December 7, 2010 | Peter Morenus

School Activities … Then and Now

Students studying in the library at the Stamford campus are shown in front of a mural titled ‘School Activities’ painted by American muralist James Daugherty (1887-1974). Photo by Peter Morenus

<p> Students studying in the library at the Stamford campus are shown in front of a mural titled ‘School Activities’ painted by American muralist James Daugherty (1887-1974). In 1934, Daugherty was commissioned to paint seven murals by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s “New Deal”. The WPA created millions of jobs for unemployed Americans in public works projects throughout the country. Originally placed in an octagonal music room at Stamford High School, the murals were nearly lost during a reconstruction project. Six of them were ultimately saved and reconstructed by an art restorer. ‘School Activities’ is on display for the first time in 35 years through a loan by the City of Stamford. Additional works by Daugherty can be found in the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Yale University Art Gallery, Hirshorn Museum, and many other collections. Photo by Peter Morenus</p>
Students studying in the library at the Stamford campus are shown in front of a mural titled ‘School Activities’ painted by American muralist James Daugherty (1887-1974). In 1934, Daugherty was commissioned to paint seven murals by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as part of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s 'New Deal.' The WPA created millions of jobs for unemployed Americans in public works projects throughout the country. Originally placed in a music room at Stamford High School, the murals were nearly lost during a reconstruction project. Six of them were ultimately saved and reconstructed by an art restorer. ‘School Activities’ is on display for the first time in 35 years through a loan by the City of Stamford. Additional works by Daugherty can be found in the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Yale University Art Gallery, Hirshhorn Museum, and many other collections. Photo by Peter Morenus