• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Post Office Fans

Celebrating our Nation's Post Offices

  • About
    • Start Here
      • Categories Explained
      • Tags Explained
    • Contact
      • Legal
        • Privacy Policy
  • Books
    • Guidebooks
    • Full Mural Books
  • In The Media
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Recommended Books
    • Recommended Websites
    • Post Office Artifacts
    • Post Office Mural Artists By Name
    • Post Office Mural Artists By State
    • Post Office Cornerstones
    • Blog Resources
  • By Artist
  • By State
  • Bookstore
You are here: Home / Archives for Henry Varnum Poor

Henry Varnum Poor

Henry Varnum Poor

Illinois Post Office Mural Artists

April 12, 2022 By David W. Gates Jr.

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

  • David W. Gates Jr. on site visits to each location.
  • Illinois 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, Illinois, Post Office Tagged With: Aaron Bohrod, Albert Pels, Alexander Raymond Katz, Archibald Motley Jr, Armin Alfred Scheler, Arthur Herschel Lidov, Artist, Avery Johnson, Bernard J Rosenthal, Carlos Lopez, Charles Turzak, Charles Umlauf, Curt Drewes, Dale Nichols, Daniel Rhodes, Dorothea Mierisch, Edgar Britton, Edmund D Lewandowski, Edouard Chassaing, Edward Millman, Edwin Boyd Johnson, Elizabeth Tracy, Fay Elizabeth Davis, Felix Schlag, Frances Foy, Freeman Schoolcraft, Gustaf Dalstrom, Harry Sternberg, Henry Varnum Poor, Hildreth Meiere, Ida Abelman, Illinois, Irene Bianucci, James Daugherty, James Michael Newell, John Theodore Johnson, John Winters, Karl Kelpe, Lucia May Wiley, Manuel Abraham Bromberg, Marshall Maynard Fredricks, Maurine Montgomery Gibbs, Merlin F Pollock, Miriam McKinnie Hofmeier, Mitchell Siporin, Newell Hillis Arnold, Peterpaul Ott, Rainey Bennett, Ralf Christian Hendricksen, Raymond Breinin, Reva Jackman, Richard Haines, Robert Isaiah Russin, Walter Vladimir Rousseff, William Davenport Griffin, William Samuel Schwartz, Zoltan Sepeshy

Chicago Illinois (Uptown Station) Post Office

February 18, 2012 By David W. Gates Jr.

Chicago IL Uptown Station Post Office 60640
Chicago IL Uptown Station Post Office 60640

ADDRESS: 4850 North Broadway Street, Chicago, Illinois 60640
ARTIST: Henry Varnum Poor
TITLE: Carl Sandburg & Louis Sullivan
MEDIUM: Ceramic (titles)
STATUS: The Chicago Uptown Station is still an active, operating facility, and the titles can be viewed by interested members of the public. The tiles are located in the lobby on the wall above the retail service counters.
YEAR: 1943

The good thing about visiting post offices in the city is the abundance of artificial light. It was only about 5:00 pm when I visited but the sun had already set so it was rather dark.

While I was there a person at the entrance was opening the door for people. I think I spooked him off because when I started taking pictures he ran off across the street.

The post office has two eagle sculptures draping the front entrance. They appear to be carved out of granite and are an impressive decorative feature. The lobby also contains two great murals. Both are excellent examples of artwork commissioned by the Section of Fine Arts.

The stamped stone list the following, James A Farley as postmaster general, John M Carmody as the Federal Works Administrator, W Englebert Reynolds as commissioner of Public Buildings, Louis A Simon Supervising Architect, Neal A Melick Supervising Engineer, Howard Loveweil Cheney as Consulting Architect. The date on the building is 1939.

Updated November 2015

I had the pleasure of visiting this building again during the daylight hours in October of 2015. The lighting was so much better. I took the time to get additional detail photos of the ceramic title murals. As I’m updating this article I’ve decided to keep the older photos in addition to the new photos. This contrast represents the challenges I face when visiting post offices during the winter months here in the midwest.

Thanks,

David W. Gates Jr.

Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640 Dedication Plaque
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640 Cornerstone
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office 60640 Dedication Plaque
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Full
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 60640 Detail
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Signature
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Signature
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 2 60640 Full
Chicago Illinois Uptown Station Post Office Mural 60640 Detail

1 2 ►
“Used with the permission of the United States Postal Service®. All rights reserved.”

Sources

  • Personal visit on 1/03/2012 and 10/10/2015 by David W. Gates Jr.
  • Illinois Post Office Mural Guidebook 
  • United States Postal Service
  • Democratic Vistas: Post Offices and Public Art in the New Deal: [Hardcover]  Marlene Park, Gerald E. Markowitz
  • Uptown Update

Filed Under: Artwork, Cornerstone, Dedication Plaque, Illinois, New Deal, Post Office Tagged With: Artwork, Ceramic Title, Cornerstone, Dedication Plaque, Henry Varnum Poor, Illinois, Mural, New Deal, Post Office

Primary Sidebar

Buy Me a Coffee

Available NOW!

Indiana Post Office Murals Guidebook Cover
Indiana Post Office Murals Guidebook Cover

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • YouTube

Get the latest from Post Office Fans

* indicates required
Tennessee Post Office Mural Book Cover
Tennessee Post Office Mural Book Cover
Wisconsin Post Office Murals
Wisconsin Post Office Mural Book Cover

Now Trending on Post Office Fans

  • URC Extra: Kaukauna and De Pere post office murals – Urban Rural Column on Wisconsin Post Office Murals
  • Walt on Wichita Kansas Former Main Post Office – Guest
  • Walt on Douglas Kanas Post Office – Guest

Footer

Search our site

Search Categories

Search Archives

Copyright 2025
Post Office Fans
PO Box 11
Crystal Lake, IL 60039

Donate with PayPay

 

Loading Comments...