Important pictorial map of the United States illustrating both the diversity and variety of immigration and population of the United States.
Louise E. Jefferson was a significant figure in both the Harlem Renaissance of the 1930s and the New York commercial art environment of the 1940s. Through talent and hard work, she rose to become the first African American artistic director in the New York publishing industry. She was appointed in this capacity for the Friendship Press, the publishing arm of the National Council of Churches where she remained until her retirement in 1960. She is known to have produced many maps for the Friendship Press that have now become highly collectable. They cover a multitude of subjects but mainly focus on the historical and educational.
This particular example shows both; the border is lists a collection of nationalities, all of whom immigrated and travelled into the United States from the 18th century onwards. The map then illustrates the main regions where they settled as well as drawing various commodities and industries associated with these areas. It is likely that Jefferson was also employing a play on words and by using the term “Makers of the USA” she was referring both to the immigrant founders of the country as well as well as the concept of a vast variety of communities all working together to make the country what it is. The map was drawn in 1943 so there would also certainly be an element of promoting positivity during the dark days of World War II.

Printed colour. [USA9481]