Treasury Section of Fine Arts (TSFA) Sites

“Although the ROD Building was a municipal building, the District of Columbia's peculiar sovereignty status required that the federal government approve its construction, and that the Treasury Department Section of Fine Art play a major role in its art program… The Treasury Sections December 1, 1942 announcement of the ROD Building mural competition was a term paper-like, ten page document that required artists to submit their entries unsigned for anonymous judging A press release announced that the winners wide geographic dispersion and almost equal female-male ratio, as well as the inclusion of accomplished African-American painter William Edouard Scott, proved the fairness...

“Although the ROD Building was a municipal building, the District of Columbia's peculiar sovereignty status required that the federal government approve its construction, and that the Treasury Department Section of Fine Art play a major role in its art program… The Treasury Sections December 1, 1942 announcement of the ROD Building mural competition was a term paper-like, ten page document that required artists to submit their entries unsigned for anonymous judging… A press release announced that the winners wide geographic dispersion and almost equal female-male ratio, as well as the inclusion of accomplished African-American painter William Edouard Scott, proved the fairness of...

“Although the ROD Building was a municipal building, the District of Columbia's peculiar sovereignty status required that the federal government approve its construction, and that the Treasury Department Section of Fine Art play a major role in its art program… The Treasury Sections December 1, 1942 announcement of the ROD Building mural competition was a term paper-like, ten page document that required artists to submit their entries unsigned for anonymous judging… A press release announced that the winners wide geographic dispersion and almost equal female-male ratio, as well as the inclusion of accomplished African-American painter William Edouard Scott, proved the fairness of...

“Although the ROD Building was a municipal building, the District of Columbia's peculiar sovereignty status required that the federal government approve its construction, and that the Treasury Department Section of Fine Art play a major role in its art program… The Treasury Sections December 1, 1942 announcement of the ROD Building mural competition was a term paper-like, ten page document that required artists to submit their entries unsigned for anonymous judging… A press release announced that the winners wide geographic dispersion and almost equal female-male ratio, as well as the inclusion of accomplished African-American painter William Edouard Scott, proved the fairness of...

This 1938 Section of Fine Arts mural"Miners at Work" by Jacob Elshin was originally installed in the Renton post office. Elshin "actually visited underground mines and sketched miners at work for his mural in Renton, Washington, that depicted this historic aspect of the city." (tfaoi.com)

Completed by Paul Rohland in 1940, "Dogwood and Azaleas" was originally installed in the Decatur, GA post office. The above photo dates to when it resided there, before being moved to the Federal Building in Atlanta.

This oil-on-canvas mural "General Sully at Yellowstone" was painted by J. K. Ralston in 1942 in what was then the Sidney Post Office. It was funded by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. The building is now used by the Richland County Extension Office and is known as the the Donald G. Nutter Building. The post office moved to a new building in 1987.

The historic former New Deal post office and federal building—now the Richmond County Administration Building—in Rockingham, North Carolina received an example of New Deal artwork upon its completion. Commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts, Edward Laning painted this triptych, "The Post as Connecting Thread in Human Life," in 1937. The work can be found n the lobby near the building's entrance.

The former Rincon Annex post office (now Rincon Center) has an extraordinary set of murals, 27 large panels along the upper wall of the lobby of the old post office.  They tell the "History of California" from the Spanish conquest of California to the founding of the United Nations in the city at the end of the Second World War. These murals are the work of Anton Refregier, an artist with a leftist bent and a strong streak of independence.  They are an astonishing accomplishment in terms of scale, historical vision and artistic style, which is quite unlike most mural art of...

The four large granite bas reliefs installed along the side of the William Penn Annex/Robert N. C. Nix Federal Building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were carved by Edmond R. Amateis. They are collectively titled "Mail Delivery – North, South, East, West," and were created in 1941 with funding from the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.

The two large granite reliefs "Law" and "Justice", as well as two large stone eagles, were carved by Donald De Lue. They were commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts in 1940. They are installed around the exterior of the William Penn Annex/Robert N. C. Nix Federal Building.

"New Deal mural entitled "Landing of Swedes at The Rocks in Wilmington" painted in 1938 by Albert Pels. At the time it was painted, it hung behind the judge's bench in the US Courtroom of the Wilmington Post Office and Courthouse building. With the construction of a new US Courthouse, the mural was removed to the Rodney Square Post Office in Wilmington."

Julius Woeltz painted this 12' x 6' oil on canvas mural, entitled "The Bauxite Mines," in 1942 for the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. The mural was originally installed in the Benton post office and it now hangs in the Saline County Courthouse. From the Benton Courier: "The mural's early history is profiled in a publication, titled 'Postmasters: Arkansas Post Office Art in the New Deal,' by John Purifoy Gill. "In the publication, Gill notes that Arkansas' bauxite mines were a natural inspiration for Julius Woeltz, a University of Texas art professor, who received an invitation to paint the mural just five...

