Are Milwaukee’s WPA Treasures at Risk?Calls Grow for Transparency on the Fate of Public Art at the Milwaukee Public Museum

https://www.mpm.edu/node/27094

Preserving Milwaukee’s WPA Legacy at the Public Museum

Milwaukee has a unique place in American history. During the Great Depression, the city became home to the Milwaukee Handicraft Project (MHP), one of the most innovative and inclusive initiatives funded by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). From 1935 to 1942, the project employed more than 5,000 women and minorities, giving dignity, wages, and skills to people who had been left behind in one of our nation’s darkest hours.

The Milwaukee Public Museum (MPM) today holds one of the nation’s largest collections of MHP objects—textiles, dolls, toys, books, photographs, and design samples. These objects are more than artifacts; they are living records of how Milwaukee led the country in merging equity, artistry, and public service. In fact, the Milwaukee Handicraft Project was the only fully integrated WPA arts project in the United States.

The museum’s collection is invaluable for researchers, educators, and community members who want to understand not just the artistry of the WPA era, but also its social impact. As MPM prepares to move into a new facility, these WPA collections—and other historic works such as murals and dioramas created under the Federal Art Project—must remain fully preserved and publicly accessible.

Yet current disposition plans raise troubling questions. Items that are not formally accessioned into Milwaukee County’s collection may be treated as “personal property” of MPM, eligible for auction or disposal. Without clarity, the public cannot be assured that WPA works, which were federally funded and meant to belong to everyone, will be safeguarded in perpetuity.

The Milwaukee Public Museum itself acknowledges the significance of this collection:

“Through generous donations from the community and curatorial work, the Milwaukee Public Museum has become the center to study the Milwaukee Handicraft Project. It is a place for researchers and the community to learn from a WPA project that provided hope for thousands during the depths of the Great Depression.”

That legacy demands accountability. The public deserves full transparency about the status of every WPA object, mural, and artifact in MPM’s custody. Are they accessioned and protected as County property? Do they carry federal preservation safeguards? Or are they at risk of being sold off quietly under the category of “non-accessioned property”?

Call to Action

Milwaukee County Supervisors and Museum leadership must act now to guarantee that every WPA work in the collection is preserved, cataloged, and kept in the public trust. This is not just about saving art—it’s about honoring Milwaukee’s history of inclusion, resilience, and creativity.

Explore the Milwaukee Public Museum’s online feature about the WPA Milwaukee Handicraft Project here:👉 Women’s Work: The WPA Milwaukee Handicraft Project