🛠️ So The Public May Know: How the WPA Transformed Southern California During the Great Depression

📌 Discover how the Works Progress Administration (WPA) shaped Southern California through airports, roads, schools, libraries, flood control, and social programs. This 1941 guide details WPA projects, funding, and their lasting impact on American infrastructure and community welfare.

Front Cover, So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153b3ba248

📖 "So The Public May Know – WPA – 1941"

🛠️ A Comprehensive Overview of WPA Projects in Southern California

"So The Public May Know" is a detailed and structured directory outlining the various WPA projects operating in Southern California. Rather than a historical narrative or promotional piece, this document serves as an informational guide for local governments, potential sponsors, and the public to understand how the WPA functioned in their region. It covers public infrastructure projects, professional and service initiatives, and community programs, showcasing the depth and impact of the WPA's work.

For teachers, students, genealogists, and historians, this document provides a goldmine of primary source material on government-sponsored employment and community development during the Great Depression.

In no way does this little booklet purport to outline complete information or Instructions relative to sponsorship of W.P.A. projects.

It has been prepared primarily aa a directory of activities carried on by the various projects of the Operations and Professional & Service projects Divisions of the Work Projects Administration in Southern California and as such, makes no pretension of being a comprehensive manual.

However, it is hoped that the information contained herein will assist potential sponsors in determining the eligibility of themselves and their proposed projects for consideration by this organization.

As a supplementary service to this booklet, both the Planning and Engineering Section of the Operations Division, and the Professional & Service Projects Division of the Work Projects Administration are prepared to assist potential sponsors or their representatives in making a preliminary analysis of any specific project in order to determine its eligibility, and to suggest desirable changes in scope, design and specifications prior to formal presentation.

This service often saves time on more detail studies at a later date and serves to expedite preparation of application for W.P.A. assistance.

DEFINITION OF "PROJECT"

A. W.P.A. project may be defined as any useful public work on which the Federal Government (through the W.P.A.) , and some tax supported public body have agreed to cooperate in order to provide work for the needy unemployed. It;is an enterprise which the W.P.A. helps to carry out and which, when completed, belongs to the community or State.

DEFINITION OF "LEGAL SPONSOR"

A legal sponsor is a political subdivision such as a City, County or State, or other governmental agency which has legal authority to do the work set forth in the W.P.A. project proposal.

ELIGIBILITY OF A PROJECT

So many and varying conditions and qualifications govern the eligibility of the individual projects of both the Operations and the Professional & Service Projects Divisions of the Work Projects Administration, that it would be futile to attempt to clearly classify them in the limited space allotted to this subject. Suffice it to say, project eligibility among many other qualifications, embraces matters concerning its locality; legal authority of sponsor, its worth to the public, community needs and availability of unemployed eligible workers.

FINANCING OF PROJECT

Since the W.P.A. must use its funds largely for wages, the sponsor must agree to provide most of the necessary materials and equipment. Detailed information as to the extent to which the W.P.A. may assist in financing projects will be made available on application to the Planning and Engineering Section, Work Projects Administration, at Los Angeles.

WPA Airport Projects: Work of These Projects Consists of the Development and Improvement of Airport Facilities, Including the Clearing, Grading, and Surfacing of Landing Fields; Dredging Seaplane Anchorages, Constructing Hangars, Control Towers, Seaplane Ramps, and Other Essential Operations in This Specialized Field of Construction. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153b5ce878

WPA Engineering Survey Projects: Engineering Surveys, Including Such Types of Work As Geodetic Control, Topographic, Boundary, Riparian and Stream, Cross Sections and Grades, Survey of Underground Structures, and General Engineering Mapping, Are Conducted by These Essential Projects. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153bd77324

WPA Highway, Road, and Street Projects: Devoted to the Construction of Highways, Roads, and Streets; to Aid Counties, Communities, and Districts With Their Needed Primary and Secondary Road and Residential Street Improvements; to Build Farm-To-Market Roads and Improve Transportation Facilities in General; and to Provide Needed Jobs for Needy Persons. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153c53ed4c

WPA Public Building Projects: There Are No Busier Projects Than Those Engaged in Constructing Public Buildings Other Than Schools. in Addition to This New Construction, Such Work As the Demolition of Obsolete Structures, Remodeling, and Rehabilitation of Town Halls, Courthouses, City Halls, Institutional Buildings, State Hospitals, City Garages, Warehouses, Fire Stations, Exhibit Buildings, Libraries, Recreational Buildings, Is Also Carried On. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153c83b444

