
📌 This section shows the WPA as a lifesaving force, not just an employment program. The heroic efforts of workers during disasters are often overlooked in history.
📌 Final Thoughts: Why This Report Matters
🔹 For Teachers & Students: A primary source on the Great Depression, ideal for research on New Deal policies, infrastructure, and labor history.
🔹 For Genealogists: Tracing ancestors? This report provides insight into where and how people worked during the WPA era.
🔹 For Historians: A detailed breakdown of the WPA’s real-world impact, with fascinating statistics and narratives.
📌 This document is more than a government report—it’s a testament to resilience, innovation, and the power of public investment in a time of crisis.
🚀 The WPA didn’t just build America—it transformed it forever.
