Allen Tupper True and True family papers, 1841-1987

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A Finding Aid to the Allen Tupper True and True Family Papers, 1841-1987, in the Archives of American Art, by Jean Fitzgerald

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Table of Contents:

• Biographical Information
• Overview of the Collection
• How to Use the Collection
• Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Biographical Information

Allen Tupper True (1881-1955) was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1881. He was a student at the University of Denver, and studied at the Corcoran School of Art, Washington, D.C. between 1901 and 1902. In 1902, he was accepted into Howard Pyle's classes in Chadd's Ford, Pennsylvania, and studied there until 1908, befriending classmates George Harding, Gordon McCouch, Thornton Oakley, and N.C. Wyeth. Through Pyle, True began his career as a magazine illustrator.

From approximately 1913-1915, True worked with British muralist Frank Brangwyn, assisting Brangwyn in the execution of murals at the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, California.

After marrying Emma Goodman Eaton in 1915 (divorced 1934), True launched his career as a mural painter. His most notable works include the mural decorations in the state capitol buildings of Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wyoming, as well as murals for the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company Building and the Civic Center in Denver, Colorado. True specialized in depicting Western and Native American themes.

From 1934-1945, True acted as consultant for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, in charge of and designing all decoration and color schemes for the Boulder Dam power plant, Grand Coulee Dam, and the Shasta Dam, among others.

True was a Unitarian Mason, and a member of the Mural Painters of America, Beta Theta Pi, Cactus Club of Denver, and the Author's Club, London. He died in 1955.

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Overview of the Collection

Scope and Contents

The Allen Tupper True and True family papers date from 1841 to 1987 and measure 7.8 linear feet. The collection presents a good overview of True's personal life and and his career as mural painter and illustrator specializing in Western themes. Through art work, project files, photographs, and printed material, the collection offers a rich resource, both textually and visually of True's research and work on documenting early twentieth century Native Americans cultural traditions. The papers also document True's childhood and his relationship with his family through various family papers, such as correspondence, genealogies, subject files, photographs, and a scrapbook. The collection is a particularly rich resource for the study of Allen Tupper True's work, as well as original documentation of the American West and Native American culture.

Arrangement and Series Description

The collection is arranged into thirteen series according to material type. The contents of each series have been arranged chronologically.

• Series 1: Biographical Material, 1895-1964, undated (box 1, 7 folders)
• Series 2: Subject Files, 1873-1955 (box 1, 16 folders)
• Series 3: Correspondence, 1841-1956 (boxes 1-4, 3.5 linear ft.)
• Series 4: Business Records, 1903-1951 (box 4, 4 folders)
• Series 5: Notes, 1902-1920 (box 5, 10 folders)
• Series 6: Writings, 1896-1926 (box 5, 5 folders)
• Series 7: Artwork, 1897-1923 (boxes 5, 10, and OV folder, 0.5 linear ft.)
• Series 8: Project Files, 1912-1987 (box 5, 0.75 linear ft.)
• Series 9: Photographs, 1859-1950 (boxes 6-7, 1.5 linear ft.)
• Series 10: Scrapbook, 1934 (box 7, 1 volume)
• Series 11: Printed Material, 1875-1981 (box 7, 20 folders)
• Series 12: Artifacts, ca. 1863 (box 10, 9 items)
• Series 13: Glass Negatives, undated (boxes 8-9, 0.4 linear ft.)

Subjects and Names

Provenance

The Allen Tupper True and True family papers were donated in February and April 1988 by True's daughter Jane True Mueller and his son, Frank True.

How the Collection was Processed

The collection was processed and the finding aid written by Jean Fitzgerald, February 28, 1994. The finding aid was modified by Stephanie Ashley in 2002 during EAD conversion.

How to Use the Collection

Restrictions on Use

The collection is open for research. Patrons must use microfilm copy.

Ownership & Literary Rights

The Allen Tupper True and True family papers are owned by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Literary rights as possessed by the donor have been dedicated to public use for research, study, and scholarship. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

Available Formats

The collection is available on microfilm reels 4891-4898. The microfilm is available for interlibrary loan.

How to Cite this Collection

The Allen Tupper True and True family papers, 1841-1987

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Detailed Description and Container Inventory

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1895-1964, undated (box 1, 7 folders)

This series includes family genealogies, biographical accounts, passports, school papers, an award medal for horsemanship, membership cards, and copies of True's will.

Series 2: Subject Files, 1873-1955 (box 1, 16 folders)

This series includes letters, journals and autobiographical accounts, notes, ephemera, printed material, and legal documents such as mining and stock certificates and wills, concerning members of the True family and organizations with which they were associated.

Files relating to Margaret Allen Tupper True contain: an undated journal written by Margaret Tupper True's mother, Ellen Smith Tupper (transcript precedes handwritten journal); receipts for purchase of land, 1879-1892; and a diary, 1881-1888, which contains entries primarily concerning Allen Tupper True as a baby, and includes 2 photographs of True, a lock of his hair, and a cyanotype of Franklin School, El Paso, Texas. The files also contain a diary from 1891-1926, that includes entries primarily concerning Katherine Goodrich True as a baby, and includes a family tree chart; notes about the family; 4 photographs of Katherine True, 1891-1905; 1 photograph of Allen Tupper True, 1905; a composition by Katherine True; a notebook on conditions in various schools, 1907-ca. 1911; 4 real estate deeds, 1908-1913; and inheritance tax documents, 1926. The Cactus Club file contains undated miscellaneous writings by True.