WPA Parks and Recreation Projects: Projects to Construct, Improve, and Rehabilitate Parks, Recreational and Public Athletic Facilities and to Develop Into Lasting Civic Assets Hitherto Unimproved and Unsightly Parks and Other Areas; to Construct Game Areas Such As Tennis Courts, Horseshoe Rings, Handball, and Volleyball Courts, Etc.; to Grade, Terrace, Landscape Park Grounds; to Build Clubhouses, Golf Courses, Swimming Pools, Bathhouses, Grandstands, Auditoriums, and Amphitheaters. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153c8cf854

WPA Sanitary Sewer Projects: Work Consists of Providing Sanitary Sewer Construction, Replacing Cesspools and Septic Tanks With Proper Sanitary Sewer Facilities, and Otherwise Assisting in Correcting Unhealthy Conditions Occasioned by Faulty or Obsolete Sewage Systems. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153c9412b4

WPA Public School Projects: These Projects Are Assigned to Aid Overburdened School Districts With Their Respective Building Programs and to Provide Work for the Unemployed in the Skilled Building Trades. a Portion of the Work of This Project Consists of Demolishing Old Buildings, Rehabilitating, Modernizing, and Strengthening Existing Structures, Including Installing Seismic Bracing, Building New Classrooms, Cafeterias, Auditoriums, and Gymnasiums, and Making Miscellaneous Ground Improvements Such As Landscaping, Paving of Walks and Drives, and Constructing Facilities for Athletic Events. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153ce383c5

WPA Storm Drain, Flood Control, and Conservation Projects: These Projects Originated to Build Beneficial Flood Protection and Storm Drainage Systems to Protect Life and Property, and They Have Proven Their Worth Many Times Since Their Inception. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153cef3c65

WPA Water Supply Projects: These Projects Install, Improve, and Extend Publicly Owned Water Distribution Systems, Including Storage and Production Facilities; Improve and Construct Storage and Equalizing Reservoirs and Pumping Plants; and Install Needed Service Facilities. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153cf94015

Miscellaneous WPA Projects: Diversified Projects With Unusual Features or Lacking a Sufficient Number of Any One Type to Justify Separate Classifications Are Grouped Under This Heading. Included Among These Are Some Vital Functions of the Operations Program, Viz., the Emergency Flood Relief Project and Other Similar Projects That Directly Affect the Safety and Welfare of Communities in Which They Are Located. More Than 70 Miscellaneous Projects Have Been Placed in Operation, Doing Highly Constructive Work, Offering Invaluable Services, and Giving Employment to Hundreds of Needy Persons. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153cfa55f4

HISTORICAL RECORDS SURVEY PROJECT

A project to cooperate in the inventorying of Federal, State, County, City, and Church records, and to calendar manuscripts located in libraries and other depositories. Employs both sexes.

HOUSEHOLD WORKERS TRAINING PROJECT

A project for training in all types of housework, except the care of children, for underprivileged girls. Employs women exclusively.

HOUSEKEEPING AIDES PROJECT

A project to furnish assistance in general housework, care of children and simple home care of the sick and to aged and chronically ill in homes of the needy. Employs women exclusively.

WPA Adult Education Projects: A Project to Provide, Coordinate, and Supervise Educational Activities for Underprivileged Adults and Others in General Adult, Literacy, Vocational, Parent, and Workers’ Education. Employs Both Sexes. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153d2abd07

WPA Art Projects: A Project to Create, Provide, and Distribute Works of Art in All Media, Teach Art to Underprivileged Groups, and Prepare Books, Brochures, Monographs, and Catalogs for Art Activities. Employs Both Sexes. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153d504304

WPA Canning Projects: A Project to Donate Surplus Foodstuffs or Garden Produce. the Products of Wpa Canning Projects Shall Be Used on Wpa School Lunch, Nursery Schools, Household Workers’ Training Projects, or Housekeeping Aide Training Centers or Distributed Free of Charge to Tax-Supported Institutions or Directly to People in Need. Employs Mostly Women. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153eaa8152

WPA City & County Library Projects: A Project Which Performs Duties Supplementary to the Regular Work of City and County Library Employees. Employs Mostly Women. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153ec8c217

WPA Museum Exhibits & Models Projects: This Project Provides Workers With the Opportunity to Preserve and Arrange Museum Exhibits, Collections, and Models for Publicly Owned Museums. Employs Both Sexes. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153edd7ecd

WPA Health Service Projects: A Project to Promote Health Services for School Children, Establish or Furnish Professional and Nonprofessional Assistance to Medical or Dental Clinics, Hospitals, or Other Institutions, and Provide Free Medical And/or Nursing Services of Certain Types. Employs Mostly Women. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153ef23c17

WPA Juvenile Betterment Projects: A Project to Assist Coordinating Councils in Their Programs to Improve Community Conditions Affecting Juveniles. Employs Both Sexes. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153f243b5b

