Primarily photographs; also clippings and writings concerning artists, mostly around the turn-of-the century. The items were gathered by Don Becker's mother, Fanny Granger-Dow, a student of William Merritt Chase and close friend to Edwin Blashfield and other artists of the period. In addition to Chase and Blashfield, other artists represented include Paul Wayland Bartlett, William Merritt Chase, F. Luis Mora, Auguste Rodin, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and Paul Swan.
Photographs are of Paul Wayland Bartlett in his studio (signed by Bartlett, 1908); a work of art by Edwin Howland Blashfield; a painting by Douglas Volk annotated to Blashfield "compliments of Samuel Shaw" and signed by 18 artists, including Daniel Chester French and John LaFarge, 1899; William Merritt Chase instructing a class at his New York art school and one of students in Chase's portrait class; works by F. Luis Mora; works by Auguste Rodin (one is annotated "A mon ami Monsieur Brownelle" and signed by Rodin); the Farragut Monument (signed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens); and three of Paul Swan in his studio.
Also found are a 1949 recital announcement; two clippings about Chase (1916); an obituary and a nine-page manuscript about Mora by Fanny Granger-Dow entitled "Character Sketches of Some of Our Younger Artists"; three magazine clippings with cartoons about artists; and a 1904 exhibition catalog for the Fifth Annual Exhibition of the American Society of Miniature Painters.
Provenance:
The collection was originally assembled by Fanny Granger-Dow, the mother of donor Don Becker. She was a student of William Merritt Chase and the family knew many artists of the period.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
