Stewart (Albert) Photograph Collection, 1930-1965, bulk (bulk 1933-1935)
Collection context
Summary
- Title:
- Albert Stewart Photograph Collection
- Dates:
- 1930-1965, bulk (bulk 1933-1935)
- Creators:
- Stewart, Albert
- Abstract:
- The Albert Stewart Photograph Collection contains drawings and photographs of sculptures created by Albert Stewart, which document his career as one of America’s foremost modern sculptors. His sculptures adorn the interiors and exteriors of numerous museums, government institutions, memorials, churches, schools, and universities throughout California. The collection covers the years 1930 to 1965, with the bulk of the material ranging from 1933 to 1935.
- Language:
- English
- Preferred citation:
-
Albert Stewart Photograph Collection. Ella Strong Denison Library, Scripps College, Claremont, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Albert Stewart Photograph Collection contains drawings and photographs of sculptures created by Stewart documenting his career as one of America’s foremost modern sculptors. His sculptures adorn the interiors and exteriors of numerous museums, government institutions, memorials, churches, schools, and universities. The collection consists solely of photographic material and covers the years 1930 to 1965 with the bulk of the material ranging from 1933 to 1935.
The largest series in the collection consists of oversize photographs of sculptures created by Albert Stewart.
The collection is organized into three series:
- Series 1. Photographs, 1930-1965, 1.0 cubic ft
- Series 2. Oversize Photographs, 1930-1961. 17 cubic feet
- Series 3. Exhibition Posters, n.d. 1.5 cubic feet
- Biographical / historical:
-
Albert Stewart (1900-1965), one of America’s foremost modern sculptors was born in Kensington, England, and immigrated to the United States with his grandfather at the age of eight (his mother died at his birth). During the First World War he served in the Canadian Royal Air Force, after which he returned to New York City and pursued his art studies at the Beaux Arts Institute of Design and the Arts Students League, wile also filling in for the staff cartoonist at the Herald Tribune. In New York he studied under both Frederick MacMonnies and his mentor Paul Manship, for whom he later became a chief assistant (1925-1930).
Manship’s art had a formative and lasting influence on Stewart. While working for Manship, Stewart developed an appreciation for archaic trend in modern sculpture, and for the statuary – Egyptian, early Greek, and Romanesque. His sculpture was greatly influenced by the study of these periods, and animals were a recurring theme throughout his career. Among these works are the hawk on the Ft. Moore Memorial pylon in Los Angeles, and his monumental bronze bear, “Silver King” (1925) that was purchased by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. During the late 1920’s and 1930’s Stewart worked on various items, ranging from medals to large, monumental architectural decorations. Stewart’s architectural sculpture, which he began in the 1930’s, includes the stone dolphin sculptures for the Seaman’s Memorial in New York City (1930), the pediment sculpture for the Department of Labor Building in Washington, D.C. (1935), and the Second World War battle monument in Thiaucourt, France.
Based on his reputation, Malvina Hoffman, the prominent American Sculptress, recommended Stewart to President Jaqua and Millard Sheets when they were looking for a sculptor for the art department at Scripps College in Claremont California. In 1939 he was appointed head of the sculpture program at Scripps College where he and his wife, Marion, stayed until his death in 1965.
Among some of his most visible works in California are the 14’ façade figures on the Los Angeles County Courthouse (1956), and the 16’ heroic stone figures on the Scottish Rites Temple on Wilshire Boulevard (1960). Other well-known examples of his work include: the free-standing Christ the Teacher (1943) at Claremont Community Church; the bronze fawn that drinks from the fountain in front of the Lang Gallery at Scripps College (1952); the large standing bronze figures on the exterior of the Home Savings and Loan Building in Pasadena (1961); and Man and Nature (1965), which stands in front of the Humanities Building at Scripps College. Shortly before his death, his 9’ bronze statue “Refugees” was dedicated in Gouda, Holland (1964).
Date Event 1900 Born in London, England, on April 9. 1907 Family moved from London and settled in the United States. 1931 Created Decorative Panels for 333 Michigan Avenue Building, Chicago, Illinois 1931 Created Baptristrey Doors, St. Bartholomew’s Church, NYC 1934 Created Municipal Auditorium Relief’s, Kansas City, Missouri [WPA] 1934 Created Pediment, Department of Labor Building, Washington, D.C. 1934 Created Eagle Sun Dial for American Battle Monument, U.S. Cemetery, Thiaucourt, France 1935 Panels and Eagle, U.S. Mint, San Francisco, California 1939 Appointed head of the sculpture program at Scripps College, Claremont, California 1939 Created panels for the Nassau County Court House, Mineola, NY 1946 Created panels on Home Builder’s Savings and Loan Association, Pomona California 1952 Created Animal Figures in Brick Wall at Los Angeles County Fair Grounds at Pomona 1953 Created Relief’s for Life Science Building, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 1956 Created 14’ Figures for Los Angeles County Court House, Los Angeles, California 1958 Created Eagle and Panels for Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial, Los Angeles, California 1960 Created 16’ Heroic Stone Figures for Scottish Rite Temple, Los Angeles, California 1964 9’ Bronze Statue “Refugees” Dedicated in Gouda, Holland 1965 Died in Claremont, California, on September 23. - Acquisition information:
- Gift of Marion Stewart on January 17, 1980.
- Processing information:
-
Preliminary arrangement by library staff. Processed by History Associates Incorporated, 2005.
- Accruals:
-
No addition to the collection is anticipated.
- Physical location:
- Ella Strong Denison Library
- Physical description:
- 19.5 cubic feet
Indexed terms
About this collection guide
- Date Prepared:
- August, 20, 2005
- Date Encoded:
- Finding aid encoded by Kenneth W. Homsley for History Associates Incorporated. September 10, 2005
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
This collection is open for research with permission from Ella Strong Denison Library staff.
- Terms of access:
-
Property rights reside with Scripps College. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact Ella Strong Denison Library staff.
- Preferred citation:
-
Albert Stewart Photograph Collection. Ella Strong Denison Library, Scripps College, Claremont, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
1030 Columbia Avenue, #2031Claremont, CA 91711, US
- Contact:
- (909) 607-3941