A family history, an interview with Ciel Frampton, Thalinger's Senior Thesis for Antioch College, letters between Thalinger and his wife Ciel Frampton during World War II, sketches and drawings, photographs and other materials document the lives and careers of sculptor Frederic Jean Thalinger and his painter father, E. Oscar Thalinger. Biographical material includes a family history written by Thalinger's son Ernest, resumes, certificates, address books, notes and clippings on both Frederic and Oscar, an inventory of Oscar's paintings and Ernest's March 1987 audio tape of his mother's reminiscences about meeting Frederic.
Correspondence between Thalinger and his wife forms the bulk of the correspondence. Letters between family members refer predominately to conditions during World War II, Thalinger's tour of duty in the U.S. Merchant Marines, the effects of Thalinger's lengthy separations from his wife and son, the state of their mental and physical health, and their lack of financial security. Writings include Thalinger's thesis on the relevance of his college experience to his future career, notes, poems and essays. Printed material includes clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs pertaining to both Frederic and Oscar. Photographs show Thalinger, family, friends and sculpture.
Numerous photographs of sculpture, many taken by Thalinger, are included in project files, along with notes, clippings, correspondence, price lists, and a set of blueprints for play sculpture intended to replace conventional playground structures.
Biographical / Historical:
Sculptor, born in St. Louis, Missouri. Father, E. Oscar Thalinger, was a painter and served as registrar at the City Art Museum, St. Louis.
Provenance:
Ernest Thalinger assembled, collected and annotated his father's papers. He compiled the family history and updated resume. The placement of photographs of sculpture into subject files is based on Ernest Thalinger's prior arrangement and annotations of the papers.
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.
