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John Taylor Arms papers

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Held at: Bryn Mawr College [Contact Us]Bryn Mawr College Library, 101 N. Merion Avenue, Bryn Mawr 19010

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Bryn Mawr College. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

John Taylor Arms was an architect and printmaker, regarded during the first half of the 20th century as one of the most eloquent exponents of the graphic arts. He studied architecture at the Massachusetts Insitute of Technology, graduating in 1914. His artwork focused on buildings and cityscapes, both in New York and in Europe. His etchings, aquatints, and lithographs can be found in many of the major museums of the world. He was a member of many printmaking societies, serving as president of the American Society of Graphic Artists. Arms was also involved with several organizations including the Society of American Etchers, the National Academy, and Artists for Victory.

The John Taylor Arms papers hold both Arms' personal and artistic records along with records of organizations and projects in which he was involved. The collection, which ranges from 1910-1952, is comprised of binders with written materials, photographs, academic notebooks, agendas, an address book, sketchbooks, journals and scrapbooks. The John Taylor Arms papers sheds light on the career of the architect and printmaker, regarded during the first half of the 20th century as one of the most eloquent exponents of the graphic arts.

The collection is divided between "Personal and Artistic Records," and "Records of Organizations and Projects."

"Personal and Artistic Records" contains the personal appointment calendars, an address book, consignment records, travel diaries, travel sketchbooks, and technical notes and records of John Taylor Arms. Additionally, it contains technical notes and records written by others, Arms' family photos, and a scrapbook of Christmas cards sent to Arms. "Records of Organizations and Projects" contains meeting minutes of the Art Associate Representatives for the New York World's Fair, materials related to the Society of American Etchers, exhibition catalogs of the National Academy, and materials related to Artists for Victory.

John Taylor Arms was an influential architect and printmaker during the first half of the twentieth century. The materials within the collection would benefit those interested in John Taylor Arms, printmaking and etching during the first half of the 20th century, and artist organizations such as the National Academy, the Society of American Etchers, and Artists for Victory.

At the time of his death in Woodstock, Vermont, his neighbors Ward and Mariam Coffin Canaday acquired his papers, which Mrs. Canaday subsequently donated to Bryn Mawr.

Publisher
Bryn Mawr College
Finding Aid Author
?, Melissa Torquato
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research

Use Restrictions

The John Taylor Arms papers are the physcial property of Bryn Mawr College Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors' heirs and assigns.

Collection Inventory

Physical Description

2 items

Yearbook 1950 with some notes by JTA, 1950. 1 items.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 items

The Universal Calendar 1951 with some notes by JTA, 1951. 1 items.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 items

Physical Description

1 items

JTA's address book with notes. 1 items.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 items

Physical Description

2 folders

Consignment Book I. Contains records of consignment of prints to Kennedy and Co. Contains information regarding states and proofs. 1 folders.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folders

Consignment Book II. Contains records of consignment of prints to Kennedy and Co. Contains information regarding states and proofs. 1 folders.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folders

Physical Description

2 items

Journals (2) containing descriptions of cathedrals and churches visited while in France, 1928-1929 (Written by Mrs. Arms?), 1928-1929. 2 items.
Box 2
Physical Description

2 items

Physical Description

5 items

6 sketches from voyage to Europe, May 1923, 1923. 1 items.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 items

5 sketches mostly of cathedrals in France , undated. 1 items.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 items

14 sketches of various scenes in France , undated. 1 items.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 items

6 sketches of classical architecural elements, the classical orders , undated. 1 items.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 items

6 sketches of Europe, some from Venice. 1 items.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 items

Engineering drawings by JTA at Princeton. 1 boxes.
Box 4
Physical Description

1 boxes

Book "B", Mediums, Varnishes, Solvents, Oils, Grounds, Sizes, Primings, Methods, etc, etc.". 1 items.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 items

Book "C" (and continuation of Book B), Pigments & Color. 1 items.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 items

JTA's Notes on Lithography. 1 items.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 items

JTA's Italian Notebook. 1 items.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 items

Notes in re:Printing, Press Room. Contains two letters from David Strong, together with 5 pages of notes on printing techniques. 1 folders.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folders

Records of Biting #387-433. 1 folders.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folders

Miscellaneous Notes Pertaining to JTA's catalog of personal works. 1 folders.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 folders

"Mary Cassatt's Use of Soft-Grounded Etching" by Sue Fuller, 1949, 1949. 1 folders.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folders

"Lithography" written by "Libby". 1 folders.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 folders

Newspaper clipping of Dorothy Noyes Arms' "Fishing Memories". 1 items.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 items

Physical Description

1 folders

Margery Arms Roberts. (undated). 1 items.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 items

Unidentified Woman (undated) . 1 items.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 items

Young John Taylor Arms III. (undated). 1 items.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 items

Scrapbook of Christmas cards from artists including; Luis F. Mora, Norman Kent, Albert W. Barker, Elizabeth and Huger Elliot, Frederick Polley, Albert Sterner. 1 boxes.
Box 3
Physical Description

1 boxes

Exhibition catalogs of the Society of American Etchers, Gravers, Lithographers...1950-1952, 1950-1952. 2 folders.
Box 1
Physical Description

2 folders

Scrapbook of newspaper clippings of Society of American Etchers exhibits, 1934-35, 1934-1935. 1 items.
Box 2
Physical Description

1 items

Scrapbook of newspaper clippings of Society of American Etchers exhibits (1932-1933), 1932-1933. 1 items.
Box 1
Physical Description

1 items

Exhibition catalogs of the National Academy. 4 folders.
Box 1
Physical Description

4 folders

Artists for Victory, Inc. meeting minutes (early 1940s), early 1940s. 3 folders.
Box 1
Physical Description

3 folders

Photographs of Artists for Victory, Inc. Posters. 5 folders.
Box 1
Physical Description

5 folders

Meeting Minutes of the Art Association Representatives for the 1939 New York World's Fair. 4 folders.
Box 1
Physical Description

4 folders

Print, Suggest