Davidson, Jo

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American sculptor.

From the description of Letter : Paris, to William O. Inglis, New York, 1926 April 1. (Boston Athenaeum). WorldCat record id: 316061200

Jo Davidson was an American sculptor who made images of some of the most notable figures of his day. Born in New York City, he studied at the Art Students League and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. He became well-known for his portrait busts, which combine artistic sensibility with psychological insight. Among his subjects are Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Mahatma Gandhi, Charles de Gaulle, and Albert Einstein. His autobiography was published in 1951.

From the description of Jo Davidson letter to My dear Bianco, 1921 March 21. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 123906094

Sculptor; b. Joseph Davidson.

From the description of Papers of Jo Davidson, 1906-1952. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71131132

Biographical Note

  • 1883, Mar. 30: Born, New York, N.Y.
  • Early 1900s: Entered Yale Medical School, New Haven, Conn.
  • 1904: Left Yale Medical School, New Haven, Conn., to pursue a sculpting career
  • 1907: Enrolled in the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts, Paris, France, to study sculpture
  • 1909: Married Yvonne de Kerstrat (died 1934)
  • 1911: Secured his first solo gallery show
  • 1927: Invited to compete in the Pioneer Woman statue competition
  • 1934: Awarded the Isaac W. Maynard Prize of the National Academy of Design
  • 1941: Married Florence Gertrude Lucius
  • 1946 - 1948 : Cochairman, Progressive Citizens of America, that supported Henry A. Wallace for president in 1948 on the Progressive Party ticket; chairman, National Wallace for President Committee
  • 1947: Retrospective show sponsored by the American Academy of Arts and Letters
  • 1949: Exhibited in the Third Sculpture International, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pa.
  • 1951: Published Between Sittings. New York: Dial Press
  • 1952, Jan. 2: Died, Saché, France

