“I have a print Robert Rauschenberg made for the 100th anniversary of the American Federation of Labor. To me, it symbolizes my own transition from buying decorations to respecting art—and the art of labor.”

St Louis labor lawyer Bruce Feldacker and his wife Barbara have collected over 400 paintings, prints, drawings and sculpture on the theme of work and the role of workers in this country and around the world. The breadth of style, the century-long time span, and the range of artists all make the collection a treasure for students of American art and American labor history.

In 2004 the Feldackers designated the collection as a promised gift to the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri, St. Louis, where some of the works are currently on display. Public images of workers in America tend to be limited—and often stereotyped. We hope this first installment of images from the collection will spark discussion—and research. If you have additional information about these works please contact us or share it on our facebook page.

Working Overtime Malcolm & Mary Ann Owen circa early 1990s
Decorative art—Sculpture

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Train Porter Artist Unknown Decorative Art—Ceramic Figurine

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Glass Maker Fenton Art Glass Company 1970
Decorative Art—Plate

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Screw Louis De Christopher circa mid 1990s
Decorative Art—Metal

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Hairdresser Artist Unknown circa 1950s
Decorative Art—Ceramic Figurine

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Butcher Artist Unknown circa 1950s
Decorative Art

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Zelandia Bakery 50th Anniversary Plaque Artist Unknown 1950
Decorative Art—Ceramic

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Teacher Artist Unknown Decorative Art—Porcelain

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Worker with Axe Artist Unknown Decorative Art—Wood Carving

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Worker Opening Barrel Artist Unknown Decorative Art—Wood Carving

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Tractor with Driver Artist Unknown Decorative Art—Metal Assemblage

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Coal Wagon F. Lilly 1908
Decorative Art—Sculpture, Coal

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Miner Rullo circa 1950s
Decorative Art—Table Lamp

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Blacksmith holding a wheel Artist Unknown circa early 1900s
Decorative Art—Metal/Bronze

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Welder Artist Unknown Decorative Art—Sculpture, Metal Assemblage

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Laborer Shoveling Artist Unknown circa early 1990s
Decorative Art—Bronze

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Working Overtime Malcolm & Mary Ann Owen circa early 1990s
Decorative Art—Sculpture

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

African American Worker with Hammer Artist Unknown Decorative Art—Ceramic

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

African man gathering crops (or roots) Artist Unknown Decorative Art—Metal

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Lathe Jonny Dalton circa early 1990s
Decorative Art—Metal

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Bricklayer Artist Unknown Decorative Art—Glass

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Labor’s New Bill of Rights Daniel Fitzpatrick 1933
News Illustration

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Taft-Hartley Act Daniel Fitzpatrick 1949
News Illustration

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Where He Keeps the Labor Vote W. A. Rogers for Harpers 1908
News Illustration

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

The Strike in East St. Louis T. de Thulstrup for Harper's Weekly 1886
News Illustration

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Parade of N.Y. Freight Handlers B.C.D. Weldon News Illustration

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Craftman’s Hands Bernard Waxman Photograph

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Arkansas Prison Labor Bruce Jackson circa 1970s
Photograph—B&W

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Industrial Scenes, War Workers Gordon Parks circa 1943-44
Photograph

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

You are the Face of Democracy Dennis Detoye Poster

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

A Spiritual Poster Charles Criner 2000
Poster

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Jobs, Justice, Peace American Postal Workers Union Poster

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Our First Century Chicago Federation of Labor 1996
Poster

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

America’s Labor Heritage Ralph Fasanella early 1980's
Poster

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Martyrdom of Julius & Ethel Rosenberg Charles Keller circa 1953
Poster

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Ship building Artist Unknown 1986
Poster

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Association of Women in Industry (Birmington, Alabama) Artist Unknown circa 1986
Poster

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Badges of Pride Smithsonian Institute Poster

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

For All These Rights Ben Shahn 1948
Poster

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Business Artist Unknown circa late 1980s
Print—Lithograph

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Heroes of 9/11 Tracy Sugarman circa early 2000s
Print—Gicle

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Nancy Jane Michael J. Gallagher circa 1937
Print—Lithograph, B&W

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Sharecroppers M. Dollard 1936
Print—Etching B&W

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Swing Shift Will Barnet circa 1980s
Print—Etching/Aquatint

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

A Women’s Work is Never Done Yolanda Lopez Print—Screenprint

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Sweatshop William Gropper 1934
Print—Lithograph

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Workers United (Climbing Workers on Scaffold) Pat Gagala circa 1990
Print—Woodcut

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Steel Valley Lozowick 1936, 1942
Print—Lithograph

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Factory Series J.L. Steg 1951
Print—Lithograph

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Bath Ship Build Carrol Thayer Berry 1941
Print—Wood Block Engraving

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Going to Work Ralph Fasanella 1982
Print—Serigraph

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Labor’s Centennial Robert Rauschenberg 1981
Print—Lithograph

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Banana Worker Artist Unknown circa 2001
Sculpture—Wood Carving

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Glassblower Rousseau circa early 1900s
Sculpture—Metal Figure

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Tapping the Heat Raymond Elozua 1989
Sculpture—Gouache on Metal

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection

Visible Work—Invisible Workers Marilyn R. Smith 2006
Work on Paper—Watercolor

Image courtesy of the Feldacker Collection