WPA Music Projects: A Project Designed to Preserve Socially Valuable Skills of Unemployed Musicians; to Retrain and Reorient Skills so That Their Possessors May Find Permanent Reemployment off the Government Rolls; to Provide Needed Services for Both Government and Non-Government Use in Developing an Efficient, Coordinated Community Program. Employs Both Men and Women. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153f7af673

WPA Educational Models & Exhibits Projects: A Project to Prepare Models, Exhibits, Film Strips, Wall Charts, Maps, and Other Aids for Classroom Instruction or Other Educational Purposes. Employs Both Sexes. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153f7d0e40

WPA Nursery School Projects: A Project That Furnishes Workers to Maintain and Operate Free Nursery Schools for Children of Preschool Age From Needy Families and Other Low-Income Groups. It Also Provides a Program of Education for the Parents of the Nursery School Child That Will Develop a Better Home Life Environment for All Family Members. Employs Women Exclusively. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153f7defb7

WPA Plant Propagation Projects: A Project to Propagate Annuals, Shrubs, and Trees to Beautify Roadsides, Public Buildings, Parks, Etc. Projects Are Usually Co-Sponsored by City or County Park Commissions. Employs Mostly Women. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153f9931f0

WPA Records Projects: A Project That Serves Federal, State, County, or Municipal Government Agencies. This Project Provides Workers With the Ability to Install New Office Records Files and Rehabilitate, Rearrange, and Index Existing Files to Enhance Their Availability and Expedite Their Handling. Employs Both Sexes. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153f9953c9

WPA Recreation Projects: This Project Is Designed to Employ Certified Persons Qualified to Provide Leadership in Organizing Recreational Activities and Directing Group Participation. It Primarily Employs Men. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 153fc5045a

WPA Research Projects: A Project That Conducts Research in Economics, Sociology, and the Physical Sciences for Federal, State, County, or Municipal Governmental Agencies. Employs Both Sexes. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 15401d7995

WPA School Library Projects: A Project to Provide Workers With the Opportunity to Organize and Operate Library Services for Public Schools. Its Program Includes All Phases of General Library Work Except for the Binding and Repairing of School Textbooks. Employs Mostly Women. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 15402f45c1

WPA School Lunch Projects: A Project to Assist in Preparing and Serving Free Hot Lunches to Needy And/or Malnourished Children and Children From Low-Income Groups. Employs Mostly Women. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 1540ac8878

WPA Self-Help Cooperative Projects: A Project to Provide Needy Key Personnel (Primarily Men) Not Directly Engaged in Production to Manage, Supervise, and Assist in Self-Help Co-Operative Units. Employs Only Key Personnel - Both Sexes. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 1540d585ee

WPA Sewing Projects: A Project That Makes Clothing, Household Articles, Cloth Toys, Rag Rugs, Surgical Dressings, and First Aid Supplies, Renovates and Repairs Donated Clothing for Those in Need or Specific Public Institutions. It Primarily Employs Women. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 1540d85781

WPA Shoe & Furniture Repair Projects: A Project to Repair and Renovate Shoes, Toys, and Furniture for Free Distribution to Those in Need. Employs Mostly Men. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 1540d9273d

WPA Surplus Commodities Distribution Projects: A Project That Receives, Transports, Stores, Handles, Packages, and Accounts for Food, Clothing, or Other Surplus Commodities Allocated or Donated by Federal, State, or Other Agencies for Distribution to Relief Clients, Public Agencies, or Institutions. Employs Mostly Wen. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 1540e3007e

WPA Toy Loan Projects: A Project to Establish and Operate Toy Lending Centers .... and Perform Toy Repair Work Incidental Thereto. Employs Mostly Women. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 1540f54279

WPA Writers' Projects: A Project That Produces Volumes on Local History, Art, Folklore, and Other Subjects Together With Other Material Indigenous to the State or Any Sub-Division Thereof. Employs Both Men and Women. So The Public May Know, Federal Works Agency, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, 1939. GGA Image ID # 15410262d3

Federal Works Agency, So The Public May Know, Work Projects Administration, Southern California, Document # 507, September 1941.

Relevance & Importance

📜 Why This Document Matters

✔ For Historians & Researchers

🔹 Provides a direct look at how New Deal programs functioned at the regional level, offering an administrative perspective rather than just policy discussions.

🔹 Offers an in-depth look at government partnerships with cities, counties, and states to develop infrastructure and provide social services.

✔ For Genealogists & Family Historians

🔹 Lists specific projects and work categories, helping to trace ancestors who worked on WPA projects in Southern California.

