Artist’s grandson searching for historic murals from 1930s Federal Arts Program
Parma resident Scott Conner is hoping to piece together part of his family’s history. His history is also part of Cleveland’s art history during the Depression. Conner’s grandfather, Earl J. Neff was a prominent painter and muralist and served as the director of the Cleveland Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Arts Project.
Conner is hoping to track down Neff’s original sketches for his piece titled "History of United States Locomotives.” The completed mural is currently on display inside the Standard Building in downtown Cleveland.
“We know the original sketches were sold at an art gallery in Shaker Heights between 2001 and 2003,” said Conner. “I have seven sketches in my collection and I’m looking for the other six.”
Neff was commissioned to paint the mural for the Cleveland Engineer's Building. When that building was demolished in 1989 the mural was saved and reinstalled in the Gund Arena, now Quicken Loans Arena. The mural illustrates the history of locomotives, from when they were drawn along rails by horses to the faster and sleeker trains of the 1930s.
Neff began exhibiting his work at the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1930, and in 1937 he became the director of the city's Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Arts Project. Neff’s fashion art appeared in the Plain Dealer, and he served as art director of Sohio Magazine.
Conner is hoping Cleveland residents recognize the sketches and can help him track down the originals. If you have information about the sketches, you can contact Conner at 440-885-2505.
Liz Hersh
Liz Hersh is a media relations specialist.