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Archives of American Art
A Finding Aid to the Ezra Winter papers, 1918-1948, in the Archives of American Art
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.wintezra
- Creators:
-
Winter, Ezra, 1886-1949
- Dates:
-
1918-1948
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
2.4 Linear feet
- Repository:
The Ezra Winter papers measure 2.4 linear feet and date from 1918-1948 and document the life and work of Ezra Winter through correspondence, writings, project and commission files, personal business records, printed materials, photographic materials, and artwork.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The Ezra Winter papers measure 2.4 linear feet and date from 1918-1948. Correspondence consists of personal letters to Winter from friends and family, as well as letters between George Putnam and Winter regarding the property at Rye and various projects, as well as correspondence written by Winter to multiple individuals. Project and Commission Files includes materials relating to each of Winter's mural projects and commissions, as well as various committees Winter was a part of and competitions. Materials include correspondence, supply receipts, plans, sketches, and contracts. Personal Business Records consists of materials relating to the Winter chicken farm business in Falls Village, Connecticut and correspondence, bills, and other documents relating to Winter's studio in Connecticut. Printed Materials includes newspaper clippings referencing Winter's sculptures and murals, and booklets and pamphlets relating to the locations of Winter's murals and sculptures. Photographic materials present depict Winter's murals and artwork. Artwork consists of prints of murals by Winter, and prints of sketched Christmas cards sent by Winter to family and friends.
Arrangement
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in 7 series:
- Series 1: Correspondence, circa 1925-1945 (0.1 Linear feet: Box 1)
- Series 2: Writings, circa 1918-1933 (0.1 Linear feet: Box 1)
- Series 3: Project and Commission Files, circa 1920-1948 (0.9 Linear feet: Box 1-2)
- Series 4: Personal Business Records, circa 1920-1939 (0.3 Linear feet: Box 2)
- Series 5: Printed Materials, circa 1922-1941 (0.3 Linear feet: Box 2, OV 3)
- Series 6: Photographic Materials, circa 1929-1932 (0.4 Linear feet: Box 2, OV 4)
- Series 7: Artwork, circa 1929-1932 (0.3 Linear feet: Box 2, OV 5, OV 6)
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Ezra Winter (1886-1949) was a prominent muralist, illustrator, and painter based in Falls Village, Connecticut. Winter was born in Traverse City, Michigan and would pursue training in art; in 1908 he trained at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and at the American Academy of Rome in 1914. Throughout his training Winter gravitated towards murals. His best-known works include The Canterbury Tales at the Library of Congress and Fountain of Youth located in the foyer of Radio City Music Hall. Winter was associated with the National Society of Mural Painters, the Architectural League of New York, the US Commission of Fine Arts, and was a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters. Throughout his career Winter also completed works for the US Supreme Court Building, the US Chamber of Commerce, the University of Rochester and Eastman School of Music, and a six-story work for the Guardian Building in Detroit. During World War 1, Winter was a designer for the US Shipping Board. Later in his career Winter taught at the Grand Central School of Art and maintained a studio in Falls Village, Connecticut. While painting a mural Winter fell which resulted in a broken and compacted tailbone. Due to his injuries Winter was unable to continue painting. In 1949 he ended his own life near his Connecticut studio at the age of 63.
Administration
Author
Allessandra Liberati
Sponsor
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Papers were donated in 1969 by the Cooper Hewitt Museum and in 1973 by son in law Albert W. Moss. The bulk of the microfilmed materials were donated in 1973 by Albert W. Moss. Unmicrofilmed materials were donated by the Cooper Hewitt Museum in 1969.
Processing Information
This collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared, by Allessandra Liberati in 2023.
Separated Materials
The Archives of American Art also holds microfilm of material donated for microfilming (reels 971-972) including: Correspondence, clippings, receipts, contracts, sketches and descriptions related to mural commissions for the Birmingham Public Library, George Rogers Clark Memorial, University of Rochester and the Eastman School of Music, Library of Congress, U.S. Supreme Court Building, and the Chase National Bank International Building; biographical material; and material relating to the Commissions of Fine Arts, Washington, D.C. and the Commissions of Sculpture, State of Connecticut.
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.
Preferred Citation
Ezra Winter papers, circa 1918-1948. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
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.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Mural painting and decoration -- 20th century -- United States | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Muralists -- Connecticut -- Falls Village | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Drawings | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Illustrators -- Connecticut | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Painters -- Connecticut | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives of American Art
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