Albert Stewart completed four bronze reliefs showing the "Minting Process" at the San Francisco Mint in 1937 with Treasury Section of Fine Arts funds. Stewart also completed two sculptures, entitled "Eagles," for the Mint.  

Wendell Jones painted this Section of Fine Arts oil on canvas mural, "Farmer Family" for the Johnson City post office in 1940. "Farmer Family" was moved from the old post office when a new one was built and now hangs in the Sherrod Library on the East Tennessee State University campus. The figure below the cow's tail is a self-portrait of the artist. The Red Setter was Jones's dog and the Irish Setter belonged to friend George Ludin, another prominent artists.  

This mural "Local Industries" by Natalie Henry was completed with support from the Treasury Section of Fine Arts in 1940. It was originally in the Springville Post Office, but it is now on display at the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History. From the University of Central Arkansas: "Natalie Henry was commissioned to create a mural for Springdale, Arkansas as a result of an Honorable Mention in a Section of Fine Arts competition. She visited town and observed that most farms within the area had vineyards and orchards and that the houses were quite well maintained. She used her father, brother, and...

This 1938 Section of Fine Arts oil-on-canvas mural "Local Pursuits" by Ambrose Patterson was painted for the then Mount Vernon post office. The building (and mural) are now part of Skagit Valley College's Business Resource Center. “Born in Australia, Patterson studied in Europe before moving to the United States. In 1919, he sounded the School of Painting and Design at the University of Washington. The mural “Local Pursuits” highlights Skagit County’s agricultural industries, including dairy.” (depts.washington.edu)  

Carl Mose created two sculptures depicting "Communication" and "Land" for the (now former) Salina courthouse and post office.  

Hans E. Prehn created this plaster sculpture "Saw Mill," financed by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts, for the old post office. It was moved to the Cotton Museum in the early 2000's and is not viewable in the front lobby.

Ethel Magafan painted this mural, entitled "The Horse Corral," in 1942 for the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.

This 1941 mural by Victor Arnautoff depicts "South San Francisco, Past and Present." The 3-panel oil on canvas was funded by the Section of Fine Arts in 1941.

The mural "Harvesting Tobacco" by Roy Schat was commissioned by the federal Treasury Section of Fine Arts funds. Originally created for the then-new Whiteville post office, the work was completed in 1941. Since the post office's relocation the mural is now on display at Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, NC.

Philadelphia's historic Southwark Station post office contains two Section of Fine Arts murals by Robert E. Larter. The oil on canvas murals were painted in 1938 and entitled "Iron Plantation Near Southwark - 1800" and "Shipyards at Southwark - 1800." : In 1938, the Section of Fine Arts commissioned the 26 year old artist Robert E. Larter to paint two oil-on-canvas murals on opposite ends of the post office’s interior. They are respectively titled “Iron Plantation Near Southwark – 1800″ and “Shipyards at Southwark-1800.” The shipyard mural is inaccessible to the public, since the post office built a wall of mailboxes two feet...

"Philadelphia artist Walter Gardner (1902-1996) painted “The Streets of Philadelphia” in 1937 for the Spring Garden Post Office, one of many across the country built as part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal.  The painting depicts a bustling street scene with workers unloading goods in front of the Merchant Exchange on Dock Street.  Murals like this one represent an important chapter in American history, when federal policies encouraged the production of art “for the masses” to combat the economic and social challenges wrought by the Great Depression.  Gardner was an English-born painter who emigrated to Philadelphia as a teenager and studied...

The post office contains a 1942 Section of Fine Arts mural entitled "History of Squirrel Hill." The oil on canvas mural was painted by Alan Thompson.

This oil-on-canvas mural, entitled "Builders of Salem," was painted in 1942 by Andrew McD. Vincent, with funding from the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. The original post office lobby was subdivided into Conference Rooms A & B when the building became the Executive Building, and the mural now hangs in Conference Room A (https://www.oregon.gov/DAS/EAM/pages/building_info/executive.aspx).

The Stockton Federal Building contains two 1936 murals funded by the Section of Fine Arts. This mural "Modern Transport of the Mail" by Frank Bergman is an 8' x 12' oil on canvas depicting the delivery of mail.

The Stockton Federal Building contains two 1936 murals funded by the Section of Fine Arts. This oil on canvas mural "Mail And Travel By Stage" by Jose Moya del Pino depicts stage coach travel in early California.

The Mary E. Switzer Building was originally built for the Railroad Retirement Board in 1940. The building was constructed in conjunction with the original Social Security headquarters, now the Wilbur J. Cohen building.  The two stand across C street from each other.   The RRB/Switzer building is smaller and its ornamentation is simpler than that of the SSA/Cohen building.  Its only artworks are the granite bas-reliefs over the entrances by Robert Kittredge, "Railroad Employment" and "Railroad Retirement" (both 1941).  These works were commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. Both the Social Security Administration and the Railroad Retirement Board had to give...

