Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Amory C. Simons Photographic Material, circa 1910-circa 1984, bulk circa 1910-circa 1920s, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.simoamoc
Creators:
Simons, Amory C. (Amory Coffin), 1869-1959
Dates:
circa 1910-circa 1984
bulk circa 1910-circa 1920s
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.7 Linear feet
Repository:
The photographic materials of equestrian sculptor, Amory C. Simons, measure 0.7 linear feet and date from circa 1910 to circa 1984, with the bulk of the material dating from circa 1910 to circa 1920s. The collection includes four letters to Simons, photographic prints, negatives, and glass plate negatives of horses and riders including New York City police and mounted models, and other miscellaneous subjects.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The photographic materials of equestrian sculptor, Amory C. Simons, measure 0.7 linear feet and date from circa 1910 to circa 1984, with the bulk of the material dating from circa 1910 to circa 1920s. The collection includes four letters to Simons, photographic prints, negatives, and glass plate negatives of horses and riders including New York City police and mounted models, and other miscellaneous subjects.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as one series.
  • Series 1: Amory C. Simons Photographic Materials, circa 1910-circa 1984 (0.7 linear feet; Boxes 1-2)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Born in Charleston, South Carolina, sculptor and educator Amory Coffin Simons (1869-1959), was known for his animal statuettes, and for his equestrian sculpture in particular.
Simons studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts under John J. Boyle, Charles Grafly, and Thomas Eakins, before moving to Paris and studying at the Académie Julian where he was awarded honorable mention in the 1900 and 1906 Paris Salons. He also received the 1922 Speyer Prize in the annual exhibition at the National Academy of Design in addition to other honors.
Simons moved to Santa Barbara, California, where he taught at the Santa Barbara School of the Arts beginning in the 1920s. He died in California in 1959.

Administration

Author
Stephanie Ashley
Sponsor
Glass plate negatives in this collection were digitized in 2019 with funding provided by the Smithsonian Women's Committee.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was a 1968 gift of Mrs. Paul Fitchen, Chester Beach's daughter, who found the papers in her basement. Beach and Simons were close friends.
Processing Information
Acetate negatives were made from sixty-seven nitrate negatives in the collection in circa 1984. The glass plate negatives were re-housed in 2015 with a grant provided by the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund. The collection was processed and a finding aid written by Stephanie Ashley 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.
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
Amory C. Simons papers, circa 1910-circa 1984, bulk circa 1910-circa 1920s. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Related Materials
The Archives of American Art also has the Amory C. Simons papers, ca. 1890-1934. This collection comprises 0.2 linear feet of materials related to Simons's activities as a student and sculptor in Paris.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Equestrian artists -- Photographs Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Equestrian statues -- Photographs Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Animal sculptors Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sculptors Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Grafly, Charles, 1862-1929 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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