From the guide to the Jo Davidson Papers, 1906-1952, (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Helen Keller photograph collection, [ca. 1881-1967] Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936. Lincoln Steffens letters : ALS, 1925-1932. California Digital Library
creatorOf Davidson, Jo, 1883-1952. Jo Davidson : artist file : study photographs and reproductions of works of art with accompanying documentation 1930?-1990 [graphic] [compiled by staff of The Museum of Modern Art, New York]. Frick Art Reference Library of The Frick Collection
referencedIn Frontier Films. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1940. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Erskine, John, 1879-1951. John Erskine papers, [ca. 1890]-1951. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Hellman, George Sidney, 1878-1958. George Sidney Hellman papers, 1888-1958, bulk (1900-1958). Campbell University, Wiggins Memorial Library
referencedIn Spewack, Samuel and Bella. Papers, ca.1920-1980. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Lincoln Steffens Papers, 1863-1936. Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Baldwin, Calvin Benham, 1902-1975. Papers of C.B. Baldwin, 1933-1975. University of Iowa Libraries
creatorOf Jo Davidson Papers, 1906-1952 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Fonds Edward Gordon Craig Bibliothèque nationale de France. Département des arts du spectacle
referencedIn Joseph Barnes Papers, 1923-1970 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936. Papers, 1863-1936. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Sir Hugh Walpole collection of papers, 1909-1962, 1913-1937 The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.
referencedIn Koussevitzky, Serge, 1874-1951. Serge Koussevitzky Archive, 1920-1976 (bulk: 1924-1951) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Papers relating to the 1913 Armory Show 50th Anniversary Exhibition Archives of American Art
creatorOf Davidson, Jo, 1883-1952. Letter : Paris, to William O. Inglis, New York, 1926 April 1. Boston Athenaeum
creatorOf Davidson, Jo, 1883-1952. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1943-1953. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Stein, Gertrude, 1874-1946. Papers of Gertrude Stein [manuscript], 1922-1955. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn La Follette family papers, 1781-1988 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn George Sidney Hellman papers, 1888-1958, 1900-1958 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Mitchell Kennerley papers, 1917-1940 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Ferargil Galleries records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Samuel and Bella Spewack Papers, ca.1920-1980 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Joseph Barnes Papers, 1923-1970 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Davidson, Jo, 1883-1952 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Guide to the Daily Worker and Daily World Photographs Collection, 1920-2001 Tamiment Library and Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives
creatorOf Independent Citizens Committee for the Arts, Sciences and Professions. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1946. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Central Press Photograph (London). Press photographs of early twentieth century artists and sculptors. Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Kennerley, Mitchell, 1878-1950. Mitchell Kennerley papers, 1917-1940. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Davidson, Jo, 1883-1952. Letter, 1946, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Page, Thomas Nelson, 1853-1922. Papers of Thomas Nelson Page [manuscript], 1865-1920. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas papers, 1837-1961 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn La Follette family papers, 1781-1988 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Fisher, Leonard Everett. The world of Jo Davidson : production material. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn La Follette family papers, 1781-1988 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Davidson, Jo, 1883-1952. Jo Davidson letter to My dear Bianco, 1921 March 21. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Welles mss., 1930-1950, (Bulk 1936-1947) Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Davidson, Jo : Biographical file. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
referencedIn Arnold Newman photographs of artists Archives of American Art
referencedIn Miscellaneous art exhibition catalog collection Archives of American Art
creatorOf Warner, Roger E. World War II correspondence received by Roger E. Warner 1941 April 28 to 1945 September 7. University of North Texas Library, UNT
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Delano, William Adams, 1874-1960. William Adams Delano papers, 1902-1960 (inclusive), 1939-1960 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Andrew Dasburg and Grace Mott Johnson papers Archives of American Art
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Baldwin, Calvin Benham, 1902-1975. person
associatedWith Barnes, Joseph, 1907-1970. person
associatedWith Bianco, Francisco, 1878-1946, person
associatedWith Bianco, Pamela, 1906- person
associatedWith Communist Party of the United States of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Craig, Edward Gordon (1872-1966) person
associatedWith Dasburg, Andrew, 1887-1979. person
associatedWith Davidson family. family
associatedWith Davidson family. family
associatedWith Davidson, Florence Lucius, d. 1962. person
associatedWith Davidson, Jean, 1914- person
associatedWith Davidson, Yvon Jacques, 1910- person
associatedWith Davidson, Yvonne, d. 1934. person
associatedWith Delano, William Adams, 1874-1960. person
associatedWith Erskine, John, 1879-1951. person
associatedWith Ferargil Galleries. corporateBody
associatedWith Fisher, Leonard Everett. person
associatedWith Frontier Films. corporateBody
associatedWith Hellman, George Sidney, 1878-1958. person
associatedWith Henry Reinhardt & Son. corporateBody
associatedWith Independent Citizens Committee for the Arts, Sciences and Professions. corporateBody
associatedWith Inglis, William O. person
associatedWith Keller, Helen, 1880-1968. person
associatedWith Kennerley, Mitchell, 1878-1950. person
correspondedWith Koussevitzky, Serge, 1874-1951 person
correspondedWith LaFollette family family
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith National Wallace for President Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith Newman, Arnold, 1918-2006. person
associatedWith Page, Thomas Nelson, 1853-1922. person
associatedWith Progressive Citizens of America. corporateBody
associatedWith Scripps, E. W. (Edward Willis), 1854-1926. person
associatedWith Smith, Alfred Emanuel, 1873-1944. person
associatedWith Spewack, Samuel, 1899-1971 person
associatedWith Spewack, Samuel and Bella. person
associatedWith Steffens, Lincoln, 1866-1936. person
associatedWith Stein, Gertrude, 1874-1946. person
associatedWith Swinnerton, Frank, 1884-1982. person
associatedWith Wallace, Henry A. (Henry Agard), 1888-1965. person
associatedWith Walpole, Hugh, 1884-1941 person
associatedWith Warner, Roger E. person
associatedWith Welles, Orson, 1915-1985 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
United States
United States
United States
Subject
Art, American
Art
Arts
Portrait sculpture
Presidents
Presidents
Progressivism (United States politics)
Sculptors
Sculpture
Occupation
Artists
Sculptors
Activity

Person

Birth 1883-03-30

Death 1952-01-02

Americans

Information

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SNAC ID: 693748