The New Deal (1933-1943) Put Millions of Americans Back to Work During the Great Depression
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“We are definitely in an era of building—the best kind of building— the building of great public projects for the benefit of the public and with the definite objective of building human happiness.” President Franklin D. Roosevelt The New Deal (1933-1943) put millions of Americans back to work during the Great Depression. At the center of FDR’s economic recovery plan was the Works Progress Administration. WPA workers— skilled and unskilled—built the foundation for future prosperity—roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, museums, parks, and more. When the WPA constructed a waterfront park on San Francisco Bay, the land- mark Aquatic Park Bathhouse, which opened in 1939, was called a “Palace for the Public.” The moderne-style building resembles a ship; its exterior and interior adorned with sea-inspired murals, paintings, mosaics, and sculptures created under the Federal Art Project. Now a national park, the building showcases the city’s maritime past; its colorful murals restored to their original vibrancy. Photo: Bathhouse under construction,1938. Front and back panels: Aquatic Bathhouse Mural, “Undersea Life,” 1938 by Hilaire Hiler. Commissioned by the Federal Art Project. LND_MarMuseum_invitation.indd 1 9/12/14 1:33 PM HOST COMMITTEE The Living New Deal The Living New Deal, a nonprofit organi- Assemblymember Tom Ammiano Senator Mark Leno zation that began at the University of Califor- and John Roosevelt Boettiger Ken Maley nia, Berkeley, in 2006, is making visible the Gray Brechin Jane Morrison The San Francisco Maritime National Park Association vast legacy of the New Deal. Our growing Wendy Brown The Honorable Lieutenant online archive includes more than 7,000 Robert Chlebowski Governor Gavin Newsom Cordially invite you to a reception in honor of New Deal buildings, artworks, and public works—many still in use Foster Goldstrom Aaron Peskin today—and is a clearinghouse for information about the New Deal’s Jon Golinger Robert Reich the 75th birthday of the WPA Aquatic Park Bathhouse Superintendent Kevin Hendricks John Tregenza impact on Americans’ lives and landscape. To learn more and to Agar Jaicks Richard Walker Saturday, November 1, 2014 sign up for our publications, tours, and special events, please visit Janet Roosevelt Katten livingnewdeal.org 3pm-5:30pm The San Francisco Maritime National Park Association THE LIVING NEW DEAL BOARD OF ADVISORS , founded in 1950, is a nonprofit membership Dean Baker William Leuchtenberg Remarks by John Roosevelt Boettiger Robert Reich organization dedicated to the cultural legacy of Robert Chlebowski Christina Romer Dr. John Roosevelt Boettiger San Francisco’s seafaring past. The Association James Galbraith Curtis Roosevelt “Stories of My Grandmother, Eleanor Roosevelt” serves its mission through support and advoca- Janet Roosevelt Katten David Rumsey cy for, and partnership with, the San Francisco Ira Katznelson Peter Wiley and Maritime National Historical Park. Please visit maritime.org THE SAN FRANCISCO MARITIME NATIONAL PARK ASSOCIATION Gray Brechin, founder of The Living New Deal BOARD OF TRUSTEES Executive Director/CFO John R. Tregenza John Roosevelt Boettiger is a retired professor of President/Chairman Robert A. Bleicher Refreshments and a private tour of the museum and psychology. As a child, he lived in the White House Vice Presidents Brian Mullins and Charles “Bruce” Woodward its artworks follow the program with his mother, Anna Roosevelt Boettiger, and Secretary Richard Pekelney grandparents, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Later Treasurer Jack Lapidos Maritime Museum he lived and traveled with his grandmother and Sr. Trustees Anne Halsted, Mark Scott Hamilton, David E. Nelson joined her in work on behalf of the United Nations. Counsel R. Brian Dixon 900 Beach Street (Foot of Polk Street) Susan E. Brown Mark L. McNay San Francisco Gray Brechin is the founder of the Living New Deal. He James L. Byrnes Michael L. Meyers is a historical geographer and author of Imperial San For more information, please call: (510) 642-5987 Eric Danoff Tom Mowbray Francisco and Farewell, Promised Land. He teaches at Thomas C. Escher Victor L. Rollandi the University of California, Berkeley. Rodney A. Fong D. Sanford “Sandy” Stadtfeld Ronald J. Forest Thomas Thompson Parking garage on the corner of Columbus and Beach Streets. Douglas E. Holm David F. von Winckler For information on MUNI bus, cable car, and trolley routes: (415) 673-6864. Arlene Inch Andrew Woodard For BART schedules and stations: BART.gov Hubert Lenczowski LND_MarMuseum_invitation.indd 2 9/12/14 1:33 PM.