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The Elizabeth Barker and Agnes Davis collection of the papers of Albert Winslow Barker

 Collection
Identifier: BMC-M27

Scope and Contents

The Elizabeth Barker and Agnes Davis collection of the papers of Albert Winslow Barker is an artificial collection of personal and professional papers. The collection centers around Albert Winslow Barker, who was an American artist and lithographer. Materials include: correspondence; notebooks; typescripts and reprints of articles written by Barker on lithography and art education; photographs; clippings; and catalogs from galleries and museums. Notable correspondents include: Bolton Brown, Barker's mentor; John Taylor Arms, a fellow printmaker; and Elizabeth Whitmore, Barker's dealer and publisher.

The collection contains Barker’s correspondence with his mentor Bolton C. Brown and fellow print-maker John Taylor Arms; Alfred Fowler, the editor of The Print Collector’s Chronicle and director of The Miniature Print Society and The Woodcut Society; Elizabeth Whitmore, proprietor of The Print Corner and publisher and dealer in graphic art; and various publishers and bookdealers. Additionally, it houses a number of reprints of articles on art education and appreciation written by Barker, as well as scholarly articles on Greek subjects and lithographic processes. There is a large photographic collection of prints and negatives taken by Barker. These prints are primarily of country scenes.

At age 53, Albert Winslow Barker devoted his life to lithography, studying under one of the 20th-century American masters, Bolton Brown, and eventually becoming a successful artist in his own right. The collection would be of use to anyone interested in 20th century art, lithography, and the art or personal relationships of Albert Winslow Barker.

Dates

  • Creation: 1888-1982
  • Creation: Majority of material found within 1920s-1940s

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17)

Conditions Governing Use

The collection is open for use.

Extent

4.5 linear ft. (11 flat files and 1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Albert Winslow Barker served as the Director of Art Education in the Public School District of Wilmington, Delaware, between 1921 and 1929. 1927, at age 53, he apprenticed himself to one of the masters of American lithography, Bolton Brown. Barker spent the rest of his life in the practice of lithography, furthering the development of that art.

Arrangement

This is an artificial collection and doesn’t appear to have an arrangement.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The collection was a gift of Elizabeth Barker and Agnes Davis to Bryn Mawr College in January 1982.

Bibliography

Born in Chicago in 1874, Barker entered the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts at the age of 16, graduating 5 years later. Subsequently he taught art at the School of Industrial Art in Philadelphia for 8 years. In 1913 he entered Haverford College, earning his A.B. Going on to the University of Pennsylvania, he took a Ph.D. in Classical Greek in 1921. He then served as Director of Art Education in the Public School District of Wilmington, Delaware, between 1921 and 1929.

In 1927, at the age of 53, he apprenticed himself to one of the early 20th century masters of American lithography, Bolton Brown. Barker spent the rest of his life in the practice of lithography, furthering the development of that art. As a professional artist he never again, except for a very brief period, held other positions.

The Elizabeth Barker and Agnes Davis collection of the papers of Albert Winslow Barker is an artificial collection of personal and professional papers. The collection centers around Albert Winslow Barker. Materials include: correspondence; notebooks; typescripts and reprints of articles written by Barker on lithography and art education; photographs; clippings; and catalogs from galleries and museums. Notable correspondents include: Bolton Brown, Barker's mentor; John Taylor Arms, a fellow printmaker; and Elizabeth Whitmore, Barker's dealer and publisher.
Title
The Elizabeth Barker and Agnes Davis collection of the papers of Albert Winslow Barker
Status
In Progress
Author
Emily Leifer, Cassidy Gruber Baruth
Date
December, 2018
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Find It at the Library

Most of the materials in this catalog are not digitized and can only be accessed in person. Please see our website for more information about visiting or requesting repoductions from Bryn Mawr College Library

Contact:
Bryn Mawr College Library
101 N. Merion Avenue
Bryn Mawr 19010 USA US
610-526-6576