Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Samuel Colman Papers, 1855-1901, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.colmsamu
Creators:
Colman, Samuel, 1832-1920
Dates:
1855-1901
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.01 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of New York-based landscape painter Samuel Colman measure 0.01 linear feet and date from 1855 to 1901. The collection consists of 15 letters to his sister Mela, his brother-in-law Emerson Howard, and other family, dated 1855-1861; also one undated letter and one written in 1901 to Kate; and an undated letter of a descendant. Colman also writes of painter George H. Boughton, with whom he shared a studio and rooms. In addition there are 16 drawings and sketches, probably the work of several persons, and "The Death Song of a Cherokee Indian," written by William Colman in 1809.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of New York-based landscape painter Samuel Colman measure 0.01 linear feet and date from 1855 to 1901. The collection consists of 15 letters to his sister Mela, his brother-in-law Emerson Howard, and other family, dated 1855-1861; also one undated letter and one written in 1901 to Kate; and an undated letter of a descendant. In Colman's letters from France, he writes of life there, and expresses sentiments for the family. Colman also writes of painter George H. Boughton, with whom he shared a studio and rooms. In addition there are 16 drawings and sketches, probably the work of several persons, and "The Death Song of a Cherokee Indian," written by William Colman in 1809.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Due to the small size of this collection, the papers are arranged as one series.
  • Series 1: Samuel Colman Papers, 1855-1901 (Folder 1; 34 Items)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Samuel Colman (1832-1920) was a painter of landscape and genre subjects, etcher and watercolorist who was primarily based in New York City. He was born in Portland, Maine and studied in New York with Asher B. Durand, and abroad. Last name is alternatively spelled Coleman.

Administration

Author
Rihoko Ueno
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Samuel Colman papers were donated to the Archives of American Art by Mrs. David Prince, Colman's grandniece, in 1973.
Existence and Location of Copies
Portions of the collection are available on 35mm microfilm reel 832 at the Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Rihoko Ueno in 2022.

Using the Collection

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 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.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Microfilmed materials must be consulted on microfilm. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Preferred Citation
Samuel Colman papers, 1855-1901. 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
Landscape painters -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Watercolorists -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Boughton, George Henry, 1834-1905 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Colman, William Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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