As a part of the New Deal that offered hope during the Great Depression, scores of public art projects were commissioned around the country. Now they are among the most enduring visual legacies of that era. Twelve Nebraska post offices were chosen to receive individualized murals from the program. Nebraska's Post Office Murals presents the story of these valuable historical pieces. Richly illustrated with color fold-outs and never-before-published artists' sketches, the book reveals the personalities, conflicts, and spirit of the times from which the art emerged. Each of the artists commissioned to paint the murals had a background story. Author Robert Puschendorf, NSHS associate director and the deputy state historic preservation officer, follows the journey of each mural to its completion.

From the back cover of the book, quoted in part:"The America Karal Ann Marling (the author) refers to is small-town America during the depression era; in particular those communities that were portrayed in the 1000-odd murals that appeared in post offices around the country under the auspices of the Treasury Department Section of Fine Arts. She goes far beyond an investigation of the murals as art, and 'Wall to Wall America' becomes an intelligent, often irreverent, discussion of popular taste and culture during the depression decade. "

The united states government commissioned over 1,100 murals for the embellishment of post offices nationwide. Wisconsin received 35 of these murals. After nearly 85 years, the story of their existence is elusive and often overlooked. Gates's research of the correspondence between the artists and government tells the stories of how the murals were developed and eventually installed in small towns throughout Wisconsin. Wisconsin Post Office Murals is packed with fascinating details: 130 full-color images of the murals 70 images of buildings and cornerstones Full-color map with the location of each town The history and story of each mural Written to educate and promote these wonderful Depression-era works of art and buildings, Wisconsin Post Office Murals is a must-have for any New Deal, history, or post office enthusiast. If you've ever been to any of the 35 post offices written about here and asked yourself, Why is there a mural in the lobby or Who is the artist who painted the mural on the wall, this is the book for you.

Tennessee Post Office Murals dives deeper into the particulars, including how the murals were developed by the artists. The correspondence and letters created during this time provide a fascinating glimpse of our nation's history. The author's research reveals the efforts of the government and local communities during this time. Not every community was thrilled with the idea of the subject matter or money spent on artwork for their local post office building. The murals were installed in small communities throughout Tennessee on purpose. They were meant to bring significant art to everyday Americans. This is public art and the post office was the most public of places during this era. Packed with full color images, Tennessee Post Office Murals celebrates these wonderful pieces of art as they exist today.

Tennessee Post Office Mural Guidebook: This book guides the reader to the location and status of post offices that received New Deal murals during the Great Depression. This guidebook revels the twenty-eight towns which received them, the title, the artist who created the murals and resources for further reading. It is the travel companion to Tennessee Post Office Murals.