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You are here: Home / Archives for Frank D Shapiro

Frank D Shapiro

Frank D Shapiro

New Jersey Post Office Mural Artists

August 28, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

Freehold New Jersey Former Post Office 07728
Freehold New Jersey Former Post Office 07728

A total of forty-five artist created murals in forty-seven New Jersey Post Office buildings during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Four of the artist received multiple commissions as noted below. The artist and their awarded sites as listed below.

We have found having a list such as this is convenient when performing research at the National Archives Records and Administration. Any researcher will reveal, that finding information is part of the fun, somethings what you are looking for is catalogued by the artist name. Other times the research materials you need may be cataloged by the city or town, and so on.

Having a list to refer to is helpful on your journey of discovering these wonderful treasures in our nations post offices.

New Jersey Post Office Mural Artists

  1. Atlantic City – Peppino Mangravite
  2. Boonton – Enid Bell*
  3. Bordentown – Avery Johnson*
  4. Caldwell – Brenda Putnam
  5. Former Cliffside Park – Bruno Neri
  6. Former Clifton – John Sitton
  7. Cranford – Gerald Foster*
  8. Fort Lee – Henry Schnakenberg
  9. Former Freehold – Gerald Foster*
  10. Garfield – Robert Laurent
  11. Glen Ridge – James Chapin
  12. Gloucester City – Vincent D’ Agostino
  13. Haddon Heights –  Isamu Noguchi
  14. Hammonton – Spero Anageros
  15. Harrison – Murray J. Roper
  16. Kearny – Albert Kotin
  17. Linden – Sahl Swarz
  18. Former Little Falls – James Brooks
  19. Matawan – Armin A. Scheler
  20. Metuchen – Harld Ambellan
  21. Millburn – Gerald Foster*
  22. Mount Holly – Enid Bell*
  23. New Brunswick – George Biddle
  24. New Brunswick – Ruth Nickerson
  25. Newark – Romuald Kraus*
  26. Newark – Vicken Von Post Totten
  27. North Bergen – Avery Johnson*
  28. Nutley – Paul C. Chapman
  29. Patterson – Ilse Erythropel
  30. Paulsboro – Nena de Brennecke
  31. Penns Grove – Benjamin Hawkins
  32. Pitman – Nathaniel Choate
  33. Plainfield – Anton Refregier
  34. Pompton Lakes – A. Stirling Calder
  35. Princeton – Karl Free
  36. Ridgefield Park – Thomas Donnelly
  37. Ridgewood – Romuald Kraus*
  38. Riverside – John Poehler
  39. Short Hills – Ernest Lawson
  40. South Orange – Bernard Perlin
  41. South River – Maurice Glickman
  42. Summit – Fiske Boyd
  43. Former Toms River – Milton Hebald
  44. Trenton – Charles W. Ward
  45. Washington – Frank D. Shapiro
  46. West New York – William Dean Fausett
  47. Westfield – Roy Hilton
  48. Westwood – Hunt Diederich
  49. Wildwood – Dennis Burlingame
New Deal Artists Biographies NARA
New Deal Artists Biographies NARA
New Deal Artists Biographies NARA

Sources

  • David W. Gates Jr. on site visits to each location.
  • New Jersey Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
  • National Archives Records and Administration, College Park Maryland
  • Who was who in American Art, 1564-1975: 400 years of artist in America, Peter H Falk; Audrey M Lewis, Georgia Kuchen, Veronika Roessler, Madison, CT, Mount View Press. 1999.
  • Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover]  Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz

Filed Under: Artist, New Jersey Tagged With: A Stirling Calder, Albert Kotin, Anton Refregier, Armin A Scheler, Artist, Avery Johnson, Benjamin Hawkins, Bernard Perlin, Brenda Putnam, Bruno Neri, Charles W Ward, Dennis Burlingame, Enid Bell, Ernest Lawson, Fiske Boyd, Frank D Shapiro, George Biddle, Gerald Foster, Harld Ambellan, Henry Schnakenberg, Hunt Diederich, Ilse Erythropel, Isamu Noguchi, James Brooks, James Chapin, John Poehler, John Sitton, Karl Free, Maurice Glickman, Milton Hebald, Murray J Roper, Nathaniel Choate, Nena del Brennecke, New Jersey, Paul C Chapman, Peppino Mangravite, Robert Laurent, Romuald Kraus, Roy Hilton, Ruth Nickerson, Sahl Swarz, Spero Anageros, Thomas Donnelly, Vicken Von Post Totten, Vincent D Agostino, William Dean Fausett

