Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America
Archives related to: Olds, Irving Sands, 1887-1963
| title | Irving S. Olds collection of naval prints and papers [graphic]. | repository | The New-York Historical Society |
| description | The collection consists of approximately 450 prints, chiefly engravings, also etchings, lithographs, aquatints, mezzotints, and woodcuts. There are also 4 boxes of accompanying materials such as pamphlets, clippings, lecture notes, and miniature portraits. Olds collected some 1,150 prints, paintings, silhouettes, maps, broadsides, and decorative textiles from which the Society selected about 550 items, including more than 400 naval prints (many hand-colored) and several rare New York City views and large Currier & Ives scenes. The earliest naval event depicted is the British capture of Louisbourg, Canada, during the French and Indian War. The bulk of the prints portray naval actions during the Revolutionary War and during the War of 1812, with an emphasis on dramatic battles made famous in the slogans of heroic captains. Numerous American, British, and French prints show such American triumphs as John Paul Jones' Bon Homme Richard attacking the British Serapis in 1779 ("I have not yet begun to fight"), the Constitution's defeat of the Guerriere in 1812, and Oliver H. Perry's victory at the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813 ("We have met the enemy and they are ours"). Views of American defeats include the death of Captain James Lawrence when the British Shannon captured his Chesapeake in 1813 ("Don't give up the ship"). Many of the prints are based on eyewitness sketches and are thought to be accurate portrayals. Public interest in the dramatic naval actions can be gauged from the speed with which several of the prints were issued. For example, Thomas Birch and William Strickland published an aquatint of the American Peacock capturing the British L'Epervier within three months of the event in 1814. Other prints are more generalized commemoratives, including those issued by Nathaniel Currier and by the Kelloggs in the 1840s. Portraits of naval figures are plentiful. There are also several American and British caricatures and school sheets bordered with naval vignettes on which students wrote out poems. Of special interest to printmaking historians are such milestone pieces as the first historical aquatints prepared in the United States--evidence of the country's growing technical and aesthetic sophistication. There are often several states of the same prints, which provides opportunities to study stages of print production. s. Historical Note: Prominent corporate lawyer Irving Sands Olds (1887-1963) was the chairman of U.S. Steel from 1940 to 1952 and also served as a trustee and president of The New-York Historical Society. Olds' interest in history focused on American pre-Civil War naval engagements and commanders, especially the young navy's prowess in the War of 1812. Location: New York Historical Society | Collection: Print Room | Call Number: PR-047 |
| extent | ca. 450 prints : engraving, etching, lithograph, aquatint, mezzotint, woodcuts, some hand colored ; 81.3 x 100.2 cm. (32 1/2 x 39 1/2 in.) or smaller..; 4 boxes..; Prints are filed by Olds Collection number. The first 250 prints are grouped chronologically according to naval engagement, with separate sections for New York City views, privateer actions, portraits, and miscellaneous scenes. The rest of the prints are in an inventory sequence.. |
| formats | Prints |
| access | Please contact repository for access and restrictions. |
| record source | http://www.bobcat.nyu.edu |
| updated | 03/16/2023 10:30:02 |
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| title | Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1956-1961, n.d. | repository | University of Pennsylvania |
| description | Contained in: Carl Zigrosser Papers, ca. 1891-1971. Folder 259-260. In 1956, the University of Georgia approached Carl Zigrosser to participate in a Carnegie Corporation grant to "survey, collect and distributematerials for the study of art in the United States." The University was asking historians to act as specialist in an arts discipline, write an essay covering their area and submit a list of the 250 most important historic and aesthetic images. Zigrosser was asked to be the consultant for 19th century graphic arts (to include drawings). The goal was the creation of large slide sets featuring the most important examples of American art. Early correspondence was with Martha Davidson and Lamar Dodd. Later letters are also from William Pierson and Lloyd Goodrich. The correspondence covers the intricacies of Zigrosser’s approach as an art historian, and the mundanities of expense accounts. Copies of bills and receipts, and carbons of letters and preliminary lists reflect the locations and collections Zigrosser went to to generate his final selection. Private collectors approached by Zigrosser include: Harry T. Peters,Harold H. Kynett, Gilbert McClintock, Irving Olds, and Henry Shattuck. Dealers included Kennedy Galleries and The Old Print Shop. Institutions that contributed images were the New York Historical Society, American Antiquarian Society, Museum of Fine Arts (Boston), and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Zigrosser’s list of 19th century graphics and his essay were warmly received and used as models within the project. In 1958, with his section wrapped-up, Zigrosser was enlisted to take over the 20th century garphics as well, that project having become stalled. Working from an existing list, Zigrosser resurrected the failing project and submitted his essay for that discipline. The end of the project is represented by newspaper clippings and flyers describing the project, and correspondence concerning the publication of the essays. Location: Rare Book & Ms Library Manuscripts Call Number: Ms. Coll. 6 |
| extent | 113 items (172 leaves). |
| formats | Correspondence |
| access | Contact repository for restrictions and policies. |
| record source | http://www.franklin.library.upenn.edu/ |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:10 |
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