Ilse Martha Bischoff papers
name: label: Creator
content: Bischoff, Ilse, 1901-1990
label: Names
content: Cadmus, Paul, 1904-1999
label: Names
content: French, Jared, 1905-1988
topic: label: Occupation
content: Painters -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Occupation
content: Illustrators -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Occupation
content: Authors -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Occupation
content: Collectors -- New York (State) -- New York
label: Topic
content: Art -- Collectors and collecting
label: Topic
content: Women artists
label: Topic
content: Women painters
label: Topic
content: Women authors
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The Ilse Martha Bischoff papers were donated in 1980-1981 by Ilse Martha Bischoff and in 2025 by Gabriella von Scheven, executor to Tim Pohl's estate. Pohl was Bischoff's friend and inherited the papers from her.
creator: label: Creator
content: Bischoff, Ilse, 1901-1990
setName: label: See more items in
content: Ilse Martha Bischoff papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The papers of illustrator, writer and collector Ilse Martha Bischoff measure 14.2 linear feet and date from circa 1893-circa 1995. Found are scattered personal and business records, correspondence, pencil and watercolor sketches, notes and writings, printed material and photographs. Correspondence is primarily with family members and colleagues including Paul Cadmus and Jared French. Photographs are of Bischoff, her family, and colleagues including Paul Cadmus and Jared French.

There is a 13.0 linear foot unprocessed addition to this collection donated in 2025 that includes printed material; personal and professional correspondence; photographs, photo albums, negatives, slides, glass plates, and a tintype of Bischoff, family, Bischoff's home, events, pets, works of art, and travel; Bischoff's notes and writings regarding Vigée LeBrun and others; scrapbooks; biographical material; lists of Bischoff's paintings; appraisals; inventories; address book; diaries; check registers and few annotated books. Materials date from circa 1895- circa 1995.
bioghist: label: Biographical Note
content: Ilse Martha Bischoff was born on November 21, 1901 in New York City, to Adele Maria Timme Bischoff and Ernst Bischoff, founder of the Ernst Bischoff (pharmaceuticals) Company of Ivoryton, Connecticut.

Bischoff began her education at the Horace Mann School, later studying costume design at the Parson's School of Design. At the Art Students League, she studied painting under Frank Du Mond and etching with Joseph Pennell. While at the Art Students League, Bischoff befriended painters Paul Cadmus and Jared French. She also studied art in Paris, France, and Munich, Germany.

From 1928 to 1946, Bischoff illustrated 12 books and wrote two novels about George Washington's Portraitist, Gilbert Stuart: Painter's Coach in 1943, and Proud Heritage in 1949. Her autobiography, Drive Slowly: Six Dogs, was published in 1953. She was also an avid collector of Meissen porcelain.

Bishoff's artwork is represented in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the New York Public Library, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Hood Museum at Dartmouth.

Ilse Martha Bischoff died December 5, 1990, in Hartland, Vermont.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 14.2 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1893-1995
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.biscilse
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Sketches
label: Type
content: Writings
label: Type
content: Photographs
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged as 7 series:

Series 1: Personal Records, 1934-1938, 1955-1968 (Box 1; 3 folders)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1922-1981 (Box 1; 47 folders)

Series 3: Artwork, circa 1920-circa 1959 (Box 1; 1 folder)

Series 4: Notes and Writings, 1929-1975 (Box 1; 33 folders)

Series 5: Printed Material, 1929-1976 (Box 1; 15 folders)

Series 6: Photographs, 1893-1971 (Box 2; 20 folders)

Series 7: Unprocessed Addition, circa 1895- circa 1995 (Boxes 3-19; 13.4 linear feet)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The papers were processed by Jean Fitzgerald in March, 2006.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Sketches
label: Genre/Form
content: Writings
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs
scopecontent: label: Scope and Content Note
content: The papers of illustrator, writer and collector Ilse Martha Bischoff measure 14.6 linear feet and date from 1893-1981. Found are scattered personal and business records, correspondence, pencil and watercolor sketches, notes and writings, printed material and photographs.

Correspondence is primarily with family members and colleagues including Paul Cadmus and Jared French. Artwork includes pencil and watercolor sketches, and notes and writings consist primarily of typescripts of Bischoff's short stories. Printed material includes clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and miscellaneous printed material relating to Bischoff's European travel. Of special interest are photographs of Bischoff, her family, and colleagues including Paul Cadmus and Jared French.

There is a 13.4 linear foot unprocessed addition to this collection donated in 2025 that includes printed material; personal and professional correspondence; photographs, photo albums, negatives, slides, glass plates, and a tintype of Bischoff, family, Bischoff's home, events, pets, works of art, and travel; Bischoff's notes and writings regarding Vigée LeBrun and others; scrapbooks; biographical material; lists of Bischoff's paintings; appraisals; inventories; address book; diaries; check registers and few annotated books. Materials date from circa 1895- circa 1995.