Trenton New Jersey Post Office & Courthouse

June 7, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

Trenton New Jersey Former Post Office 08608
Trenton New Jersey Former Post Office 08608

ADDRESS: 402 E. State St., Trenton, New Jersey 08608
ARTIST: Frank D. Shapiro
TITLE: Second Battle of Trenton, Rural Delivery, and Glass Manufacture
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (murals) 2 panels
STATUS: The Trenton federal building is still an active, operating facility, however, the post office no longer operates out of this facility. The murals can be viewed by interested members of the public. They reside on a wall in the main lobby.
YEAR: 1931

Trenton was another building I wasn’t expecting to get into during my recent visit. My plan was to get exterior photos to use for this article. Officially known as the Clarkson S. Fisher building and Courthouse. It was originally the post office and courthouse which is why and how we refer to it here at Post Office Fans.

From what I could tell, I knew parking was going to be problematic, and since I was by myself I needed to navigate this visit carefully. Luckily, I arrived early to get photos with no cars or people in the images.

I actually called when I got home from my trip and the person I spoke to did confirm the building had original murals inside the lobby of the building. He also mentioned there is a small write-up near the artwork which explains the work.

I did not get mural photos of this one, on this trip so I’ll have plan on re-visiting sometime in the future.

UPDATE

During my recent visit in August of 2021, I was denied photographing the murals in the lobby. Even after explaining to the guards and calling a few others, the ultimate answer was no. Since the murals were installed when this building operated as a post office is my interest in wanting to photograph them. However, fast forward to today, the building is no longer a post office. The GSA, Marshall services and GSA operate out the building today. Images of the murals can be viewed on the General Services Administration Website.

David W. Gates Jr.

 

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

Sources

  • Personal visit on 5/21/21 about 7:54 AM and 8/10/2021 about 3:38 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
  • (affiliate link) New Jersey Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
  • General Services Administration (Clarkson S. Fisher U.S. Courthouse, Trenton, NJ | GSA)
  • NJ.com N.J. post offices showcase Depression-era public art – nj.com
  • (affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover]  Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
  • General Services Administration https://www.gsa.gov/location/NJ#

Filed Under: Artist, Artwork, Cornerstone, Former Post Office, New Deal, New Jersey, Post Office Tagged With: Artist, Artwork, Cornerstone, Former Post Office, Frank D Shapiro, Mural, New Deal, New Jersey, Post Office

Washington New Jersey Post Office

June 5, 2021 By David W. Gates Jr.

Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882

ADDRESS: 36 Belvidere Ave., Washington, New Jersey 07882
ARTIST: Frank D. Shapiro
TITLE: A Rising in Early New Jersey
MEDIUM: Oil on canvas (mural)
STATUS: The Washington 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

Another closed lobby as I arrived after hours. Darn! I was really hoping to see this one. I feel like Washington is a nicer  area or neighborhood and that the building would be open. I took my chances and decided to head out later in the day. Turns out that was not the best decision for this one.

Oh well, I guess I’ll have to come back. Darn! just not sure when I’ll get the chance. But at least I have the exterior images of the building. Partial success.

Trying to get those cornerstone images is sometime a real challenge. In this case, I had to move into the bushes, hold back the branches and try to get a some-what level photograph. This was about as good as I could get.

UPDATE

During my road trip in August of 2021 I was able to re-visit this one. I made it a point to visit during business hours so I could get inside. What a treat, and wha a great mural. Plus you have some nice historical artifacts and write-ups in the bulletin board. Very cool! I also love the bring facade of this one.

David W. Gates Jr.

Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Mural Detail
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Mural Detail
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Mural Detail
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Mural Detail
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Mural Detail
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Mural Center
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Mural Left
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Mural Right
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Mural Full
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Artifact
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Artifact
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Artifact
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Cornerstone
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Cornerstone
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882 Cornerstone
Washington New Jersey Post Office 07882

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

Sources

  • Personal visit on 5/22/21 about 4:06 PM and 8/11/2021 about 2:43 PM by David W. Gates Jr.
  • (affiliate link) New Jersey Post Office Mural Guidebook by David W. Gates Jr.
  • United States Postal Service
  • (affiliate link) Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover]  Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz

Filed Under: Artifacts, Artist, Artwork, Cornerstone, New Deal, New Jersey, Post Office Tagged With: Artifacts, Artist, Artwork, Cornerstone, Frank D Shapiro, Mural, New Deal, New Jersey, Post Office

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