Four New Deal Art Murals at the Teaneck Public Library

Relates articles:
Taking A Fresh Look At New Deal Art
Virtual History Tour of the Teaneck Public Library

The art relief program, funded by the Works Projects Administration (WPA) and other New Deal agencies, began in 1934 and ended in 1943. It is a program used to keep artists off the bread lines during the Depression. The representational works at the Teaneck Public Library was painted in 1937 by Robert Martin of Ridgefield.

Robert Martin:

Robert J. Martin, died in 1971 at age of 83, worked at his home and studio at 616 Sketch Place for 45 years. He created murals, watercolors, oil paintings and stained glass windows, including the 14 memorial windows in the Ft. Dix Chapel. Many of Robert J. Martin's works have been sold to collectors.

In honor of the library setting, the murals depict a history of the printed word:

Monks letter parchment in a scriptorium

Men work on an early printing press (probably in 16th century)

Bookbinding is underway in an 18th-Century print shop

Men work at what was then a contemporary newspaper press

A.	B.
C.	D.

View of Reference Room at Teaneck Public Library

Back to Teaneck Virtual Village

Back to Home

Teaneck Public Library
840 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Tel.: (201) 837-4171, Fax: (201) 837-0410