Milwaukee Handicraft Project

The Milwaukee Handicraft Project (MHP), a Works Progress Administration (WPA) program, was organized in November of 1935, five years into the Great Depression, and remained in operation until 1942. During that time it trained over 5,000 workers, including women, minorities, and people with developmental disabilities. Only one person per household was allowed to be certified for relief work, and preference (as well as a higher wage) was typically given to the male head of household. The MHP targeted unskilled women on the relief roles who were responsible for supporting their families. Every WPA project required a local sponsor who would pay 25% of the program's operating costs; the MHP was sponsored by the... more.