Archives of American Art

Don Becker collection

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.beckdon
Creators:
Becker, Don
Dates:
1899-1949
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear feet
ca. 20 items
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
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.
Scope and Contents
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.
Scope and Contents
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.

Administration

Immediate Source of Acquisition
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.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Artists -- Photographs Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art teachers -- Photographs Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Artists' studios -- Photographs Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bartlett, Paul Wayland, 1865-1925 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Chase, William Merritt, 1849-1916 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mora, F. Luis (Francis Luis), 1874-1940 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rodin, Auguste, 1840-1917 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Saint-Gaudens, Augustus, 1848-1907 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Swan, Paul, 1899-1972 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Volk, Douglas , 1856-1935 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Granger-Dow, Fanny Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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