Research Collections > W > Ernest William Watson papers

Ernest William Watson papers, 1949-1965

Watson, Ernest William, b. 1884 d. 1969
Painter, Printmaker, Illustrator
New York, N.Y.; Mass.

Collection size: 1.4 linear ft. (partially microfilmed on 2 reels)

Collection Summary: Correspondence; research materials for a book; a tape recording; manuscripts; photographs; drawings; and miscellany.

REEL N70-46: Working dummy, original drawings, layout, for Watson's book SKETCH DIARY (1965); and other works; plus clippings of articles by him.

REEL 64: Correspondence, 1949-1955, arising from Watson's position as editor-in-chief of the magazine AMERICAN ARTIST. Correspondence relates to articles for the magazine; color engraving; controversy between "modern" vs. "conservative" art; awards to watercolorists; gallery fees for exhibiting works of art; and personal matters.

UNMICROFILMED: Correspondence; various manuscripts and other papers relating to SKETCH DIARY; tape recording in which he tells about the establishment of Berkshire Summer School of Art in 1916; preliminary manuscripts of "Getting a Likeness"; photographs; drawings; Christmas cards from other artists; pencil rendering "Temple of Zeus," created as an advertisement for Eldorado pencils; and miscellany.

Biographical/Historical Note: Illustrator and block printer; New York, N.Y. Founder & editor of American Artist, 1937-1955.

Material on reel N70-46 lent for microfilming 1970; some drawings and portions of material of sketch diary was subsequently donated 1972 along with unmicrofilmed material by Eve Watson, widow of Watson; material on reel 64 donated 1971 by Norman Kent, editor of American Artist.

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Microfilm reels N 70-46 & 64 available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
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