Clinton Federal Building: Brook Murals – Washington DC

Description

The Clinton Federal Building (north) was originally the US Post Office Department headquarters, completed under the New Deal in 1934.  It contains a wealth of New Deal artworks commissioned and paid for by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts: 25 murals and 22 sculptural elements (12 bas-reliefs, 2 statues, 8 wood medallions).

Alexander Brook painted two murals, “Writing the Family Letter” and “Reading the Letter”.  The letter is from the family of a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) recruit to the young man in his camp and is meant to show  “the mail’s role in helping to alleviate the loneliness and homesickness experienced by young men working far from home during the Depression.” (Gordon)

The Brook murals are located in the branch post office in the Clinton Building –Benjamin Franklin Station – on Pennsylvania Avenue, which is open to the public.