Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Esther Hoyt Sawyer Papers, 1916-1965, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.sawyesth
Creators:
Sawyer, Esther Hoyt
Dates:
1916-1965
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1.2 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of painter and arts patron Esther Hoyt Sawyer measure 1.2 linear feet and date from 1916 to 1965. The bulk of the papers consist of over 500 letters to Sawyer from Edwin Dickinson, Carl Milles, and Nicholas Vasilieff. Also found are scattered letters from others including Olga Milles, Loja Saarinen, and museums regarding Sawyer's paintings by others. Other materials include personal photographs and printed materials.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of painter and arts patron Esther Hoyt Sawyer measure 1.2 linear feet and date from 1916 to 1965. The bulk of the papers consist of over 500 letters to Sawyer from Edwin Dickinson, Carl Milles, and Nicholas Vasilieff. Also found are scattered letters from others including Olga Milles, Loja Saarinen, and museums regarding Sawyer's paintings by others. Other materials include personal photographs and printed materials.

Arrangement

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

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Esther Hoyt Sawyer (1890-1971) was a painter and art patron in Buffalo, New York. She studied at the Albright Art Gallery School and the Art Students League. She collected art and purchased Edwin Dickinson's first sold painting and they maintained a long friendship. She was a founding member of the Patteran Society and was a member of the 45 Group.

Administration

Author
Jayna M. Josefson
Sponsor
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Existence and Location of Copies
The collection is available on 35mm microfilm reel 901 at 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
Donated 1966 by Esther Hoyt Sawyer.
Processing Information
The papers were arranged upon receipt and microfilmed onto reel 901. The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Jayna Josefson in 2023 with support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Conditions Governing 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
Esther Hoyt Sawyer papers, 1916-1965. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women painters Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art patrons -- New York (State) -- Buffalo Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Vasilieff, Nicholas Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Dickinson, Edwin Walter, 1891-1978 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Milles, Carl, 1875-1955 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-7950
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions