Archives of American Art

Ahl family scrapbooks

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.ahlfami
Creators:
Ahl family
Dates:
1890-1980
bulk circa 1900-1953
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1 Microfilm reel
4 volumes on 1 microfilm reel
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The microfilm collection of the Ahl family scrapbooks consist of one scrapbook of material related to Henry Hammond Ahl, one related to Eleanor Curtis Ahl, and two related to Henry Curtis Ahl.
The Henry Hammond Ahl volume dates from 1890 to 1953 and includes a membership certificate to the Phi Gamma Mu Honor Society and a business card; correspondence concerning painting assignments; 10 exhibition announcements, 17 drawings and 4 paintings; printed materials; and 42 photographs and prints of Ahl, his studios, his works of art, and his house.
The Eleanor Curtis Ahl scrapbook dates from 1901-1953 contains one undated letter; writings; 6 drawings and 14 paintings; printed materials regarding exhibitions of her work; and two obituaries.
The two Henry Curtis Ahl scrapbooks date from 1916 to 1980 and include membership cards to New England art societies; correspondence (mostly photocopies) regarding exhibitions, gifts, and art directory entries; 2 drawings and 6 paintings; exhibition announcements; printed materials; and 3 photographs of the Ahl family house in Dedham, Massachusetts.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
The Ahl family were a family of painters in Massachusetts. Henry Hammond Ahl (1869-1953) was best known for portraits of politicians and Massachusetts landscapes. His painting In the Shadow of the Cross drew crowds to its mysteriously appearing cross when it went on tour in 1899 and was exhibited at the St. Louis Fair of 1904. His wife Eleanor Curtis Ahl (1875-1953) was a poet, painter, and art teacher. She is known for her still-lifes and watercolor landscapes. Henry Curtis Ahl (1905-1996) was the son of Henry Hammond Ahl and Eleanor Curtis Ahl, and an artist primarily known for landscapes and seascapes.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel 3612 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals returned to the lender, A. Everette James after microfilming.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Lent for microfilming 1985 by A. Everette James, Jr., a physician and art collector of Nashville, Tenn.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Citation
Ahl family scrapbooks. Owned by Dr. A. Everette James, Jr. Microfilmed by Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Painting, American Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- Massachusetts Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ahl, Henry Hammond, 1869-1953 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ahl, Eleanor Curtis, 1875-1953 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ahl, Henry Curtis, 1905- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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