Jerome and Ethel Myers papers

Scope and Contents

The papers of artists Jerome and Ethel Myers measure 4.5 linear feet and date from circa 1900 to 2020, with the bulk dating from 1900 to 1960. The collection documents the Myers' careers through biographical material, personal and professional correspondence, writings, interviews, personal business records, gallery and exhibition files, printed material, and extensive photographic material. The later materials include research conducted by the Myers' daughter Virginia Downes, and subsequently by her son Barry Downes, on the artists, as well as correspondence between the estate and various museums and galleries.

Biographical material includes resumes and various biographical writings, as well as memorials and obituaries. Correspondence is mostly with institutions and galleries. Writings include artist statements and texts by Jerome Myers, as well as writings on the Myers' work by others. The collection includes audio recordings of interviews with Ethel Myers and Virginia Myers. Personal business records include inventories of works, both from the artists' studios and from commercial galleries, as well as information regarding sales, donations, and locations of artworks. Printed matter includes exhibition catalogs, press clippings and publications relating to various solo and group exhibitions. The collection includes extensive photographic documentation of both artists' work, much of which is included in scrapbook-style binders, as well as numerous photographs of both artists and their family.

Biographical / Historical

Jerome Myers (1867-1940) was an American artist and writer associated with the Ashcan School, particularly known for his sympathetic depictions of the urban landscape and its people. He was one of the main organizers of the 1913 Armory Show. Ethel May Klink Myers (1881-1960) was a New York Realist artist and sculptor.

Related Materials

Additional papers may be found in the Delaware Art Museum.