Letters and photos, 1856-1983, 1856-1880 (bulk dates).

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Letters and photos, 1856-1983, 1856-1880 (bulk dates).

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/81906332

Collection contains 34 letters and their transcriptions, dating 1856-1881, written by sculptor Erastus Dow Palmer, as well as several items documenting Palmer's works. Most letters are addressed to the Honorable or Colonel E[dwin] B[arker] Morgan of Aurora, NY, and several others are to Major Henry Morgan. They document Palmer's personal life, professional work, and political sentiments. Letters indicate that Palmer subsidized his income by farming, constructing houses, and possibly banking. Palmer comments about making a model of a statue of Governor Fish and cleaning busts; gives advice on how to hang a medallion; writes about using Vermont marble, which he concludes is comparable to Italian marble; and refers to reframing medallions, creating fountain sculptures, and the crafting of a bust of Burden, which Palmer deemed his best work when he completed it in 1862. Also included is an 1877 list of items modeled by people from Aurora, NY; it notes 18 sculptures and their dates of completion. Among other documents is a bill to E. B. Morgan for a portrait medallion in marble and the mounting of it, costing $200. Palmer was apparently heavily involved in politics and frequently offers his opinions, especially concerning the Civil War. As well, the collection includes a number of photographs of Palmers works. Fourteen photographs are from the 19th century. Several of these photos are labeled as having been taken by Duchochois & Klauser and published by Annesley & Ferris of Albany, New York. The vast majority of the photos were collected by J. Carson Webster for his book Erastus D. Palmer (University of Delaware Press, 1983). Included are a few photos of Palmer himself, but most of them depict his sculptures and reliefs, and tombstones decorated with his sculptures and reliefs. Some of the photos relate to Webster's other research projects, not to Palmer.

5 boxes : ill.

Winterthur Library

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 8272590

Winterthur Library

Related Entities

There are 5 Entities related to this resource.

Webster, J. Carson (James Carson), 1905-1989

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vt9bf7 (person)

James Carson Webster, an art historian, was born in Bloomfield, Ohio on June 27, 1905. Webster's research interests were comprised of Medieval art and architecture, American art and architecture, particularly nineteenth century, and modern art, most notably impressionism. He joined the faculty of Northwestern University in 1934 and remained unil retirement in 1973. Webster earned his B.A.(1929), M.F.A. (1933), and Ph.D. (1939) degrees at Princeton University. He also att...

Morgan, Edwin Barber, 1806-1881

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6np2nc5 (person)

U.S. Army Civil War leader and Congressman. From the description of Papers, 1806-1881. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 36587218 Merchant, philanthropist. From the description of Edwin B. Morgan papers, 1847-1873. (New York State Historical Documents). WorldCat record id: 155442163 U.S. representative from New York and businessman. From the description of Collection, 1857-1866. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79454620 Wh...

Palmer, Erastus Dow, 1817-1904

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60g3s26 (person)

Sculptor. From the description of Letter of Erastus Dow Palmer, 1896. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79454830 Erastus Dow Palmer was a self-taught sculptor from the state of New York. He had only six months of formal schooling before being apprenticed as a carpenter. Palmer's talents were evident at a young age. When he was 9 he built his own sawmill, and at 17, he left his hometown, Pompey, NY, for Amsterdam, NY, where he worked as a carpenter, wood carver, and cabinet make...

Morgan, Henry Ward, 1949-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66q2ndx (person)

Radio announcer. From the description of Reminiscences of Henry Morgan : oral history, 1981. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122620438 ...

Duchochois & Klauser.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6675hvd (corporateBody)