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Archives of American Art
A Finding Aid to the Ellis Wilson papers, 1922-1959, bulk 1940s, in the Archives of American Art
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.wilselli
- Creators:
-
Wilson, Ellis, 1899-1977
- Dates:
-
1922-1959bulk 1940s
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
0.2 Linear feet
- Repository:
The papers of African American painter and illustrator Ellis Wilson measure 0.2 linear feet and date from 1922 to 1959, with the bulk of the collection dating from the 1940s. The collection includes certificates, correspondence, printed material, and photographic material. The bulk of this collection is composed of photographs.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The papers of African American painter and illustrator Ellis Wilson measure 0.2 linear feet and date from 1922 to 1959, with the bulk of the collection dating from the 1940s. The collection includes certificates, correspondence, printed material, and photographic material. The bulk of this collection is composed of photographs.
Papers include certificates, professional correspondence, printed material and clippings, and scrapbook pages. The scrapbook pages include clippings of reviews and reproductions of Wilson's work, exhibition invitations and catalogs, and correspondence, including a letter of congratulations from Alain Locke.
Photographic material makes up the bulk of this collection. This series includes three photos of Ellis Wilson taken by Carl Van Vechten.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series.
- Series 1: Papers, 1927-1951 (Box 1; 3 Folders)
- Series 2: Photographic Material, 1922, 1942-1948, 1959, undated (Box 1; 5 Folders)
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Ellis Wilson (1899-1977) was an African American painter and illustrator. He was born in Kentucky and studied at the Kentucky Normal and Industrial Institute, and at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He later worked as a commercial artist in Chicago before moving to New York in 1928. Wilson was employed by the Federal Arts Project, sponsored by the Works Progress Administration, from 1935 to 1940, and was also involved with the Harlem Artists Guild. During World War II he worked in an aircraft engine factory and was commissioned to create triptychs for military chaplains. In 1944 he was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship and traveled throughout the Southern United States. He later traveled to Haiti. He continued to paint until his death in 1977. In 1985, his painting Funeral Procession (circa 1950) was featured on an episode of The Cosby Show.
Administration
Author
Rayna Andrews
Sponsor
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Henry Luce Foundation.
Existence and Location of Copies
The collection is available on 35 mm microfilm reel 3 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 Ellis Wilson papers were loaned for microfilming in 1970 and subsequently donated by Ellis Wilson.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Rayna Andrews in 2018 with funding from the Henry Luce Foundation.
Separated Materials
Exhibition catalogs and news clippings were transferred to the Smithsonian Institution Libraries after microfilming.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.
Preferred Citation
Ellis Wilson papers, 1922-1959, bulk 1940s. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Keywords
Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
---|---|---|---|
Painting, American -- New York (State) -- New York | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Photographs | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Scrapbooks | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
African American artists | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Illustrators -- New York (State) -- New York | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Locke, Alain, 1885-1954 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions