Recovery in Michigan: WPA's Comprehensive Efforts, 1937

This silent film series from circa 1937 documents the extensive Works Progress Administration (WPA) initiatives across Michigan, showcasing the breadth of projects aimed at economic recovery, infrastructure development, and community support during the Great Depression.

Reel 1 features forest management and tourism development with timber cutting and the laying of cabin floors near Calumet.
Reel 2 highlights health and transportation projects, including Red Cross bandage wrapping in Detroit, installation of streetcar tracks, and sewer construction in Bay City, alongside a municipal garage build in Grand Rapids.
Reel 3 captures conservation efforts with CCC units repairing a fish hatchery at Grayling, street widening in Detroit, cultural enrichment with a WPA orchestra, and public health building construction in Lansing.
Reel 4 shows the removal of an old sewer system in Iron Mountain and CCC work on log bridges in Houghton Lake State Forest, alongside the repair of braille books in Lansing, emphasizing accessibility for the visually impaired.
Reel 5 continues with inclusivity by showing a blind woman proofreading braille and includes historical preservation at Fort Holmes on Mackinac Island, and airport construction in Grand Rapids.
Reel 6 showcases recreational enhancements with toboggan slides at Grayling and ski trail clearing at Iron Mountain, promoting outdoor activities.
Reel 7 focuses on education, with the cleaning and rebinding of school books, and urban renewal through slum clearance in Detroit.
Reel 8 concludes with the distribution of rebound books to students in Detroit and the preparation of free school lunches in East Lansing, highlighted by a visit from Eleanor Roosevelt to WPA workers in Grand Rapids.

This series illustrates the WPA's multifaceted approach to recovery, touching on employment, infrastructure, education, health, culture, and recreation, significantly impacting Michigan's recovery from the economic downturn.