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Catalog Data

Creator:
Wilbur H. Burnham Studios  Search this
Subject:
Burnham, Wilbur Herbert  Search this
Burnham, Wilbur Herbert, Jr.  Search this
Connick, Charles J.  Search this
Reynolds, Joseph G.  Search this
Portanova, Joseph Domenico  Search this
American Art Expositions (Firm)  Search this
Stained Glass Association of America  Search this
Reynolds, Francis, and Rohnstock  Search this
Joseph G. Reynolds Associates  Search this
Type:
Sketches
Photographs
Watercolors
Diaries
Sketchbooks
Scrapbooks
Place of publication, production, or execution:
United States
Physical Description:
40.3 Linear feet
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 12 series: Series 1: Biographical Materials, circa 1930s-circa 1970s (Boxes 1, 27; 4 folders) Series 2: Correspondence, 1920s-1991 (Box 1; 0.9 linear feet) Series 3: General Business Files, 1930s-1970 (Box 2; 0.38 linear feet) Series 4: Writings and Notes, 1920s-1950s (Box 2; 6 folders) Series 5: Diaries and Journals, circa 1920s-circa 1960s (Box 2; 4 folders) Series 6: Project Files, 1916-1980s (Boxes 2-12, 42; 10.6 linear feet) Series 7: Financial Records, 1928-1982 (Boxes 13-14; 1.14 linear feet) Series 8: Printed Material, circa 1920s-1980s (Boxes 14-15, 27-28; 1.89 linear feet) Series 9: Scrapbooks, circa 1920s-circa 1970s (Boxes 15-16, 28, OVs 48-49, BV 84; 1.05 linear feet) Series 10: Artwork and Sketchbooks, circa 1920s-circa 1980s (Boxes 16-23, 29-39, OVs 50-73, 85, RD 83; 13.15 linear feet) Series 11: Photographic Materials, circa 1904-circa 1980s (Boxes 23-26, 29, 40-41, 43-47, OVs 74-82; 5.8 linear feet) Series 12: Unprocessed Addition, circa 1901-1991 (Boxes 86-88, 91-93 OVs 89-90, 94; 3.4 linear feet)
Access Note / Rights:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Summary:
The records of nationally renowned Boston, Massachussetts, stained glass design company, Wilbur H. Burnham Studios, measure 40.3 linear feet and date from circa 1901-1991. The majority of the collection consists of project files for the studio's stained glass window contracts throughout the United States from the 1920s-1980s. In addition to project files, records include biographical material for the owners, correspondence relating to personal and studio business, general business and financial records, writings such as published articles by Wilbur H. Burnham, scrapbooks and other printed material documenting the history of the company, artwork including extensive watercolor design studies for stained glass, and photographic material. There is a 3.4 linear foot unprocessed addition to this collection donated in 2021 that includes sketches, awards, printed material, passports, biographical material, Christmas cards, photographs and negatives of Burnham and works of art, slides and postcards of stained glass windows, posthumous material, a bound ledger, legal papers, invoices and receipts, project files and glass plate negatives. Materials date from circa 1901-1991.
Citation:
Wilbur H. Burnham Studios records, circa 1901-1991. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Funding:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art
Use Note:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Biography Note:
Boston, Massachussets stained glass design firm, Wilbur H. Burnham Studios, was founded by master stained glass craftsman Wilbur H. Burnham, in 1922. Together with Charles J. Connick and Joseph G. Reynolds, Burnham studios became recognized as one of the most prominent stained glass design companies in the United States. Burnham took early commissions from influential American architect Ralph Adams Cram, and believed strongly in the medieval stained glass tradition. In the late 1930s his son, Wilbur H. Burnham, Jr., who had received an informal education on tours of Europe with his family, and a BFA from Yale University, joined the firm.
Some of the studio's most notable commissions included seventeen windows for the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D. C., all the windows and murals for Saint Mary's Cathedral, Peoria, Illinois, ten windows for the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York City, and five for the Riverside Church, also in New York City.
Both Burnham and Burnham, Jr., served as presidents of the Stained Glass Association of American from 1938-1941 and 1956-1957 respectively. Burnham, Jr., took over the studio in 1968 when his father retired, and sold the studios in 1982.
Language Note:
English .
Provenance:
The Wilbur H. Burnham Studios records were donated in 8 accessions by Wilbur H. Burnham, Jr., from 1977-1981 and by Wilbur C. Burnham, grandson of the founder, in 1990-1991 and 2021. Scott McDaniel, co-owner of the firm, contributed to the 1990 donation.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
Topic:
Church architecture -- United States  Search this
Church decoration and ornament -- United States  Search this
Decorative arts  Search this
Glass art  Search this
Theme:
Diaries  Search this
Craft  Search this
Lives of artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)9766
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)212167
AAA_collcode_wilbhbur
Theme:
Diaries
Craft
Lives of artists
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_212167