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“Unemployed Men sitting on the sunny side of the San Francisco Public Library” by Dorothea Lange. Feb. 1937. Courtesy of the San Francisco History Center
A New Deal for San Francisco-
Thanks to WPA!
Celebrating the New Deal’s 75th anniversary, this exhibition depicts life in San Francisco during the Great Depression and President Roosevelt’s New Deal social programs. Drawing from the San Francisco History Center
and San Francisco Historical Photograph Collections,
the exhibit focuses on civic improvements to San Francisco’s parks, streets and public buildings, many of which remain today, and arts and theatre programs, all funded by the California State Emergency Relief Administration, the Public Works Administration and the
Works Progress Administration (WPA). In addition, A New Deal for San Francisco looks at the controversies that surrounded these social welfare programs and the era’s labor unrest.
March 22-August 30, 2008
Main Library, Sixth Floor, Cases Outside the San Francisco History Center
100 Larkin Street
Courtesy of the Social Security Board
Government at Work:
A Chronology of Federal Agencies from the New Deal
The Government Information Center’s exhibit features a chronology tracing the domestic programs that started with the Roosevelt Administration in 1933. Many bureaus such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) are still in place. Other agencies, such as the WPA, no longer exist but the results of the WPA can be seen today through its public building projects and other works of art.
March 22-June 29, 2008
Main Library, Fifth Floor,
Wall Display near the Government Information Center
100 Larkin Street
“Homeless” by Aaron Goodelman, 1936.
WPA Years A New Deal Explosion of Art, Public Works and Labor
The Great Depression that followed the 1929 Stock Market crash had a crushing impact on labor. The New Deal gave rise to restorative programs that enabled the unemployed to regain a foothold in the work force, and instituted reforms which strengthened worker rights to form unions and undertake collective bargaining.
The Civilian Conservation Corps emerged as one such program, which employed able-bodied young men in forestry, irrigation and other projects. The Federal Art Project put visual and performing artists to work revitalizing the nation’s cultural life and provided new low-cost vistas and venues which many
enthusiastically embraced, facilitating the study and appreciation of the arts. The Fourth Floor offers a rich collection of documents, illustrations and photographs from hundreds of New Deal funded projects that have their echo in the cultural life at the city, state and federal level today.
March 22-August 10, 2008
Main Library, Fourth Floor,
Art, Music and Recreation Center;
Business, Science and Technology Center
100 Larkin Street
Related Programs:
For a Better America: The New Deal in Film
A mini film festival of historical shorts covering the Depression and the New Deal from the motion picture holdings of the National Archives. Cosponsored by the San Francisco History Center and LaborFest, a month-long celebration of labor culture, history and the arts.
Saturday, July 12, 12-3 p.m.
Main Library, Lower Level, Koret Auditorium,
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
The Great Depression Film Series
Thursdays, March 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2008, at 12 noon
Main Library, Lower Level, Koret Auditorium,
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
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Thursday, March 6
The Great Depression, part I (1998, 50 min.) The Great Shake-Up is the first episode in this four part History Channel special on the economic collapse of the 1930s and how
Americans coped with it. Each segment is hosted and narrated by former New York Governor Mario Cuomo.
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Thursday, March 13
The Great Depression, part II (1998, 50 min.) - Face the Music
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Thursday, March 20
The Great Depression, parts III and IV (1998, 100 min.) - Striking Back and Desperate Measures
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Thursday, March 27
Riding the Rails (1997, 72 min.) - This award winning PBS documentary recalls the plight of the 250,000 young people who were forced out of their homes and onto the trains in search of food and lodging during the Depression.
Hallelujah! I’m a Bum! - Join us for an evening of music from the 1930s. Richard Wahlberg brings original 78 rpm records from his music archives and plays them on an historic, open-horn victrola from 1906 to capture the sounds and the sprit of the 1930’s.
This is part of the Library’s celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the WPA. This program will be presented twice, once at the Main Library and once at the beautifully renovated WPA West Portal Branch Library.
Thursday, May 15, 6 p.m.
Main Library, Latino/Hispanic Meeting Room
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
And Tuesday, May 20, 7 p.m.
West Portal Branch Library
190 Lenox Way (at Ulloa)
Tillie Olsen: A Heart in Action - A documentary on the legendary labor organizer, peace activist and author. Filmmaker Ann Hershey will present the film and answer questions.
Two screenings:
Sunday, June 1 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.,
Main Library, Lower Level, Koret Auditorium
100 Larkin Street (at Grove)
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