Poster Perfect: WPA & War Era Housing Posters in KSL Special Collections

Lakeview Terrace

Lakeview Terrace is located at W. 28th St. & State Rte. 2 in Cleveland, Ohio.


The Federal Arts Project (FAP), part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), employed artists to create posters that promoted public services and arts events. This program operated from 1936-1943 and was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal initiative. The Library of Congress believes over 2,000 poster designs were created with an almost infinite amount of print copies. Mediums of these posters varied from silkscreens, lithographs, woodcuts, and tempera. American poster design of the WPA era influenced graphic design in later generations.

Many WPA posters were produced in Ohio, particularly in the Cleveland area. This is due to immense population growth of the region in the early 20th century, a strong presence of industry, and a commitment to artistic endeavors. The WPA artists of Cleveland regularly showcased their works in the WPA Gallery at 4300 Euclid Avenue (now demolished). Their working studio was located further down Euclid Avenue in an early 19th century farm house, now the Dunham Tavern Museum.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt attended the grand opening of Lakeview Terrace in 1937. Lakeview Terrace was designed by architects Joseph Weinberg, William H. Conrad, and Wallace G. Teare. Of all the early public housing projects in Cleveland, Lakeview Terrace is considered to be the most International in design. This is evidenced in how the 44 buildings that contain 620 units are uniform in appearance but the height of each building varies and is in accordance with the graceful downhill slope towards the shore of Lake Erie, hence the name Lakeview Terrace.
 


Lakeview Terrace

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