Barbara Latham papers
name: label: Creator
content: Latham, Barbara, 1896-1989
label: Names
content: Cook, Howard Norton, 1901-1980
label: Names
content: Leith-Ross, Harry, b. 1886
topic: label: Occupation
content: Illustrators -- New Mexico
label: Occupation
content: Painters -- New Mexico
label: Topic
content: Women painters
label: Topic
content: Women artists
label: Topic
content: Women illustrators
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: Barbara Latham donated her papers to the Archives of American Art in 1972-1973.
creator: label: Creator
content: Latham, Barbara, 1896-1989
setName: label: See more items in
content: Barbara Latham papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of illustrator and painter Barbara Latham date from circa 1900 to 1972 and measure 3.4 linear feet. The collection documents Latham's career through biographical material, correspondence, writings and notes, printed material, photographs, and artwork. Artwork includes sketches and original Christmas cards, six sketchbooks, pencil and pen sketches, and prints. Works by others include four oil paintings by Henry Leigh-Ross and drawings by Howard Cook.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: Barbara Latham (1896-1989) was an illustrator and painter active in Taos, New Mexico. She illustrated many children's books and designed Christmas cards from the 1920s to 1940s. 

Barbara Latham was born in Walpole, Massachusetts to Allen and Caroline Walker Latham. Her parents were naturalists and she was influenced by the natural surroundings of the farmhouse in which she was raised. Latham received a scholarship to study art at eight years old at the Norwich Free Academy. She continued her education at Pratt Institute and the Art Students League during their regular and summer sessions.

Latham married fellow painter Howard Cook. They settled in Taos and Sante Fe, New Mexico. She painted the natural landscape of New Mexico and designed Christmas cards for the Norcross Company. She was well known for her work as a children's book illustrator and her paintings may be found in museums around the United States.

Barbara Latham died in Sante Fe, New Mexico in 1989.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 3.4 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1900-1972
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.lathbarb
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Sketchbooks
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as 6 series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1928-1970 (Box 1; 0.2 linear feet)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1902-1972 (Box 1, 5; 0.5 linear feet)

Series 3: Writings and Notes, 1934-1965 (Box 1; 0.2 linear feet)

Series 4: Printed Material, 1925-1972 (Boxes 1-2, 6; 0.5 linear feet)

Series 5: Photographs, circa 1900-circa 1960s (Box 2; 3 folders)

Series 6: Artwork and Sketchbooks, 1907-1963 (Boxes 2-4, 6-7; 2.0 linear feet)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Jayna Josefson in 2021.
altformavail: label: Existence and Location of Copies
content: Portions of the collection are available for use on 35mm microfilm reels 2839-2841 and 3244 at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of the material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Sketchbooks
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The papers of illustrator and painter Barbara Latham date from circa 1900 to 1972 and measure 3.4 linear feet. The collection documents Latham's career through biographical material, correspondence, writings and notes, printed material, photographs, and artwork. Artwork includes sketches and original Christmas cards, six sketchbooks, pencil and pen sketches, and prints. Works by others include four oil paintings by Henry Leigh-Ross and drawings by Howard Cook.

Biographical material is scattered and also includes sales records of Latham's prints. Correspondence is with family, friends, and colleagues. Correspondents include Howard Cook, Allen Latham, Amalia M. de Schulthess, and the Vancil Foster Christmas Cards company. Writings by Latham are short stories. Book files are for publications illustrated by Latham and may include drafts and proofs.
relatedmaterial: label: Related Materials
content: Barbara Latham's papers relating to her work as a children's book illustrator are located in the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.