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An inspirational collection: WPA Posters

Even if you know nothing about the Work Projects Administration (WPA) and the posters created under it in the 30s and 40s, you have surely witnessed the results. These images have had an influence on generations of graphic designers. From awful to awesome, they are certainly worth a look.

As the Library of Congress site describes it, "The Work Projects Administration (WPA) Poster Collection consists of 907 posters produced from 1936 to 1943 by various branches of the WPA. Of the 2,000 WPA posters known to exist, the Library of Congress's collection of more than 900 is the largest. The posters were designed to publicize exhibits, community activities, theatrical productions, and health and educational programs in seventeen states and the District of Columbia, with the strongest representation from California, Illinois, New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The results of one of the first U.S. Government programs to support the arts, the posters were added to the Library's holdings in the 1940s."

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The WPA Poster collection at the Library of Congress...

Here is one way this type of resource is being used. This organization has cleaned up the scans and is offering them for resale...

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