1937 - Using Your Imagination

WPR’s School of the Air was a valuable resource for students and teachers across the state.  The service used radio to provide state-approved curriculum to anyone free of charge. Topics included things like music, science and language education as well as some unexpected topics such as typing and art.

Let’s Draw, hosted by James Schwalbach, was one of the most popular programs in the service.  Each year, students submitted drawings and the best were invited to Madison and have their work recognized.

Listen to a complete episode of the program – and draw along! – hosted by Schwalbach from September 1937.

UW-Madison Archives Images: S14465    
Dated ca. 1940-1955

The program regularly hosted traveling exhibits of the best student artwork in the state, visiting dozens of cities representing thousands of student participants from Solon Springs, to Hurley, to Appleton, to Black River Falls, Madison and more.

See historic examples of submitted student artwork in the gallery below –