Collaged portrait of Daniel Carter Beard, ca. 1890 / Stahmer Art Photography, photographer. Charles Scribner's Sons Art Reference Dept. records, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Daniel Carter Beard, founded the Sons of Daniel Boone in 1905, a youth program that merged with the Boy Scouts of America in 1910. Beard was an illustrator as well as an outdoorsman. At some point someone felt this portrait of Beard needed to be “improved”—the book with hands and feet has been pasted to the original photograph, making for an amusing collage! Jennifer Snyder works with oral history interviews at the Archives American... Continue reading

Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, ca. 1880 / Napoleon Sarony, photographer. Charles Scribner's Sons Art Reference Dept. records, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. French sculptor, Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi (1834–1904) is best known for designing the Statue of Liberty. However, one can see a fantastic piece by Bartholdi near the US Capitol in Washington, DC. The Bartholdi Fountain and Park are on the grounds of the United States Botanic Garden, which is within walking distance of a number of the Smithsonian Museums. It’s a lovely “hidden” gem within the city! Jennifer Snyder works with oral history interviews at the Archives American Art.... Continue reading

Ramón Carulla in a hat, 1980 / Carlos Alberto Camilla, photographer. Ramón Carulla papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Ramón Carulla was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1938. Today, he lives and works in Miami making figurative art. This photo, taken in 1980, makes me want to put on my sandals and find a margarita so we can sit down and talk about how his latest dream has made its way into his work. Join us? Explore more: Ramón Carulla papers, 1971–1996 Jennifer Snyder works with oral history interviews at the Archives American Art. When not sending interviews out... Continue reading

Blogs across the Smithsonian will give an inside look at the Institution’s archival collections and practices during a month long blogathon in celebration of October’s American Archives Month. See additional posts from our other participating blogs, as well as related events and resources, on the Smithsonian’s Archives Month website. Donald Grant Mitchell, 1883 / unidentified photographer. Charles Scribner's Sons Art Reference Dept. records, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Readers know by now that I am fond of men’s facial hair. therefore, it should be no surprise that I am enthralled with Whisker Wars, the new reality show about facial... Continue reading

Rockwell Kent confirming the shipment of his papers to the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution in Detroit after a flood at his house. Rockwell Kent, Ausable Forks, N.Y. letter to Butler Coleman, New York, N.Y., 1969 May 1, Rockwell Kent papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. October is American Archives Month—a time to celebrate the importance of archives across the country. In honor of Archives Month, we’re participating in a month–long, pan–Smithsonian blogathon. Throughout October, the Archives of American Art Blog, and other Smithsonian blogs, will be writing about archival collections, issues, and behind–the–scenes projects. We encourage you... Continue reading

John White Alexander, 1882 or 1883. Napoleon Sarony, photographer. John White Alexander papers, 1870-1942, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. This portrait of John White Alexander haunts my dreams. I think it must be his eyes. Or perhaps it is his mustache. Alexander was best known for his portraiture work; these paintings can be found in museums all over the United States. I particularly like Portrait of Mrs. John White Alexander, 1902. From 1905 until his death in 1915, he painted an amazing 69-piece mural, The Apotheosis of Pittsburgh, around the grand staircase at the Carnegie Museums. Read more about... Continue reading