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Archives of American Art
Andrew Dreselly papers
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.dresandr
- Creators:
-
Dreselly, Andrew, 1893-1985
- Dates:
-
1900-1981
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
1.3 Linear feet
- Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
Correspondence, notes, art works, clippings, and photographs document the sculptural projects, primarily for churches, undertaken by Andrew Dreselly and his colleagues.
Scope and Contents
Correspondence (1927-1972), primarily letters exchanged with sculptors, architects, and other colleagues, concerning sculpture projects; two pages of writings, and 2 drawings (one annotated) concerning the ornamentation of the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg, Va.; eight pencil outlines for crucifixion figures will related reproductions; an outline and 2 rubbings depicting a memorial stone for Katherine Sullivan (1938); and several clippings (1929-1933).
Scope and Contents
Photographs include one, taken by his son David, of Dreselly (ca. 1981) and prints and ca. 1000 unprinted negatives (1900-ca. 1960) of Dreselly's work and that of his colleagues, including John Angel, Arcangelo Cascieri, Edgar Keen, Johann Kirchmayer, and Ernest Pellegrini. Among the projects are the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, St. James Cathedral, and the Riverside Baptist Church in New York City; the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg, Va.; the Washington Cathedral in Washington, D.C.; and the East Liberty Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Sculptor, wood carver; Cambridge, Mass. Born in Cambridge to Bavarian immigrant parents. In 1907, he was apprenticed to Johann Kirchmayer at W. F. Ross Company, becoming foreman of the woodcarving and modeling shop upon Kirchmayer's retirement in 1921. During the 1920s and 1930s, Dreselly worked, through the Ross Company, on many large church projects in New York, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, and Boston. Ancangelo Cascieri was Dreselly's apprentice. In 1943, Dreselly moved to the Schwamb Company and from 1948 until his retirement in 1967, he was head of carving and modeling at Irving & Casson.
Administration
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated 1981 by Andrew Dreselly; a photograph of Dreselly was donated 1985 by his son, David Dreselly.
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
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Carving (Decorative arts) -- United States | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Church decoration and ornament -- United States | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Drawings | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Wood-carvers | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Sculptors | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Angel, John, 1881-1960 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Cascieri, Arcangelo, 1902-1997 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Keen, Edgar | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Kirchmayer, John, 1860-1930 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Pellegrini, Ernest, 1889-1955 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions
