Jane Addams: A Visit to the Jungle

This story-telling mural illustrates an original children’s fable, written by the artist, where children encounter an exotic assortment of wise and friendly animals. The Federal Art Project (FAP) of the WPA encouraged artists to consider the setting of their art. Scenes of a children’s story certainly met that mandate for this elementary school library; Contemporaneous accounts note that the artist wrote a story of children visiting the jungle specifically to accompany her mural at the Jane Addams School.

Artists

Suzanne Miller (1882-1980) Miss Suzanne Miller first studied mural painting at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Later she worked at Fontainebleau and Paris under John Despujols, a foremost contemporary French muralist. She was hired by the WPA/FAP in the 1930s, working both East and West coasts. From her acclaimed mural, “The Pageant of Long Island” at Jamaica High School (1931, now a landmark) to those in Southern California: Long Beach Public Library’s “Classics” (1937); “The History of Printing Through the Ages” at South Gate Public Library (1938-39) (now a Community Center); Seashore Scene at Franklin Junior High, Long Beach (1945 - post WPA commission).

  Miller ended up staying in Southern California, though she garnered a New York Architectural League award in 1930. She lived in Long Beach and Ojai, teaching Adult Classes at the old Wayside Colony and she became the Artist-in-Residence for the Long Beach Unified School District. She was assisted in painting and casein technique by two relatively young, unknown artists: Wilbur Broderick and Jesse Marsh.

  Wilbur Broderick (1909-1979) Wilbur Broderick was an accomplished graduate of the Columbia Art School in Ohio and a member of the New York City Arts League. He moved to Long Beach with his family during the Depression and found work with the W.P.A. After WWII he began a long and accomplished teaching career, retiring from Long Beach City College.

  Jesse Marsh (1907-1966) After his stint working with Miller and the FAP at Addams, Marsh began working for the movie studios (he worked for Walt Disney for over 20 years) as a cartoonist. In 1940 he was living with his parents at 265 Norton Avenue, North Long Beach. Marsh went on to be an illustrator of some note. He is best known – and currently being re-discovered - as one of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ most prolific artists for Tarzan and John Carter comic books. By all accounts Marsh was a quiet and private person. He lived with his parents all of his life, dying alone and undiscovered for several days in his Monrovia home in 1966.

Who was Jane Addams?

Jane Addams (1860 –1935) was the first American woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. In a long, complex career, she was a pioneer settlement worker and founder of Hull House in Chicago, a public philosopher (the first American woman in that role), author, and leader in woman’s suffrage and world peace. She was the most prominent woman of the Progressive Era and helped turn the nation toward issues of concern to mothers, such as the needs of children, public health and world peace, arguing women needed the vote to be effective.