James Earle and Laura Gardin Fraser papers
name: label: Creator
content: Fraser, James Earle, 1876-1953
label: Creator
content: Fraser, Laura Gardin, 1889-1966
topic: label: Occupation
content: Sculptors -- Connecticut -- Westport
label: Occupation
content: Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Topic
content: Sculpture, American
label: Topic
content: Women sculptors
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The collection was donated in 2023 by Matthew W. Wolf and was previously lent for microfilming in 1982 by Joyce Wolf, Matthew Wolf's mother. Provenance prior to 1982 is unknown.
creator: label: Creator
content: Fraser, James Earle, 1876-1953
label: Creator
content: Fraser, Laura Gardin, 1889-1966
setName: label: See more items in
content: James Earle and Laura Gardin Fraser papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The James Earle and Laura Gardin Fraser papers, circa 1895-circa 1960s, measure 2.1 linear feet and document the lives and work of sculptors Laura Gardin and James Earle Fraser through biographical material, correspondence, writings and notes, personal business records, printed material, artwork, and photographic material.
bioghist: label: Biographical / Historical
content: James Earle Fraser (1876-1953) and Laura Gardin Fraser (1889-1966) were sculptors active in New York City and Westport, Connecticut. 

Laura Gardin Fraser was born in Chicago, Illinois, and studied at the Art Students League in New York City from 1907 to 1910, with James Earle Fraser, whom she married in 1913. She was elected to the National Sculpture Society in 1912, and the National Academy of Design and National Institute of Arts and Letters, in 1931. She was known for large sculptural works, as well as commissioned medals and coins for the U.S. Government and various national organizations, such as the American Bar Association and National Geographic Society.

James Earle Fraser was born in Minnesota and studied at the the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1890, as well as the École des Beaux Arts and the Académie Julian in Paris. He was assistant to Richard Bock and Augustus Saint-Gaudens and taught at the Art Students League in New York City beginning in 1906. Fraser was known for large sculptural works, memorial statues, and commissioned medals and coins, including the buffalo nickel. Works include statues and pediments at the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. National Archives, and the U.S. Treasury. He was a member of the National Academy of Design, the National Sculpture Society, and the Architectural League of New York. 

The Frasers initially lived in New York City, spending summers at their Westport, Connecticut home, but later moved to Connecticut full time due to space needs for their studio work.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 2.1 Linear feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: circa 1895-circa 1960
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.frasjame
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Interviews
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as 7 series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1913-1947 (7 folders; Box 1)

Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1923-circa 1954 (0.1 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 3: Writings and Notes, 1913-1958 (0.1 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 4: Personal Business Records, circa 1923-1954 (0.1 linear feet; Box 1)

Series 5: Printed Material, circa 1910s-circa 1960s (0.6 linear feet; Box 1, OV 4, OV 8)

Series 6: Artwork, circa 1920s-circa 1950s (0.3 linear feet; Box 1, OV 5-6)

Series 7: Photographic Material, circa 1895-circa 1960 (0.9 linear feet; Boxes 1-3, OV 7)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Anna Rimel in 2024.
altformavail: label: Existence and Location of Copies
content: Portions of the collection are available on 35mm microfilm reels 2548 and 2549 at the Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Interviews
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The James Earle and Laura Gardin Fraser papers, circa 1895-circa 1960s, measure 2.1 linear feet and document the lives and work of sculptors Laura Gardin and James Earle Fraser through biographical material, correspondence, writings and notes, personal business records, printed material, artwork, and photographic material.

Photographs and negatives make up the bulk of the collection and include images of Laura Gardin and James Earle Fraser at work and in studios, as well as photographs of various sculptures, medals, pediments and works in progress and in situ. Scattered photographs by Peter A. Juley & Son are also included. Correspondence, financial documents, and architectural plans document renovations and design work for New York City and Westport, Connecticut properties owned by the Frasers. A 1947 interview transcript with Laura Gardin and James Earle Fraser is found among the biographical material, in addition to biographical sketches and CVs for Laura Gardin Fraser.