Labor Day is time to reflect on history of workers
Cloth dolls like this one aren’t only toys; they are pieces of American history. They were made by hand in the 1930s and ‘40s by artisans who received training and employment from the Works Progress Administration. Photo Credit: Apple Tree Auction Center (c) 2025 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.
Labor Day is a good time to reflect on the history of workers in America. One of the most interesting periods came during the Great Depression with the Works Progress Administration, later called the Work Projects Administration, from 1935 to 1943. As part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal, artists were employed to work on federally funded projects.