Treasury Section of Fine Arts (TSFA) Sites

The terra cotta relief "Allegheny River" was commissioned by the federal Treasury Section of Fine Arts. The work was created by Franc Epping and installed in the historic Oakmont post office in 1942.

The post office in Orange, Massachusetts contains a Section of Fine Arts-funded plaster relief titled “Builders of Orange.” It was created by Oronzio Maldarelli in 1939.

This walnut relief by Francis P. De Luna entitled "In the Park" was installed in the Orchard Park post office in 1943. In 1988 it was moved to the new post office; however, it is currently in storage and not accessible to the public.

The carved mahogany bas relief "Industry," housed in the lobby of the historic Paulding post office, was commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.

The bas relief "Early Traders," by Benjamin Hawkins, was produced for historic Penns Grove in 1942 with Treasury Section of Fine Arts funds.

The plaster relief "Four Winds," which is installed in the lobby of the historic Pitman post office, was created by Nathaniel Choate in 1937 with Treasury Section of Fine Arts funds.

The carved and painted wood bas relief "Power of Communication," by Perna Krick, hangs in the lobby of the Pocomoke, Maryland post office. It was funded by the federal Treasury Section of Fine Arts.

This 7' x 3' relief, "Wild Life" in the Rockwood library was completed in 1939 with New Deal funds.

"Historic Saugus" Medium: aluminum Size: 3 panels

Housed at the historic Woodrum Station post office in Staunton, Virginia, "The McCormick Reaper" is a terra cotta relief was created by Florence Bessom. The work was commissioned by the Treasury Department of Fine Arts. It was re-discovered during a 2003 renovation after having been covered for many years. Size: 3' x 7-1/2'.

This 4' x 4' relief "Early Childhood of Virginia Dare" by Jean de Marco was completed with Section of Fine Arts funds in 1940.

The bas relief "Colonel Paul Whitin—Blacksmith" was produced with New Deal funds in 1939. It is displayed in the lobby of the post office in Whitinsville, Massachusetts.

The terra cotta relief "In Kentucky" was completed with Treasury Section of Fine Arts funds in 1942. The work is housed in Williamstown, Kentucky's historic post office.

The wooden relief "The Clearing," by Joseph Stott was completed with Treasury Section of Fine Arts funds in 1941. It is installed in the historic Woodsfield post office.

A terra cotta bas relief entitled "Scioto County Settler" was commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. It is housed in Worthington, Ohio's historic branch post office.

A wooden bas-relief hangs at the south end of the post office lobby (slightly marred by the presence of a security camera). Lulu Braghetta completed this 10' x 3.5' carved and painted wooden sculpture, "The Wealth of Sutter County," in 1942 for the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. 

"Ways of the Mail," was completed with funding from the Treasury Section of Fine Arts by Arnold Rönnebeck in 1937. It consists of three (3) terra cotta relief panels, totaling 8 feet. Its current location is unknown. Per a letter or document dated October 26, 1937, Rönnebeck stated: The three parts of the panel represent symbolically the “Ways of the Mail” in the early years of Colorado territory and today." Miraculously, the building at 501 5th Avenue, Longmont, CO, is still there and was designated a historical landmark 1988. It is assumed, but not known for sure, that when the USPS moved...

The post office contains three plaster bas reliefs by Moissaye Marans, created under the auspices of the Treasury Section of Fine Arts in 1941. The reliefs are called "Transfer of Skill," "Education," and "Barnyard."

The post office contains two bas reliefs by Armin A. Scheler: "The Message" and "The Answer." The reliefs were completed with Treasury Section of Fine Arts funds in 1938.

Zygmund Sazevich completed the three carved wood panels, collectively titled "From Far Away" for the Treasury Section of Fine Arts in 1941. They hang by the counter in the customer service lobby of Kent, Washington's downtown post office.

Louis Slobodkin produced two 3' x 6' cast-stone reliefs for the post office: "Mills Digging Tunnel" and "Mohawk Trail Workers." The reliefs were created with support from the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.

"Transportation of the Mail" This series of seven wood reliefs illustrating various ways of transporting mail surrounds a doorway in the San Fernando Post Office. They depict how the mail is moved, via ship, train, plane, truck and even horseback.

The post office contains three limestone bas reliefs by Richard Davis: “Wood Chopper,” “Kentucky Pioneer,” and “Signing of the Marriage Contract of Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks.” Installed in the lobby of the Springfield post office, the works were created under the auspices of the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.

