William E. L. Bunn papers, 1863-2009

Biographical material includes awards, membership certificates, diplomas, and other school records, as well as records relating to an exhibition and donation of papers at the Smithsonian Institution. Also found are Bunn family genealogy records which consist of family trees, photographs of family members, letters, notes, and one film reel (8mm) of a family reunion. Additional material includes an interview transcript, plans and notes regarding various studio additions, and an autobiographical file maintained by Bunn including professional summaries, lists of works, and other records.

Folders are arranged alphabetically.

Correspondence is between Bunn and his mother, friend and fellow artist Lee Allen, Muscatine Art Center, and Karel Yasko of the General Services Administration. General correspondence files include letters regarding exhibitions of Bunn's artwork, awards, mural projects, and other commissions. Also found are many illustrated envelopes which Bunn sent to his wife Annavene. A few of the envelopes contained letters, but the majority of the original letters are not included. Researchers should note that additional correspondence can be found within the project files in Series 3.

Project files document Bunn's work as a painter and muralist. Bunn created a notebook "Index to Projects" late in his career. Each project, including his post office mural projects, was assigned a number and has a one page description and photograph within the notebook. Also found is a corresponding file for each of the projects from the index. Files may include photographs, notes, and sketches. Files on the post office mural projects are extensive and may also include correspondence, news clippings, and related publications. Researchers should note that additional drawings for these projects may be found in Series 10: Artwork.

Folders are arranged based on the arrangement from Bunn's "Index to Projects." Researchers may want to consult this notebook before using related files.

Found here are records of William Bunn's employment as an industrial designer, primarily for Sheaffer Pen Company and Cuckler Steele Span Company. Included are drawings and blueprints for Bunn's designs, day planners, employment records, photographs, advertisements, and product catalogs.

William Bunn's papers relating to Grant Wood include memorabilia and photographs from the Grant Wood Art Festival, catalogs for exhibitions of Wood's artwork, and printed material about Wood. Correspondence is primarily between Bunn and others regarding Wood, but also includes a letter of recommendation written by Grant Wood for Bunn in 1942. Also found here are various notes, a VHS vidoecassette of an event, and photographs, including two photographs of Wood and photographs of his residence in Iowa City.

Found here are 41 pocket diaries and journals belonging to William Bunn and dating from 1929-1951 and 1969-2003. Pocket diaries document the period that Bunn was a student at the University of Iowa and include brief accounts of his art projects and school activities. Later journals include time management schedules created by Bunn detailing his work, travel, expenditures, and goals. Some journals include sketches and attached photographs and documents. Also found here are an expense journal and a journal belonging to Jane Hehmeyer.

Diaries and journals are arranged chronologically.

Writings and notes include to-do lists, documentation on people Bunn knew, his artworks, lists of personal belongings, and topics of interest, such as astrology and steamboats. One note card file box contains notes arranged by subject. Also found are five notebooks, including three that Bunn kept while a student at the University of Iowa for notes on art projects and university life. Two later notebooks contain notes on various subjects. Other miscellaneous writings include draft letters and project ideas.

Printed material consists of exhibition announcements and catalogs, primarily for group exhibitions including works by Bunn, books, magazines and news clippings, and Treasury Department bulletins. Also found are announcements of mural competitions, Bunn's collection of postcards depicting river scenes and boats, as well as other published images of steamboats.

Personal photographs include snapshots and portraits of Bunn, photographs of his wife, Annavene, and children, Cheri and Eric. Also found are numerous photographs of family and friends, including two family photograph albums. Many of these photographs are unidentified. Photographs also depict artwork by Bunn, however, researchers should note that additional photographs of artwork are included among the project files in Series 3. Additional photographs depict various subjects that were of interest to Bunn and may have been used as references for his artwork, including nature scenes, steamboats, airplanes, and bridges.

Artwork primarily consists of pencil drawings, watercolors, and pastels. Found here are costume and theater designs created as part of William Bunn's thesis at University of Iowa. Also included are drawings and watercolors for potential art projects. Researchers should note that many of the miscellaneous drawings here were most likely preliminary drawings and studies for works documented in Series 3: Project Files or technical drawings from his work as an industrial designer. Drawings frequently depict steamboats, airplanes, people, and mechanical designs. Additionally, there are four sketchbooks. Two of these sketchbooks contain sketches and notes for the post office murals in Minden, Nebraska, and Hamburg, Iowa.