Archives of American Art

W. L. (William Lees) Judson papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.judsw
Creators:
Judson, W. L. (William Lees), 1842-1928
Dates:
1861-1957
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.7 Linear feet
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Civil war diaries, letters, teaching materials, publications by Judson and pamphlets on early Los Angeles history.
Scope and Contents
The three diaries (1861-1864), consist of brief daily entries chronicling Judson's experiences as a private in Company C of the Twenty-first Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, moving through Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee. The diaries from 1862 and 1863 are illustrated with small pencil sketches of faces, animals, and landscapes. The diaries are accompanied by a typewritten transcript and a 1957 clipping, "Judson Saw Debut of Tecumseh Park".
Scope and Contents
Letters consist of ten letters (1910-1941), primarily to and from ex-students concerning their coursework at the University of Southern California's College of Fine Arts. Also found are; a grade book (1902-1919) and 2 payment ledgers (1900-1910 and 1911-1919) from the Los Angeles College of Fine Arts; Judson's A Tour of the Thames (London, Ontario: Advertiser Steam Presses, 1881), written under the pseudonym of Professor Blot; the October 1909 issue of Arroyo Crafsman (v. 1); three pamphlets on Los Angeles history published by the Security First National Bank of Los Angeles, including The Five Friendly Valleys: The Story of Greater Highland Park (2nd ed., 1923), which briefly mentions Judson, Six Collegiate Decades: The Growth of Higher Educationin Southern California (1929), and La Reina: Los Angeles in Three Centuries (1931); and three blueprints of the Los Angeles College of Fine Arts and one of Judson Studios (1941).

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Painter and instructor William Lees Judson (1842-1928), born in Manchester, England, came to the U.S. in 1852 and later settled in California in 1893. Under his leadership a group of craftsmen and artists published the ARROYO CRAFTSMAN (1909). He also established the Los Angeles College of Fine Arts, forerunner of the University of Southern California's College of Fine Arts, where Judson later served as dean.

Administration

Immediate Source of Acquisition
Diaries and related typescript and clipping were donated 1987 by Paul Judson, and the remainder in 1987 by Walter W. Judson, both great-grandsons of William Lees Judson.

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
Arts and crafts movement Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art teachers -- California -- Los Angeles Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Artisans -- California -- Los Angeles Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. Army. Illinois Infantry Regiment, 21st (1861-1865) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Judson Studios (Los Angeles, Calif.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Los Angeles College of Fine Arts Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
University of Southern California. School of Fine Arts Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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