Downs, Joseph.

Joseph Downs was a recognized authority on American decorative arts. Following his graduation from the Boston Museum School in 1921, he served successively as staff member at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, as curator of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, as curator of the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and finally as first curator of the Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum. He came to Winterthur in January 1949 and worked there until his death on September 8, 1954.

Downs wrote many articles on American antiques, decorative arts, and early American life. He also wrote a number of important exhibition catalogs while at the Metropolitan Museum. At his death, he was completing the second volume of a proposed three volume history of American furniture.