Photographic Material
name: label: Collection Creator
content: National Academy of Design (U.S.)
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Academy of Design records
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 6.1 Linear Feet (Boxes 60-63, 131-138, OV 143-144)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1845-2010
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.natiacad, Series 17
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The series is arranged as six subseries.

17.1: Artists and People, 1854-2009

17.2: School, 1845-2010

17.3: Exhibitions and Events, 1889-2007

17.4: Building, 1850-2002

17.5: Artwork, 1845-1975

17.6: Reference, 1890-1979
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Photographic material includes a wide variety of formats and processes including 19th and 20th photographic prints, glass plate negatives, copy prints, contact sheets, slides, and 35mm negatives. Subjects include artists and others associated with the National Academy of Design, the school, exhibitions and events, Academy buildings, artwork, and reference photographs. Many 19th century photographs contain descriptive annotations. Supplementary inventories and guides prepared by Academy archivists are scattered throughout. 

Artists and others associated with the Academy (subseries 17.1) consists of portraits of artists and groups of people—including members, juries, and council officers—at exhibitions, dinners, council meetings, and other gatherings. There are several folders of photographs of Henry Ward Ranger over three decades, some with Academy colleagues. One folder contains photographs belonging to Academy member Francis Lathrop, depicting a workshop, believed to belong to William Morris (includes supplemental correspondence, 1968-1986). One civil war photograph was sent to the president of the Academy by Joseph Jackson, depicting union soldiers and thanking the Academy for its inspiring work.

Photographs of the Academy school (subseries 17.2) depict teachers, students, classrooms, models, and instruction. Some classes are identified, such as George W. Maynard's class, and James Carroll Beckwith's "antiques class". Also included are photographs of student artworks, exhibitions, critiques, scholarship winners, and extracurricular activities. Student artwork includes predominantly figurative paintings, sculptures, and murals.

Exhibition and event photographs (subseries 17.3) include the Academy centennial exhibition, exhibitions not held at the Academy, ceremonies, galas, and the 175th anniversary celebration.

Building photographs (subseries 17.4) include copy prints of illustrations and renderings of proposed building sites, floor plans, and interior and exterior views of many of the Academy's buildings. 

Artwork photographs (subseries 17.5) depict work by Daniel Huntington and George W. Maynard (many with annotations), murals by John Holmer and Gifford Beal, as well as medals, portrait paintings, figurative sculpture, sculptural relief, and religious murals.

Reference photographs (subseries 17.6) include figure studies, landscapes, and locations abroad including Egypt, Italy, the Middle East, Northern Europe, and Spain.