Disclaimer concerning the intellectual content of the historical artifacts presented in the "Education by Design" online exhibit:

The written material and images from the Bienes Center's WPA Museum Extension Project Collection are presented here as cultural artifacts from an important chapter of this nation's history. These items were used as visual educational aids in several states' public schools, libraries and children's museums and were created during the years 1935-1943. As such, they represent many of the dominant social, cultural, and political values of their era.

While the research techniques employed to write the texts and create the objects were in accordance with the most rigorous academic standards of their day, the information conveyed by the original WPA material presented on these pages cannot be taken at face value for its scholarly content today. Significant portions of the written material intended for teachers to use in the classroom would now be considered outdated, or worse. By today's standards, some of its content would undoubtedly be considered demeaning to women and to certain ethnic, national, racial, and religious groups.

For students or research scholars seeking information on the topics presented by these educational visual aids, it is strongly advised that modern-day sources be consulted. For assistance with any of your research needs, please visit any Broward County Library location, or contact Telephone Reference Services at 954-357-7444. Broward County Library also provides real time reference help from a librarian round-the-clock with our 24/7 Reference Service.