William Forsyth McIlwraith was an artist known for his historic illustrations, particularly those he created for the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the 1930s. His work was part of the WPA’s efforts to provide jobs for artists and other workers during the Great Depression.

McIlwraith contributed to the Oregon Public Works of Art program, which was a part of the WPA. This program commissioned artists to create works that often focused on American history, culture, and landscapes, with a particular emphasis on capturing the spirit and challenges of earlier times in the United States.

While there is not an abundance of widely available information on McIlwraith’s life and entire body of work, his contributions to the WPA, particularly his maps and illustrations depicting significant historical events and locations like the Oregon Trail, suggest that he had a keen interest in and talent for bringing historical scenes and landscapes to life through his art. His work played a role in both documenting and celebrating American history during a time when the nation was recovering from economic hardship.