Eastern Michigan University DigitalCommons@EMU Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations Graduate Capstone Projects 2007 The documentation and preservation of art-in- architecture of Michigan: The section of fine ra ts projects Cheryl Ann Chidester Follow this and additional works at: http://commons.emich.edu/theses Part of the Historic Preservation and Conservation Commons Recommended Citation Chidester, Cheryl Ann, "The documentation and preservation of art-in-architecture of Michigan: The es ction of fine ra ts projects" (2007). Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations. 172. http://commons.emich.edu/theses/172 This Open Access Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Master's Theses, and Doctoral Dissertations, and Graduate Capstone Projects at DigitalCommons@EMU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@EMU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE DOCUMENTATION AND PRESERVATION OF ART-IN-ARCHITECTURE OF MICHIGAN: THE SECTION OF FINE ARTS PROJECTS by Cheryl Ann Chidester Thesis Submitted to the Department of Geography and Geology Eastern Michigan University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTERS OF SCIENCE In Historic Preservation Thesis Committee Ted J. Ligibel, Ph.D., Chair Marshall S. McLennan, Ph.D. Kelly Elizabeth Simpson, M.S. December, 2007 Ypsilanti, Michigan ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Without the support and instruction of my professors and Historic Preservation Graduate Program at Eastern Michigan University as a whole, this project would not have been possible. I would especially like to thank Dr. Ted. J. Ligibel for his encouragement, guidance, and patience. I am grateful for the many individuals willingness to share their knowledge and expertise. Elizabeth Kendall of Parma Conservation, Larry Darling of the International Masonry Institute, and Dallan Wordekemper of the United States Postal Service all played a vital role in my research. Postmasters, librarians, archivists, local historians, and directors of local and regional museums often not only gave of their time and shared information; they also shared my appreciation for the artwork. The support and patience of my family and friends made a difficult task easier and more enjoyable. Thank you. I would also like to thank Eastern Michigan University for their financial support, not only in helping with travel expenses but with the opportunity of presenting my research as well. ii ABSTRACT The Section of Fine Arts’ Art-in-Architecture program created public and permanent cultural artifacts that expressed and recorded American beliefs, values, and stories for future generations. Many of these artworks have been saved. Sadly, others have been neglected, mistreated, or forgotten. This project focuses on The Section’s post office art installations in Michigan. The Section of Fine Arts, one of FDR’s New Deal programs of the Depression era, operated under the auspices of the Treasury Department. The program utilized symbols of the common man to tie together a nation’s scattered and often isolated communities, to promote a common heritage and purpose, and to relate the past to the present while giving hope for the future. The documentation of these art-in-architecture projects is essential as is the need to conserve them. Although challenging, the effort is vital to insure the survival of these records of an important and distinctive American chapter. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS……………………………………………………...……………ii ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………….iii GLOSSARY..............................................................................................................................2 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND……………….….…………...6 General Introduction………………………………………...........….............………..6 Biography of the Section of Fine Arts Key Personnel……….....................................17 George Biddle (1885-1973).............................................................................17 Edward Bruce (1880-1943)..............................................................................18 Olin Dows (1904-1981)...................................................................................19 Henry Morgenthau Jr. (1891-1967).................................................................20 Christian J. Peoples..........................................................................................21 Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) (1882-1945)..............................................21 Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962).......................................................................21 Edward Beatty Rowan (1879-1946)................................................................22 Forbes Watson (Circa 1880-1960)...................................................................22 American Art before the Depression Era………………………............…………….23 Influences of New Deal Art……………..……………………............……...………24 Depression Era Art………………………………………………............…..……….26 Common Subjects of Section of Fine Art Projects……………….............………….27 Styles Favored by the Section of Fine Art……………………............……...………28 Technique and Technical Approval…....………………………............………….…30 The Relationship of the Patron, the Public, and the Artist………............…….…....31 iv Other Issues Facing the Section of Fine Art and its Artists…………...........…….….35 Problem Statement……………………………...……………………………………38 Purpose of Study……………………………………………………………………..39 Significance of Study…………...……………………………………………………39 Limitations of Study……............……………………………………………………41 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE………………….……………42 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY………….….…...…45 Study Design and Type……………………………………………………..………..45 Methodology………………………………………………………………….……...45 CHAPTER FOUR: BACKGROUND OF THE SECTION OF FINE ARTS IN MICHIGAN AND THE ARTISTS………...…..........................................…47 Style and Influences………………………………………………………………….47 Themes……………………………………………………………………………….50 Additional Information………………………………………………………………52 Mural and Sculpture List: State of Michigan……………..………………………….54 Ownership……………………………………………………………………………55 The Artists……………………………………………………………………………57 Dewey Albinson (1898-1971)..........................................................................57 Marvin Beerbohm (1909-1981).......................................................................58 Rainey Bennett (1907-1998)...........................................................................58 Henry Bernstein (1912-1964)..........................................................................59 Pierre Bourdelle (1903-1966)..........................................................................60 Jaroslav Brozik (1904-1986)...........................................................................60 v James Calder (1907-1977)...............................................................................61 Frank Cassara (1913- ).....................................................................................62 Joe Cox (1915-1997)........................................................................................63 George Fisher (1894-1986)..............................................................................64 David Fredenthal (1914-1958).........................................................................64 Marshall Fredericks (1908-1998)....................................................................65 Arthur Getz (1913-1996).................................................................................66 Gertrude Goodrich (1914-?)............................................................................67 William Gropper (1897-1977).........................................................................67 Ruth Grotenrath (1912-1988)..........................................................................68 Ralf Hendricksen (1907-1975)........................................................................69 Milton Horn (1906-1995)................................................................................69 Joe Lasker (1919- )..........................................................................................70 Robert L. Lepper (1906-1991).........................................................................71 Schomer Lichtner (1905-2006)........................................................................72 Sidney Loeb (1904-1972.................................................................................72 Carlos Lopez (1908-1953)...............................................................................72 Boris Mestchersky (1889-1957)......................................................................73 Marion Overby (1914-?)..................................................................................74 Hugo Robus (1885-1964)................................................................................74 Vladimir Rousseff (1890-1979).......................................................................75 Alexander Sambugnac (1888-1965)................................................................76 Zoltan Sepeshy (1898-1974)............................................................................76 vi Alfred Sessler (1909-1963)..............................................................................77 Jean Paul Slusser (1886-1981).........................................................................78