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University of New Orleans

Works of Art, Arts for Work: Caroline Wogan Durieux, the Works Progress Administration, and the U.S. State Department

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The New Deal was one of the largest government programs implemented in the twentieth century. Yet only recently have historians begun to explore the impact of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) on American culture by studying its smaller programs such as the Federal Writer's, Theatre, and Art Projects. This paper explores the life of Caroline Wogan Durieux, a New Orleans artist, WPA Federal Art Project (FAP) administrator, and representative for the United States' State Department, centering upon Durieux's career from 1917 to 1943. Durieux's work with the FAP, and later the State Department, helped to redefine the role of art in American society by making art widely accessible to the public. With her influential connections in New Orleans society and her commitment to public art, Durieux bridged the gap between art for the privileged few and art for the masses.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
M.A.
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
History
Year
2010

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Franich, Megan
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Mitchell, Mary N.
  • Bischof, Gunter
  • Mizell-Nelson, Michael

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Repository record dc:identifier
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1170
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholarworks.uno.edu:td-2153

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
University of New Orleans
Base URL
scholarworks.uno.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Franich, Megan. Works of Art, Arts for Work: Caroline Wogan Durieux, the Works Progress Administration, and the U.S. State Department. Thesis thesis, 2010. https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1170