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Albert Pels

Illinois Post Office Mural Artists

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Harry Sternberg
Harry Sternberg

The following is a list of all the artists that created murals in Illinois post offices during the New Deal. As I’ve been doing my research I felt it might be helpful for others so I decided to write-up an article with my findings.

If you ever visit the National Archives in Washington DC, then you may notice this comes in handy. Some of the records and files are organized by state. Other records are organized by the name of the artists.

I found it useful to have a listing of both. So here it is.

Illinois Post Office Mural Artist

  1. Abingdon, Illinois – Newell Hillis Arnold
  2. Berwyn, Illinois – Richard Haines
  3. Brookfield, Illinois – Edouard Chassaing
  4. Bushnell, Illinois – Reva Jackman
  5. Carlyle, Illinois – Curt Drewes
  6. Carmi, Illinois – William Davenport Griffin
  7. Carthage, Illinois – Karl Kelpe
  8. Chester, Illinois – Fay Elizabeth Davis
  9. Chicago, Former Chestnut – Frances Foy
  10. Chicago, Former Chestnut – Gustaf Dalstrom
  11. Chicago, Kedzie – Peterpaul Ott
  12. Chicago, Lakeview – Harry Sternberg
  13. Chicago, Logan Square – Hildreth Meiere
  14. Chicago, Morgan Park – John Theodore Johnson
  15. Chicago, Uptown – Henry Varnum Poor
  16. Chillicothe, Illinois – Arthur Herschel Lidov
  17. Clinton, Illinois – Aaron Bohrod
  18. Decatur, Illinois – Edward Millman
  19. Decatur, Illinois – Edgar Britton
  20. Decatur, Illinois – Mitchell Siporin
  21. Des Plaines, Illinois – James Michael Newell
  22. Downers Grove, Illinois – Elizabeth Tracy
  23. Dwight, Illinois – Carlos Lopez
  24. East Alton, Illinois – Frances Foy
  25. East Moline, Illinois – Edgar Britton
  26. Eldorado, Illinois – William Samuel Schwartz
  27. Elmhurst, Illinois – George Melville Smith
  28. Evanston, Illinois – Robert Isaiah Russin
  29. Evanston, Illinois – Armin Alfred Scheler
  30. Fairfield, Illinois – William Samuel Schwartz
  31. Flora, Illinois – William Davenport Griffin
  32. Forest Park, Illinois – Miriam McKinnie Hofmeier
  33. Galesburg, Illinois – Aaron Board
  34. Geneva, Illinois – Manuel Abraham Bromberg
  35. Gibson City, Illinois – Frances Foy
  36. Gillespie, Illinois – Gustaf Dalstrom
  37. Glen Ellyn, Illinois – Daniel Rhodes
  38. Hamilton, Illinois – Edmund D. Lewandowski
  39. Herrin, Illinois – Gustaf Dalstrom
  40. Homewood, Illinois – Maurine Montgomery Gibbs
  41. Kankakee, Illinois – Edouard Chassaing
  42. Lemont, Illinois – Charles Turzak
  43. Lewistown, Illinois – Ida Abelman
  44. Madison, Illinois – Alexander Raymond Katz
  45. Marseilles, Illinois – Avery Johnson
  46. Marshall, Illinois – Miriam McKinnie Hofmeier
  47. McLeansboro, Illinois – Dorothea Mierisch
  48. Melrose Park, Illinois – Edwin Boyd Johnson
  49. Moline, Illinois – Edward Millman
  50. Morton, Illinois – Charles Umlauf
  51. Mount Carroll, Illinois – Irene Soravia Bianucci
  52. Mount Morris, Illinois – Dale Nichols
  53. Mount Sterling, Illinois – Henry Bernstein
  54. Naperville, Illinois – Rainey Bennett
  55. Nashville, Illinois – Zoltan Sepeshy
  56. Nokomis, Illinois – Bernard J. Rosenthal
  57. Normal, Illinois – Albert Pels
  58. Oak Park, Illinois – John Theodore Johnson
  59. O’Fallon, Illinois – Merlin F. Pollock
  60. Oglesby, Illinois – Fay Elizabeth Davis
  61. Oregon, Illinois – David B. Cheskin
  62. Park Ridge, Illinois – George Melville Smith
  63. Peoria, Illinois – Freeman Schoolcraft
  64. Petersburg, Illinois – John Winters
  65. Pittsfield, Illinois – William Samuel Schwartz
  66. Plano, Illinois – Peterpaul Ott
  67. Rock Falls, Illinois – Curt Drewes
  68. Rushville, Illinois – Rainey Bennett
  69. Salem, Illinois – Walter Vladimir Rousseff
  70. Sandwich, Illinois – Marshall Maynard Fredericks
  71. Shelbyville, Illinois – Lucia May Wiley
  72. Staunton, Illinois – Ralf Christian Henricksen
  73. Tuscola, Illinois – Edwin Boyd Johnson
  74. Vandalia, Illinois – Aaron Board
  75. Virden, Illinois – James Daugherty
  76. White Hall, Illinois – Felix Oscar Schlag
  77. Wilmette, Illinois – Raymond Breinin
  78. Wood River – Roxana, Illinois – Archibald Motley Jr.
New Deal Artists Biographies NARA
New Deal Artists Biographies NARA
New Deal Artists Biographies NARA

