As the people and economy of the United States struggled to recover during the Great Depression, 42 towns in North Carolina would benefit directly from the $83 million the federal government allocated for public art as part of the New Deal. The result was some of the state’s most memorable murals, sculptures, reliefs, paintings, oils, and frescoes, most of which were installed in post offices and courthouses. This book is the only record of all of the North Carolina public art works under the program. It provides in-depth accounts of the works themselves and the artists who created them. Photographs of all of the buildings that originally received the art, the works themselves, and almost all of the 41 artists are provided. An appendix describes federal art projects, 1933–1943. There are detailed footnotes, an extensive bibliography, and an index.

Anita Price Davis, a North Carolina native, Gold Star daughter, and Duke University graduate, retired as the Charles A. Dana Professor of Education Emerita after 36 years at Converse College, Spartanburg, South Carolina. She is the author of many historical books and articles.

Anita Price Davis
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 254
Bibliographic Info: 162 photos, appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2009
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3779-5
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii
Preface      1
Introduction: The Beginning of the Great Depression      3

FEDERAL ART AND ARTISTS IN NORTH CAROLINA DURING THE GREAT DEPRESSION
Ahoskie      9
Albemarle      16
Beaufort      22
Belmont      28
Boone      32
Brevard      37
Burlington      43
Canton      47
Chapel Hill      51
Concord      55
Dunn      59
Eden (Formerly Leaksville)      64
Elkin      68
Forest City      72
Gastonia      78
Hamlet      83
Kings Mountain      86
Laurinburg      89
Lincolnton      94
Louisburg      98
Madison      101
Marion      104
Mebane      108
Mooresville      111
Morganton      114
New Bern      118
Red Springs      125
Reidsville      129
Roanoke Rapids      134
Rockingham      139
Roxboro      144
Sanford      148
Siler City      154
Southern Pines      159
Statesville      165
Wake Forest      170
Wallace      174
Warrenton      178
Weldon      181
Whiteville      185
Williamston      192
Wilmington      199

Appendix: Federal Art Projects, 1933–1943      213
Chapter Notes      219
Bibliography      235
Index      241