Marion Sanford and Cornelia Chapin papers, 1929-1988

Biographical material consists of scattered items documenting the careers of Marion Sanford and Cornelia Chapin. Material about Marion Sanford includes copyright documents for two sculptures, a certificate of membership in the Allied Artists of America, Inc., and a Who's Who biography, as well as an index card file of her sculptures, providing title, date, physical details, awards, and exhibition dates. There is one file of Sanford's correspondence that discusses the sale of her artwork, commissions, and awards received for her works, as well as the handling of Cornelia Chapin's estate.

Material about Cornelia Chapin includes certificates for her membership in the National Aeronautic Association of USA and the Allied Artists of America, Inc., a resume, and obituary. Also found is her written description of the sculpting process for her work "Sandstone Frog," as well as writings by others, including two articles by Dorothy Herzog, and an essay by Chapin's teacher, Mateo Hernandez, putting her work in the context of the history of sculpture. One file of Chapin's correspondence includes letters regarding her participation in Artists for Victory and the National Academy of Design, and discusses her commissioned bear cub sculpture for the National Zoo.

This series also consists of a sound recording and motion picture films of Cornelia Chapin. Included is a lacquer sound disc of an interview with Chapin by Mrs. Putnam for WCFM Radio, Washington, DC, on December 9, 1952. The interview, entitled "Introducing the New Bear Cub," discusses the dedication of Chapin's sculpture, Bear Cub, at the National Zoo in Washington, DC. There are also nine film reels containing home movies of Cornelia Chapin. One movie contains intertitles and is introduced as "Hilltop Happenings: Harpursville Summer 1932", showing Cornelia with unidentified friends or family doing daily chores as well as working on a sculpture of a female figure in her studio. Some of the movies were filmed between 1934 and 1936 while she was working in Paris, and show several scenes of her and her teacher Mateo Hernandez at their studio demonstrating their direct carving method. There is also a large amount of footage of Chapin and Hernandez with friends at the zoo in Paris, and Chapin sketching horses at a racing event.

Items are arranged chronologically within each folder.

This series has been scanned in its entirety. The sound recording and film have been digitized for research access.

Printed material documents Cornelia Chapin and Marion Sanford's careers as sculptors, primarily through exhibition materials and news clippings. Included are numerous exhibition catalogs for group exhibitions that they participated in, such as the Sculptors Guild annual outdoor sculpture exhibition, as well as a few catalogs and exhibition checklists for solo shows. Also found are news clippings about Marion Sanford and Cornelia Chapin that discuss their work and their participation in exhibitions. There are a few clippings about Cornelia Chapin's family, including her sister and poet, Katherine Garrison Chapin. This series also contains printed reproductions of their artwork from various publications.

Items are arranged chronologically within each folder.

The bulk of this series has been scanned. In some cases exhibition catalogs and other publications have had their covers, title pages, and relevant pages scanned.

Found here are printed source files that include postcards and clippings from magazines, newspapers, and catalogs on various topics, most likely compiled by either Marion Sanford or Cornelia Chapin as inspiration or references for their sculptures. Topics include animals, architecture, human figures, and coins, and also include numerous examples of sculptures done by other artists.

Items are arranged by subject.

This bulk of this series has been scanned.

This series contains four scrapbooks compiled by Marion Sanford and Cornelia Chapin - one about Marion Sanford and three about Cornelia Chapin. The scrapbooks primarily contain newspaper and magazine clippings, exhibition announcements, other printed material and photographs of artwork. Two additional scrapbooks, probably compiled by Marion Sanford, are on the subjects of bas relief and sculpture. Similar to the source files, these scrapbooks contain clippings from magazines, newspapers, and other printed sources of sculptures by other artists, including numerous examples of ancient sculpture and relief.

This series has been scanned in its entirety.

This series contains primarily photographs of artwork by both women, and a few of Cornelia Chapin sculpting in her studio and at a zoo in Paris, as well as a few portraits of her. Also found are photographs of Chapin with her instructor, Mateo Hernandez at the Jardin d'Acclimatation in Paris. There are also many photographs of artwork by Marion Sanford and Cornelia Chapin. Photographs of Sanford's artwork are arranged alphabetically followed by the work of Chapin.

This series has been scanned in its entirety.

This series consists of pencil and ink drawings of various subjects. None of the drawings are signed, but are most likely drawn by either Marion Sanford or Cornelia Chapin. Included are drawings of animals, architectural and decorative elements, possibly done in preparation for commissioned works, coins, including drawings for a nickel, and numerous drawings of people and children.

Items are arranged by subject.

This series has been scanned in its entirety.