History of Springfield Murals - Springfield, MA
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 42° 06.360 W 072° 35.513
18T E 699109 N 4664351
The Springfield's history murals are installed in the Old Post Office in Springfield.
Waymark Code: WMCYT6
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 10/27/2011
Views: 4
In 1937, a series of six murals depicting the history of Springfield by Umberto Romano. They were underwritten by the Federal Arts Project of the
WPA. The murals were installed in the old Main Post Office in Springfield, which is now the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Office Building.
A plaque on the wall explains the origin the murals. It reads:
WPA Murals
The unique element of this lobby is a series of
six murals painted expressly for this building by
Umberto Romano, a native of Italy, who
received his early training in Springfield. He
attended both Howard Street School and
Central High School. Romano also received his
early art training in Springfield in local schools
and museums. He went on to become one of the
great American artists of the century.
The murals were finished and installed in 1937
and represent the history of Springfield over a
period of three hundred years. The murals were
underwritten by the Federal Arts Project of the
old WPA. This project was national in scope,
and employed artist to paint murals for public
buildings. Mr. Harry Andrews Wright, a local
historian, and Esther Forbes, a well-known
historical novelist, gave assistance to Mr.
Romano whose murals traced Springfield's
history from 1636 to 1936.
The subjects of the murals are:
Mural 1 - Purchase of the Land
Mural 2 - King Philip's War
Mural 3 - Religious Conflict in Springfield
Mural 4 - Springfield During the Revolutionary War
Mural 5 - The Issue of Slavery
Mural 6 - World War I Aftermath and the Great Depression