Sources

Wilmington Delaware Former Post Office

By

Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801
Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801

ADDRESS: 1100 N., Market St., Suite 1300, Wilmington, Delaware 19801
ARTIST: Albert Pels
TITLE: Landing of Swedens at The Rocks in Wilmington
MEDIUM: Oil and tempera (mural)
STATUS: The former Wilmington Delaware post office is no longer an active, operating facility. However, the mural can usually be viewed by interested members of the public during business hours. One mural resides east wall of the lobby and the other resides on the west wall of the lobby.
YEAR: 1938

ARTIST: Herman Zimmerman
TITLE: Chemistry and Industry, and Chemistry and Agriculture
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The former Wilmington Delaware post office is no longer an active, operating facility. However, the mural can usually be viewed by interested members of the public during business hours. One mural resides east wall of the lobby and the other resides on the west wall of the lobby.
YEAR: 1938

This was the very last visit during my trip in August of 2021. It was getting late on Saturday and I knew the building was going to closed, but I had imagined I might be able to get some good exterior photos during non-business hours.

Sadly, even on Saturday evening there were cars in front of the building. I also had no idea if and when they would move. I was able to get some angle shots, the plaque, the cornerstone so that was nice.

While I was outside, a car pulled up and a lady stood at the front door. From what I could gather she was delivering food for someone. Eventually the front doors, opened and the lady walked in. Since the doors were timed, I followed the lady in. I’m not sure I was suppose to do that but, I figured that was my chance to get inside the building.

Well, the security guard was not amused and quickly inquired as to my reason for being there. I pleaded my case to and explained I was from out of town and I was interested in photographing the murals. When I walked in the building I could bitterly see them – one on either side of the large lobby.

I was denied several times, but kept pushing, with my very last case, I asked if I could photograph them from where I was standing and that I didn’t need to be close. (I wanted to get something). He reluctantly agreed and allowed me to photograph one shot of each mural from where I was standing.

I had to zoom in all the way with my phone to get the two images you see below. The lights in the lobby were turned off so even if I were to get closer to the murals, I knew they would be dark. So I was pretty satisfied with the two images I did manage to get.

This confirms the murals are still in the building, in their original location. That little bit pleased me enough. Besides I was exhausted and still needed to get to Columbia, MD for the night.

Successful trip!

David W. Gates Jr.

Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801
Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801
Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801 Plaque
Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801 Plaque
Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801
Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801
Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801 Cornerstone
Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801 Mural1
Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801 Mural2
Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801
Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801
Wilmington DE Former Post Office 19801

Sources

Normal Illinois Post Office

By

Normal IL Post Office 61761
Normal IL Post Office 61761

ADDRESS: 200 West North Street, Normal, Illinois, 61761
ARTIST: Albert Pels
TITLE: Development of the State Normal School
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Normal post office is still an active, operating, facility and the mural can be viewed by interested members of the public. It resides in the lobby on the wall above the postmaster’s door.
YEAR: 1938

Where do I start with this one? Normal has the record for the number of photographs I’ve taken of various artifacts in a single building. When people ask me what I document or what does it mean to document a post office. I eventually find my self mentioning all types of stuff i.e… old photos, books, postmaster records, old newspaper articles, cancellation stamps all sorts of stuff. The post office in Normal contains a great collection of postal artifacts. It is artifacts like this that you don’t often see until you actually have an on site visit.

Sure you can research the building and mural. You can read about the artist and see pictures online regarding the mural. But I like to take the next step in this and to actually revel to you everything that I find when I visit a post office. It’s stuff like this that doesn’t often get talked about.

I also need to comment on the location of the mural. At some point a drop ceiling was added to the lobby. I’ve been told this is to reduced the space and cost required to heat such a large building. However, this also detracts from the full view of the mural. A visitor needs to be almost under the mural in order to see the entire piece. It is also impossible to get a straight on level photograph of this one because the ceiling is in the way.

Typically what I like to do is stand back in the lobby, raise my camera up as far as I can to get a straight on level picture of the entire mural. This is next to impossible with the layout of the lobby and drop ceiling.

I won’t mention the overgrown trees which block almost the entire front of the building. I’m less concerned with landscaping. I’d much rather have a full view of the mural. I did have to climb into the bushes for the corner-stone on this one. You can thank me in the comments below.

What are your thoughts on the placement of the drop ceiling? Please comment and share.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Normal Illinois Post Office 61761
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts
Normal Illinois Post Office 61761 Artifacts

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“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources