Browse Items (10 total)

A tightly framed composition focuses upon the traditional christening of a new ship, whose size can only be inferred. Unlike a peacetime ceremony, the dignitaries are military and the occasion is serious. Using a limited palette of saturated…

By 1943, "stateside" civilian life in the US had been transformed by WWII. The War Production Board had been granted authority to conserve strategic resources, prioritize essential industrial work, and redistribute labor to support the war effort.…

Three months before Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, and direct US involvement in World War II, military mobilization was impacting many walks of American life. Here, a satirical cover juxtaposes the scale of an ice cream man--and the simpler life he…

While the title of this humorous cover art forLibertymagazine is unknown, its editors thought it was appropriate for the backstory to Stephen Ronay's art. "Yes, it happened!" they write; "It simply proves that the war reaches into all walks of…

Emanuel (Mac) Raboy began his early professional life working in the Federal Art Project's Graphic Art Division, spanning the second half of the 1930s. His high-contrast wood engravings, dramatically composed subjects, expressive bodies, and social…

Labor shortages on Western New York farms during World War II led to various programs for making up the shortfall: the "Farm Cadets" youth program; calls for community volunteers; guest workers from Jamaica and the Bahamas; and prisoner of war labor.…

The agricultural region of Orleans county supported several large food processing plants, among them the Olney Canning Company in Albion, NY and the H. J. Heinz factory in Medina, NY. The latter was built in 1899 as the seventh branch factory of…

In 1940, the Selective Service and Training Act provided for America's first peacetime draft registration, applicable to all men ages 16 to 64. Initially it was to be for a period of twelve months, but after the Pearl Harbor attack in December 1941…

Letter to Local Board #571 of the Selective Service System shows the President of Perry Knitting Co. attempting to secure as many deferments for his (male) employees as possible. In this case, he argues that women in the Cutting Room lack the…

Richard Gaige grew up in Binghamton, NY, studied art at Syracuse University, then moved to New York City to pursue an career. Among other things he painted for the Federal Art Project; two of his works are at the New Deal Gallery. A year after…