See also Series 9: Photographs, and Series 12: Artifacts.

Series 3: Correspondence, 1841-1956 (boxes 1-4, 3.5 linear ft.)

This series is organized into two subseries:

• 3.1: Correspondence Between Family Members, 1841-1955
• 3.2: Correspondence With Business Associates, Colleagues, and Friends, 1902-1956

3.1: Correspondence Between Family Members, 1841-1955

This subseries documents True's thoughts concerning his career and the interaction among members of the True family. Various individuals discuss Tupper and True family business and events. Allen Tupper True describes his art classes at the Corcoran Gallery School, 1901-1902, Howard Pyle's class, 1902-1904, which included George Harding, Gordon McCouch, Thornton Oakley, and N. C. Wyeth, and his work with Frank Brangwyn in 1914. True also discusses his travels and projects.

The following letters contain photographs: 04 Nov 1901 (1 photo of Harry True, Jr.); 08 Dec 1901 (13 photos of family members); May 1902 (1 cyanotype of Pyle's class); 27 Jun 1902 (1 photo of True in front of the U.S. Capitol); 22 Feb 1914 (1 photo of True and his work in his studio and 1 photo of Murphy in True's studio); 30 May 1914 (1 photo of the Robinsons' home); 09 Jun 1914 (1 photo of the Orchestre Louis Berki); 30 Jan 1915 (1 panorama photo of the Panama-Pacific Exposition); 26 Mar 1915 (1 photo of Peggie); 07 Aug 1924 (5 photos of family in an orchard)

The files are arranged chronologically.

3.2: Correspondence With Business Associates, Colleagues, and Friends, 1902-1956,

This subseries focuses more directly on the events of True's career. Fourteen illustrated letters from True to his wife and daughter can also be found here. Notable correspondents are listed below.

• Blashfield, Edwin: 25 Sep 1924 letter to Frank Brangwyn
• Borglum, Gutzon: 12 Mar 1936, 07 Apr 1936, 20 Feb 1937, 01 Mar 1937, 05 Jul 1937 (with autographed photo of Mount Rushmore under construction)
• Brangwyn, Frank: [Jan 1913], 26 Jan 1913, 30 Mar 1913, 08 Jun 1913, 03 Aug 1913, 29 Aug 1915, 20 Nov 1916, 17 Feb 1920, 2 illustrated letters, 1920? (with transcripts), 30 Sep [1920?], 07 May 1922 (with transcript), 22 Oct 1922 (illustrated letter with transcript), 06 May 1923 (illustrated letter with transcript), 1923? (with transcript), an illustrated letter, 1923? (with transcript), 26 Sep 1924 (with transcript), 18 Jun 1933, [1933], 05 Apr 1936 (with transcript). Also see references to Brangwyn in True's letters to his family and in Blashfield's letter to Brangwyn; see True's notebook on Brangwyn in Series "Notes"; see a print by Brangwyn under "Artworks"; and see photographs of Brangwyn and his works under "Photographs"]
• Brousse-Jacobson, Oscar: 29 Sep 1913, 1 Dec 1915
• Bruce, Edward: 18 Aug 1934
• Cook, James H.:27 Aug 1924 letter to John G. Neihardt
• Cornwell, Dean: 04 June 1932 (illustrated letter), 10 Apr 1954
• Guerin, Jules: Jan 31, 1918
• Heye, George G.: 19 Feb 1926, 12 Mar 1926, 07 Jul 1926
• McCouch, Gordon M: 08 Jul 1911, (09 May 1956 obituary notice) [also see "Photographs of friends"]
• Minnigerode, C. Powell: 10 Mar 1937
• Naismith, Grace: 23 Mar 1935, [16 letters, 1935?], 06 Jun 1936, 20 Jun 1935, 24 Jun 1935, [1935?], 29 Jul 1935, [2 letters, 1935?], 08 Sept [1935?], [1935?], 28 Sept 1935, [1935?], 29 Oct 1935], 17 Nov 1935, 04 Dec 1935, 16 Dec 1935, 26 Dec 1935, [3 letters, 1936?], 09 Mar 1936, [1936?], 09 Apr 1936, 16 May [1936?], 08 Jun 1936, 30 Jun 1936, 18 Oct [1936?], 01 Nov 1936, 02 Jun 1937, 15 Jun 1937, 24 Jun 1937, [1937?], 11 Jul 1937, 21 Nov 1955
• Neihardt, John G. (poet laureate of Nebraska): 28 Jun 1923, 04 Oct 1923, 05 Dec 1923, 25 Feb 1924 (with 14 reproductions of art work by True), [see letter, 27 Aug 1924, from James H. Cook to Neihardt], 5 May 1925, 26 Jun 1925, 25 Jul 1925, 16 Aug 1934
• Oakley, Thornton: 5 Jul 1933 [also see "Photographs of friends"]
• Phipps, Lawrence C. (Senator from Colorado): 04 Oct 1930
• Pyle, Howard: 18 May 1902, 25 May 1902, July 11, 1902, 06 Nov [1903], 04 Jun 1906 [also see references to Pyle's classes in True's letters to family members, including letter dated May 1902 containing a cyanotype of Pyle and his students; see additional photographs under "Photographs of friends"; and see exhibition catalog for Pyle under "Printed material"]
• Rowan, Edward: 24 Sep 1934
• Rush, Olive: undated
• Rutherford, Forest: 08 Mar 1914 letter to Rutherford from True contains a photo of True
• Thornton, Dan (Governor of Colorado): 25 Jan 1954
• Winter, Ezra: 23 Feb 1922
• Wyeth, N. C.: 06 Jan 1909 [also see "Photographs of friends" and "Album I"]

