Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Porter Blanchard papers, 1914-1983, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.blanport
Creators:
Blanchard, Porter, 1886-1973
Dates:
1914-1983
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of Porter Blanchard measure 0.5 linear feet and date from 1914-1983. The collection document's Blanchard's life and career as a functional silversmith through personal correspondence, autobiographical and creative writings, personal business records such as client notes and an administrative file, printed material and photographs. Also found are technical design sketches.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of Porter Blanchard measure 0.5 linear feet and date from 1914-1983. The collection document's Blanchard's life and career as a functional silversmith through personal correspondence, autobiographical and creative writings, personal business records such as client notes and an administrative file, printed material and photographs. Also found are technical design sketches.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Due to the small size of this collection the papers are arranged as one series.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Porter Blanchard (1886–1973) was a functional American silversmith living and working in Pacoima, California. Born in Gardner, Massachusetts Blanchard learned the trade of the silversmith from his father, George Porter Blanchard. In 1923, Porter Blanchard moved to Burbank, California, where he established a studio for silversmithing. Between the 1930s and 1950, he operated a shop in Hollywood, then worked from his home in Pacoima from the 1940s until his death in 1973. Blanchard was a member of the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts and was awarded their title of medalist in 1944.

Administration

Author
Sabine Lipten
Sponsor
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were donated by Blanchard's daughers Rebecca Adler and Alice E. Wise in 1985.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Sabine Lipten in 2023.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Conditions Governing Use
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.
Preferred Citation
Porter Blanchard papers, 1914-1983. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jewelers -- California Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Silversmiths -- California Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
American studio craft movement Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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