Roberta Spicer

Roberta Spicer was active as a documentarian and artist for a brief, focused period spanning 1935 to 1937. Spicer’s output is directly associated with the Index of American Designs, a vast pictorial project organized under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This Depression-era initiative was established to record and preserve the visual history of American decorative, folk, and craft arts. Spicer’s contributions emphasize meticulous, detailed renderings of early American material culture.

During this period, Spicer specialized in documenting historical apparel and textiles. Fifteen documented works attributed to the artist are represented in major institutional collections. These works function as valuable historical records, capturing the specifics of tailoring, materials, and design prevalent in previous centuries.

Notable documented pieces by Spicer include detailed illustrations of early clothing and accessories, such as Coat, Bonnet, Calash, Cap, and Child's Dress & Collar. The National Gallery of Art holds examples of this historical documentation, confirming Spicer’s vital role in the Index project. As part of this significant body of work, much of the Index is now considered part of the public domain. This allows researchers and enthusiasts access to high-quality prints and downloadable artwork, offering the opportunity to study specialized Roberta Spicer prints that preserve key aspects of American design history.