🔹 If a family member was a teacher, artist, musician, librarian, or construction worker during this time, this document may provide clues about their work.

✔ For Teachers & Students

🔹 A valuable primary source for classroom discussions on the New Deal and public works programs.

🔹 Demonstrates the scope of government intervention in economic recovery and its lasting impact on infrastructure and public services.

📌 For educators, this document is a clear example of how government relief programs were implemented on the ground—from highways to schools, libraries to toy lending centers!

📌 "Definition of a Project & Legal Sponsorship" – How WPA Projects Were Organized

✔ WPA projects were not just federal programs—they were joint ventures between the federal government and local entities.

✔ Only tax-supported agencies could sponsor a project, ensuring that WPA efforts benefited the entire community rather than private businesses.

✔ This section highlights the strategic approach to funding, where the federal government covered wages while local governments provided materials and equipment.

📌 This section is crucial in understanding how the WPA was structured as a partnership rather than a full federal takeover of local development.

📌 "Operations Division" – Building America’s Infrastructure

✔ Airports, roads, schools, parks, flood control systems, and water supply projects were a major focus of WPA efforts.

✔ The WPA didn’t just build— they improved and modernized existing structures, such as retrofitting schools with seismic bracing and replacing obsolete sewage systems.

✔ Flood control and storm drainage projects were essential in Southern California, a region prone to flash floods and water management issues.

📌 This section highlights how the WPA was not just about temporary jobs—it was about long-term infrastructure investment that still benefits communities today.

📌 "Professional and Service Projects Division" – Beyond Construction

✔ Historical Records Survey – One of the most important WPA projects for historians and genealogists, this effort cataloged government, church, and library records, many of which might have been lost without WPA intervention.

✔ Adult Education Programs – Provided literacy and vocational education for underprivileged adults, helping them re-enter the workforce.

✔ Library & Museum Projects – Expanded public access to books and historical exhibits, ensuring that culture and education were not abandoned during economic hardship.

✔ Health Service Projects – Free medical and dental clinics, school health programs, and nursing assistance for the poor were a critical part of WPA efforts.

✔ Music & Art Projects – Supported musicians, artists, and writers in producing educational materials, public art, and performances.

📌 This section demonstrates how the WPA was not just about manual labor—it also focused on cultural preservation, education, and social welfare.

📌 "Special Community Support Projects" – Direct Aid to Families

✔ School Lunch Program – Ensured that malnourished children received free meals in schools.

✔ Nursery Schools – Provided early childhood education and parental guidance programs for low-income families.

✔ Housekeeping & Home Care Aides – Offered support for elderly and disabled individuals, showing that WPA programs extended beyond infrastructure to community care.

✔ Toy Loan Project – A fascinating initiative that allowed children from poor families to borrow toys from lending centers, ensuring that childhood joy was not lost during the Depression.

✔ Sewing & Canning Projects – Women were employed to produce clothing, food, and household goods for distribution to the needy.

📌 These projects reveal the WPA’s social impact beyond employment, showing how it helped maintain family stability and child welfare during economic turmoil.

🖼 Noteworthy Images & Their Significance

📸 "WPA Airport Projects"

🔹 Showcases the modernization of aviation infrastructure, reflecting the WPA’s role in shaping air travel expansion.

📸 "WPA Public School Projects"

🔹 Highlights the construction and seismic retrofitting of schools, showing how WPA efforts directly benefited future generations.

📸 "WPA Sanitary Sewer Projects"

🔹 Illustrates critical public health improvements, demonstrating how WPA projects prevented disease and improved sanitation.

📸 "WPA Toy Loan Project"

🔹 A rare and heartwarming insight into how the WPA cared for children, showing that the program was not just about economic recovery but also about social well-being.

📌 These images serve as compelling evidence of how WPA programs touched nearly every aspect of daily life in America.

Perceived Bias & Perspective

📌 Potential Bias

🔹 The document is entirely administrative and promotional, presenting the WPA’s work in an overwhelmingly positive light.

🔹 There is no discussion of challenges, controversies, or inefficiencies within WPA projects.

🔹 The political opposition to the WPA is not mentioned, even though many critics at the time argued it was wasteful or overly bureaucratic.

📌 While the document provides a valuable snapshot of WPA projects, it must be paired with critical analysis of its broader social and political context to understand its full impact.

Final Thoughts: A Testament to the WPA’s Legacy

"So The Public May Know" is a crucial document for understanding the local impact of the WPA, offering a rare administrative look at how projects were organized and funded.

While biased in its glowing portrayal of WPA success, it remains an invaluable resource for historians, educators, and genealogists tracing the legacy of New Deal programs. 🏗️📚🛠️