In 1937, a new Eureka Post Office was built dedicated in June located at 301 N. Oak, where the Masonic Temple stood until it burned in 1935.
In 1938, Vance Kirkland, was commission to paint the historical “Cattle Round-Up” mural hanging in the Eureka, Kansas post office. The oil on fiberboard, mural measures 17 3⁄4 x 32 3⁄8 in. (45.1 x 82.2 cm.), and is listed on the Smithsonian American Art Museum collection. The post office is listed in the National Register of Historic places as well as a contributing member of the historical district in Eureka, KS.
Vance Kirkland was born in Convoy, Ohio in 1904. Attended the Cleveland School of Art, Cleveland, Ohio. On June 1, 1928, he received a diploma in painting and a Bachelor of Education in Art degree. Served at the Denver Art Museum, Denver, Colorado; Curator of American and European Art (various times and 1953-58), Honorary Curator of Contemporary Art (1958-65); also, member of the Board of Trustees (January 1944-56), Chairman of the Accessions Committee, 1943-53 (appointed member 1942), member of the Exhibition Committee (starting April, 1944), Honorary Curator of Painting and Sculpture (1955-58). In 1969, Appointed Professor of Art Emeritus, University of Denver. He later left the University of Denver.
Often mistaken for WPA art, post office murals were actually executed by artists working for the Section of Fine Arts. Commonly known as “the Section,” it was established in 1934 and administered by the Procurement Division of the Treasury Department. Headed by Edward Bruce, a former lawyer, businessman, and artist, the Section’s main function was to select art of high quality to decorate public buildings if the funding was available. By providing decoration in public buildings, the art was made accessible to all people.