The historic Paulsboro post office contains three painted wood carvings by Nena de Brennecke. The carvings are collectively titled "Oil Refining." They were created under the auspices of the Section of Fine Arts and installed in the post office in 1940.

Lucia Wiley completed this fresco, entitled "Gathering Wild Rice," in 1939 with funds provided by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. It is viewable in the Long Prairie post office lobby.

The historic post office building in Tonawanda, New York housed an example of New Deal artwork: a Symeon Shimin fresco, title unknown, showing 'contemporary Tonawanda.' The Section of Fine Arts-commissioned work has since been destroyed.

The historic post office in Ada, Ohio houses an example of New Deal artwork: "Country Dance," a Treasury of Fine Arts-commissioned mural by Albert Kotin. The work was completed and installed in the post office lobby in 1940.

Alice Flint completed this mural, entitled "Plantation Scene," in 1941 with funds provided by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. It was installed in the original Adel post office. It has since been moved to the new one, where it is viewable in the lobby.

The tempera mural entitled "Horse--Drawn Railroad" was painted in 1941 by Elizabeth Logan. The Section of Fine Arts commissioned the work, which resides in the lobby of the historic Akron, New York post office.

Oil on canvas entitled "Winter in Nebraska" painted by Jenne Magafan in 1939. "This mural was painted by Jenne Magafan, whose sister Ethel painted the Auburn mural. Jenne painted other murals in Colorado, Texas, and Utah. She also, with her sister, painted murals for the Social Security Building in Washington, D.C. Jenne, like her sister, also came to Nebraska to do research for this mural, and both Jenne and the mural were warmly received by the people of Albion. In fact, a local "art critic" observed that the mural was "a right nice bit of art", but was upset that the farmer...

The mural entitled "Along the Barge Canal" was painted by Judson Smith in 1939 for the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. The work was installed in the historic Albion post office, where it still resides today.

Roland Schweinsburg painted the 11' x 4'3" oil-on-canvas mural entitled "The Sledding Party" in 1938 for the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. It is viewable in the lobby of the post office in Alexandria, IN.

The historic post office in Alma, Michigan houses an example of New Deal artwork: "Harvest," an oil-on-canvas mural by Joe H. Cox. The work was commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts.

The mural "The Growing Community," by Herman Maril, was painted with Treasury Section of Fine Arts funds in 1940.

Texas artist Loren Mozley completed "Emigrants at Nightfall" in 1942 for the Alvin Post Office, also a New Deal Project. After years of storage, it was recently restored with help from a donation from former Texas Rangers pitcher Nolan Ryan and his wife Ruth. Today it hangs again in the former post office, now the Alvin Historical Museum.

Harry Sternberg painted this oil on canvas mural in 1939, entitled "The Family--Industry and Agriculture"--with funds provided by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. The man, woman, and child in the mural are Sternberg, his wife, and their infant child. Created for the then-new former post office in Ambler, it has since been relocated to Ambler's current postal facility.

Lowell Houser painted this oil on canvas mural, entitled "The Evolution of Corn," in 1938 with funds provided by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts. Houser was a local Iowa artist who studied for a number of years in Mexico, where he was taken with Aztec sculptures he encountered in museums there, which accounts for this mural's style. "In an oral history interview with the artist dated July 31, 1964, he discusses the conception and execution of the mural. Houser states that he came up with the concept that the cultivation of corn was historically Maya 'or at least, ancient American...

"New Deal mural entitled "Amory in 1889" painted in 1939 by John McCrady. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with the Post Office."

Under the Treasury Section of Fine Art, "Seattle artist and museum curator Kenneth Callahan completed  'Fishing' in 1940. The mural provoked some outcry from the local community, who didn't entirely agree with Callahan's depictions of fishing. "Callahan, one of the founders of the Northwest School (a Pacific Northwest art movements) served as a curator at the Seattle Art Museum between 1933-1963." (https://depts.washington.edu)

The historic Anadarko post office building houses a massive mural depicting the ceremonial and social life of the Plains American Indians. The work consists of 16 variously sized panels of tempera-on-canvas. The Anadarko Post Office was previously also the site of the Kiowa Indian Agency of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and is listed on the National Historic Register. The east side of the building still shows its former name. The 16 panels were designed by the late Stephen Mopope, one of the original Kiowa Five artists. Commissioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in June 1936, this was the largest mural...