Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Frank Lemon Papers, 1890-1943, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.lemofran
Creators:
Lemon, Frank, 1867-1943
Dates:
1890-1943
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.2 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of sculptor Frank Lemon measure 0.2 linear feet and date from 1890 to 1943. The collection includes biographical material, letters, photographs, and printed material.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of sculptor Frank Lemon measure 0.2 linear feet and date from 1890 to 1943. The collection includes biographical material, letters, photographs, and printed material.
Biographical material includes Lemon's 1943 obituary. Letters consists of one letter written by Lemon to his wife Nellie describing his activities in the Washington, D.C., area and the exhibition of his sculpture "Marguerite", and two letters signed by J. Pierpont Morgan, one of which was written by Morgan's business secretary concerning Lemon's statue "Sea Breeze". Photographs contain a picture of Lemon (ca. 1890) and his works of art including "Sea Breeze". Printed material includes four clippings about Lemon's work at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago and his sculptures "Sea Breeze" and "Nemesis".

Arrangement

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

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Frank Lemon (1867-1943) was a sculptor born in Washington, D.C. where he studied drawing at the Corcoran School of Art and worked in the Architect's office in the Treasury Department. Traveling to New York in 1891, he worked for Philip Martiny, and from 1892 to 1893 was sent to Chicago to work on sculptures for the Agricultural Building at the Columbian Exposition. During this time he also assisted Daniel Chester French. Lemon's first exhibition was at the National Sculpture Society and in 1900, the sculpture "Sea Breeze" was exhibited at the Architectural League and purchased by J. P. Morgan the elder. Lemon later moved to the Seattle, Washington, area where his work was confined primarily to architectural ornament.

Administration

Author
Caroline Donadio
Existence and Location of Copies
The collection is available on 35 mm microfilm reel 4306 at the Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of the material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Frank Lemon papers were donated by Lemon's daughter, Ella Lemon Ramhorst.
Processing Information
The collection was processed for microfilming shortly after donation. A finding aid was created by Caroline Donadio 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. Microfilmed materials must be consulted on microfilm. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Preferred Citation
Frank Lemon papers, 1890-1943. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Sculptors Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Morgan, J. Pierpont, 1837-1913 (John Pierpont) Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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