Beatrice Fenton papers

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Beatrice Fenton papers

1836-1984

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9b4850d88-8ab5-4600-aaa3-ca667521dc63

The papers of sculptor Beatrice Fenton date from 1836-1984 (bulk 1890-1978) and measure 9.36 linear feet. The collection documents Fenton's career as a sculptor and art instructor, as well as her life-long friendships with artist Emily Clayton and art educator Marjorie Martinet. Found are scattered biographical materials, correspondence primarily between Fenton and Martinet (approximately 1/2 of the collection), business records, notes and writings, scattered records of arts organizations, transcripts of interviews with Fenton, sketches and sketchbooks, a scrapbook, brochures, clippings, postcards, reproductions of artwork, and photographs of friends and family, travels, and artwork.The collection includes scattered biographical material for Fenton, Emily Clayton Bishop, and Marjorie Martinet, such as biographical accounts, membership cards, and a diploma. The correspondence is primarily between Fenton and Martinet and documents the development of their close friendship and professional concerns. There are also scattered letters from Fenton's instructor, Alexander S. Calder and Emily Clayton Bishop. Personal business records include those of Fenton and Martinet and include wills, estate papers, insurance and banking records, price lists, receipts, and records from the Oldfields School where Marjorie Martinet taught for 36 years. Found within the Notes and Writings series are address books, hand-made illustrated booklets of poems by Emily Clayton Bishop, lecture manuscripts, and notes and typescripts on various topics, including a file Fenton created to promote Bishop's artwork following Bishop's death.There is a series of scattered records of arts organizations to which Fenton belonged, including the Charcoal Club, the Three Arts Club, Lizette Wood Reese Memorial Association, and the Maryland Institute Alumni Association. Also found in the papers are interview tapes and transcripts of interviews conducted with Fenton by Mary Hamel-Schwulst and Marlene Obarzaneck, artwork consisting primarily of sketchbooks and loose drawings by Fenton and Bishop, a scrapbook concerning Martinet, additional printed material, and photographs and photograph albums depicting Fenton, Martinet, Bishop, other family, colleagues, studios, artwork, and travel destinations.

Archives of American Art

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6630488

Archives of American Art

Related Entities

There are 4 Entities related to this resource.

Fenton, Beatrice, 1887-1983

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6f47zpf (person)

Beatrice Fenton was born in Philadelphia, PA on July 2, 1887. She studied in Philadelphia at the School of Industrial Art from 1903-1904, and at the Academy of Fine Arts from 1904-1911. Some of her principal works have been Seaward Fountain, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Fairy Fountain, Wister Woods and the bronze memorial tablet to Charles M. Schmitz. From the guide to the Beatrice Fenton Papers, 1960-1970, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries) ...

Bishop, Emily Clayton, 1883-1912.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6183hp6 (person)

Martinet, Marjorie D., 1886-1981

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xk8r97 (person)

Beatrice Fenton

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j233xz (person)

Beatrice Fenton was born on July 12, 1887 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to ophthalmologist Thomas H. Fenton and Lizzie Remak Fenton, who was the daughter of prominent lawyer Gustavus Remak. From 1903-1904 Fenton began to study art at the Philadelphia School of Industrial Art under Alexander Stirling Calder. Through her father's aunt, Mary Fenton Holmes, she met Thomas Eakins who advised her to sculpt in clay in order to overcome flatness in drawings. In 1904 Eakins pain...