Series 4: Business Records, 1903-1951 (box 4, 4 folder)

This series consists of stocks and a deed for Colorado real estate, miscellaneous receipts, insurance policies, and a studio lease and inventory.

Series 5: Notes, 1902-1920 (box 5, 10 folders)

This series include an address book, lists of art work, and seven notebooks documenting travel, work with Frank Brangwyn, and a record of mural work, and notes on technique. The travel journal include sketches and drawings.

Series 6: Writings, 1896-1926 (box 5, 5 folders)

Material in this series consists of childhood writings, miscellaneous writings by True, and poems.

Series 7: Artwork, 1897-1923 (boxes 5, 10 and OV folder, 0.5 linear ft.)

This series consists of a sketchbook, cartoons and caricatures, sketches and drawings, paintings on cardboard, designs based on Native American pottery and artifacts, designs for murals in Denver Civic Center, the Colorado State Capitol, the U.S. National Bank building, Boulder Dam, and the Voorhies Memorial Arch in Denver. There are also original Christmas cards, illustrated letters in the Correspondence Series, an illustrated travel journal, a print by Frank Brangwyn, and miscellaneous art work by others.

Series 8: Project Files, 1912-1987 (box 5, 0.75 linear ft.)

This series contains letters, legal documents, printed material, and photographs concerning True's mural projects for the state capitol buildings of Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wyoming.

True acted as color consultant for the Bureau of Reclamation on Bouder Dam and Grand Coulee Dam (Washington State) and during the construction of several other dams and their power houses, including Bonneville (Oregon), Shasta (California), Friant (California), and Minidoka (Idaho)]. His consultation work on these projects is also documented here.

Files typically contain any or all of the following types of material: photographs of the installed murals; related letters, contracts, copyright cards and purchase orders; illustrated notebooks, sketches, and paintings; schematic drawings; and printed material.

Series 9: Photographs, 1859-1950 (boxes 6-7, 1.5 linear ft.)

This series includes photographs of True, his studios, his works, True family members, friends, residences, and reference photographs of Native Americans, cowboys, settlers, and other Western subjects.

Photographs of True family members include Minnie True; Hattie Cherry (sister of Henry True) and Susie Cherry; Ira Goodrich True; Margaret True Thompson; Diemer True; Leland True; and Jamie True and his grandmother Mrs. Beyer. There is also a tintype of 2 unidentified children.

Photographs of the Tupper family include Noah and Hannah Wheaton Smith (grandparents of Margaret Tupper True); Ellen Smith Tupper; Holmes Tupper; Lucille Tupper; Mila Tupper; Madge Tupper; Kate Tupper Galfin; Wilhelmina Wilkes; and William F. Wilkes (husband of Eliza Tupper Wilkes)

Photographs of Allen Tupper True and family members include True as an infant; True and his siblings; True as an adult including 1 cyanotype;True and his children; Hans Mueller (Jane's husband); and miscellaneous family members.

The two photograph albums found here show True, his friends, his studio, N.C. Wyeth and True at the easel in his studio, and various outdoor scenes.

See also Series 13: Glass Negatives

Series 10: Scrapbook, 1934 (box 7, 1 volume)

Series 11: Printed Material, 1875-1981 (box 7, 10 folders)

This series includes clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs for True and for others, reproductions of works, programs, booklets, and miscellaneous items.

Series 12: Artifacts, ca. 1863 (box 10, 9 items)

This series includes the following: five bullets and fragments, 2 buttons, a small piece of marble, and a fragment of a flat wooden stick that have not been microfilmed. They were housed together and accompanied by three notes reading: "Found by Henry on Look Out Mtn on Oct 1898 where the battle above the clouds was fought in 1863;" "Springfield rifle balls, Spanish American War;" and "Found on Chickamauga battlefield." Also found are the following, which have not been filmed:The following artifacts have not been microfilmed: a pocket knife with initials "FET;" two small pocket compasses; a metal badge saying "Columbian Exposition, 1893;" and a small, undecorated metal disk.

Series 13: Glass Negatives, undated (boxes 8-9, 0.4 linear ft.)