Coverlet 1938

Alois Ulrich made this watercolor and graphite rendition of a coverlet in 1938. The original coverlet was made in 1847 by F. A. Kean. This image is part of the Index of American Design, a WPA program launched during the Great Depression. Artists were employed to create a visual survey of American decorative and folk arts from the colonial period through the 19th century. The Index served several purposes during a time of economic hardship. It provided work for artists, preserved a record of American design heritage, and promoted American craftsmanship and design. The choice to document a coverlet reflects a broader interest in celebrating vernacular traditions. Such projects helped to construct a narrative of national identity rooted in the creativity and resourcefulness of ordinary people, thus democratizing cultural institutions by drawing attention to everyday forms of expression. Examining the Index of American Design allows us to better understand the New Deal era, its cultural policies, and its vision of American identity.