Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Sears Gallagher Papers, circa 1882-2010, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.gallsear
Creators:
Gallagher, Sears, 1869-1955
Dates:
circa 1882-2010
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1.1 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of draftsman, printmaker, and illustrator, Sears Gallagher measure 1.1 linear feet and date from circa 1882-2010. The collection consists of biographical information including awards and a scholarly biography; correspondence, primarily professional in nature, documenting the placement of works; professional files that document the management of studio practices including the printmaking process and the distribution and sale of prints; scrapbooks chronicling Gallagher's professional and family history in the form of clippings, photographs, and correspondence; printed material including clippings and commercial prints of watercolors; photographs including those of the artist and his studio; and artwork including numerous drawings on paper and sketchbooks documenting key moments of travel and artistic production.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of draftsman, printmaker, and illustrator, Sears Gallagher measure 1.1 linear feet and date from circa 1882-2010. The collection consists of biographical information including awards and a scholarly biography; correspondence, primarily professional in nature, documenting the placement of works; professional files that document the management of studio practices including the printmaking process and the distribution and sale of prints; scrapbooks chronicling Gallagher's professional and family history in the form of clippings, photographs, and correspondence; printed material including clippings and commercial prints of watercolors; photographs including those of the artist and his studio; and artwork including numerous drawings on paper and sketchbooks documenting key moments of travel and artistic production.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged in seven series:
  • Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1915-2010 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1907-1929 (0.1 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 3: Personal Business Records, circa 1910-1939 (0.1 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 4: Scrapbooks, circa 1894-1938 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 5: Printed Material, circa 1910-1940s (0.1 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 6: Photographic Material, circa 1900-2000 (0.1 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 7: Artwork, circa 1880-1939 (0.3 linear feet; Box 1, OV2)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Sears Gallagher (1869-1955) was a draftsman, printmaker, and illustrator born in Boston. After displaying considerable artistic talent in drawing as a child, Gallagher went on to study with the Italian-born Boston-based painter Tommaso Juglaris (1844–1925) from 1887 to 1889. Shortly after marrying Charlotte Dodge in 1895 the couple embarked for Paris where Gallagher pursued further artistic training at the Academie Julian. Gallagher's style evolved with an influence of the French Impressionists, and two of his watercolors were featured in the 1896 Paris Salon. Sears Gallagher achieved considerable popular success thanks to the sales and publishing of his prints, and he exhibited regularly in Boston with occasional shows in New York City until the 1940s. Gallagher was a founder of the Monhegan art colony in Maine, which is the setting of many of his popular works.

Administration

Author
Ryan Evans
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Sears Gallagher papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in 2018 by Anne Burr Czepiel, granddaughter of Sears Gallagher.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Ryan Evans in 2018.

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.
Terms of 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
Sears Gallagher Papers, circa 1882-2010. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Artists' studios--Photographs Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Draftsmen (artists) -- Massachusetts -- Boston Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Illustrators--Massachusetts--Boston Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Printmakers--Massachusetts--Boston Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sketchbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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