Sellers, Charles Coleman, 1903-1980

Charles Coleman Sellers (1903-1980) was a noted historian of early America, best known for his numerous works on the life and artistic production of the family of his own great-grandfather, Charles Willson Peale. Born in Overbrook, Pa., in 1903, Sellers attended Haverford College (1925) and Harvard (MA 1926), before taking a position as librarian at Wesleyan College (1937-1949) and, later, Dickinson College (1956-1968). For several years in the late 1940s, Sellers worked at the American Philosophical Society as Research Associate.

From the guide to the Benjamin Franklin in Portraiture Collection, Circa 1962, (American Philosophical Society)

Art historian and writer.

From the description of Lecture, American painting from 1795 to 1825, for Detroit Institute of Arts seminar, 1957. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122570950

Sellers was the author of Patience Wright: An American Artist and Spy in George II's London (1976).

From the description of Papers, 1772-1969 (inclusive). (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 232007949

Charles Coleman Sellers was the great-grandson of Charles Willson Peale, who was an artist and naturalist. Sellers wrote a biography of Charles Willson Peale (New York: Scribner, 1969).

From the description of Notes, [ca. 1915-ca.1943]. (American Philosophical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 122523563

From the guide to the Charles Coleman Sellers notes, [ca. 1915-ca.1943], Circa 1915-1945, (American Philosophical Society)

Charles Coleman Sellers was the great-grandson of Charles Willson Peale, who was an artist and naturalist.

From the description of Papers, ca. 1940s-1978. (American Philosophical Society Library). WorldCat record id: 122440165

Art historian; Carlisle, Penn. Died 1980.

Author of BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IN PORTRAITURE (1962) and MR PEALE'S MUSEUM: CHARLES WILSON PEALE AND THE FIRST POPULAR MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE AND ART (1980) and other works.

From the description of Charles Coleman Sellers papers, [ca. 1940]-1978. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86093852

Charles Coleman Sellers (1903-1980) was a noted historian of early America, best known for his numerous works on the life and artistic production of the family of his own great-grandfather, Charles Willson Peale. Born in Overbrook, Pa., in 1903, Sellers attended Haverford College (1925) and Harvard (MA 1926), before taking a position as librarian at Wesleyan College (1937-1949) and, later, Dickinson College (1956-1968). For several years in the late 1940s, Sellers worked at the American Philosophical Society as Research Associate.

Sellers's numerous books and articles focused largely on the voluminous artistic output of the Peale family and on the Peale Museum, an important site in the early Republic for presenting natural history to the general public. Sellers also conducted research on Benjamin Franklin and others among the Peales' contemporaries. He was awarded the Bancroft Prize in 1970 for his work on Peale and was elected to membership in the APS in 1979. He died in 1980 while on a visit to Australia.

From the guide to the Charles Coleman Sellers Collection, Circa 1940-1978, (American Philosophical Society)