This cast-metal portrait bust of Admiral Albert Gleaves by Belle Kinney was funded by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. It was originally installed in the old Nashville U.S. Courthouse & Post Office building, but now resides at the Tennessee State Capitol.

The Terminal Annex Federal Building contains two oil on canvas murals by Peter Hurd: "Pioneer Home Builders" and “Airmail Over Texas.” They were painted in 1940-1941 with funding from the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. From an entry on the website Unvisited Dallas by Noah Jeppson: Soon after the Terminal Annex was completed, three murals were commissioned and a national design competition was held. From an entry field of 149 applicants regionalist painter Peter Hurd — who rose to national fame in the 1930s — won the anonymous competition (the winning designs were displayed with all other entries at the Dallas Museum...

This bas relief "Cotton and Tobacco" by Paul Rudin was completed with the help of Treasury Section of Fine Arts funds in 1939. The Daily Record Newspaper office was previously the town's post office.

The former post office originally contained three oil on canvas murals by Edith Hamlin, painted in 1938 under the auspices of the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. "Days of First Railroad" and "Spaniards" still hang in the building, while a third mural, "Overland Pioneers," is missing.

The Transylvania County Library in Brevard, North Carolina houses a 1941 Section of Fine Arts mural commissioned for the city's old post office: "Good News," painted by Pietro Lazzari. The medium is glazed tempera. The mural remained in its original location, which served as a post office until 1972 and then the now-former Transylvania County Library building, until 2006.

The historic federal building (now U.S. Bankruptcy Courthouse) in Tallahassee, Florida houses an example of New Deal artwork: an eight-panel mural titled "History of Florida." Wikipedia: "The murals were funded by the Treasury Department's Section of Painting and Sculpture, a Depression-era program ... Hungarian-born American Edward “Buk” Ulreich (1889-1966) won a competition to paint the murals, which he completed in 1939." GSA description of the eight panels: 1) Five Standards on Parade shows the flags that have flown over Florida: Spanish, French, English, Confederate, and American. 2) Aborigine depicts the customs and life of Florida's native inhabitants at the time of early exploration. 3) Spain's influence...

Artist Tom Lea was commissioned in 1938 to paint the "Pass of the North" mural for the Federal Courthouse in El Paso. The Treasury Section of Fine Arts funded the project. Artist Milford Zornes spoke about Tom Lea's art at the El Paso Courthouse: “Both are very fine and an inspiration to me. The Tom Lea especially pleased me. It was in beautiful color harmony with the room. So beautiful and skillfully painted. To me the idea of going through a country, feeling its characteristic personality, then being able to see in the vicinity the work of a painter who has interpreted...

This oil on canvas by Edward Biberman entitled "Los Angeles - Prehistoric and Spanish Colonial" (1938) was commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts at the time of the building's construction. It was removed from the building when the post office moved out in 1965, but was restored in 2003. A second mural by Biberman, "Creative Man" is still in storage.

This limestone sculpture, "Law" (1941), depicting a young woman with a tablet stands across the lobby from James Hansen's "Young Lincoln." The informational plaque near the sculpture reads: "The Fine Arts Section of the U.S. Department of the Treasury commissioned this 8' sculpture by Archibald Garner (1904-1969) in 1939, based on an open and anonymous competition available to all sculptors west of the Mississippi for the decoration of the Los Angeles Post Office and Courthouse lobby. The sculpture was installed in 1941 and is carved from one block of Indiana limestone, primarily by hand. Inscribed on the tablet which the figure...

This limestone sculpture, "Young Lincoln" (1941), by James Hansen depicts a young, shirtless, pensive Lincoln holding a book. It stands across the lobby from Garner's sculpture of "Law." The informational plaque describes the statue: "The Fine Arts Section of the U.S. Department of the Treasury commissioned this 8' sculpture Young Lincoln by James Hansen (1917-) in 1939 based on an open and anonymous competition available to all sculptors west of the Mississippi for the decoration of the Los Angeles Post Office and Courthouse lobby. 'Young Lincoln' was exhibited in the Works Progress Administration Building of the 1939 New York World's Fair...

Lucien Labaudt painted two large-scale paintings for what was then the Los Angeles Post Office and Courthouse, "Life on the Old Spanish and American Ranchos" (1939), and "Aerodynamism" (1941). Both were removed when the post office moved out of the building in 1965, but were restored to the courthouse in 1993. "Aerodynamism" is a 256 square foot oil on canvas on the ceiling. It was restored and reinstalled in 1993. The 8' x 14' "Life on the Old Spanish and American Ranchos" is in the Spring Street lobby. It was restored and reinstalled in 1993. The informational plaque for the painting describes...