Art - Overview
The National Museum of American History is not an art museum. But works of art fill its collections and testify to the vital place of art in everyday American life. The ceramics collections hold hundreds of examples of American and European art glass and pottery. Fashion sketches, illustrations, and prints are part of the costume collections. Donations from ethnic and cultural communities include many homemade religious ornaments, paintings, and figures. The Harry T Peters "America on Stone" collection alone comprises some 1,700 color prints of scenes from the 1800s. The National Quilt Collection is art on fabric. And the tools of artists and artisans are part of the Museum's collections, too, in the form of printing plates, woodblock tools, photographic equipment, and potters' stamps, kilns, and wheels.
"Art - Overview" showing 25 items.
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Roscoe Holcomb
- Description
- Roscoe Holcomb (1911-1981) embodied the "high, lonesome sound" of traditional Appalachian songs. A banjo player and singer, he spent most of his life in the small town of Daisy, Kentucky, working for a living with no aspirations to become a star. Smithsonian folklorist John Cohen recorded Holcomb at home in 1959. That recording led to performances at bluegrass festivals and an international tour with the Stanley Brothers.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1972
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.028
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.028
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The supurb staircase, Public Library. Active no. 12813 : stereo photonegative
- Notes
- Currently stored in box 1.1.5 [151], moved from [157]
- Similar to RSN 7167. Orig. no. 260-1
- Date
- 1895
- 1920-1930
- 1900-1910
- publisher
- Underwood & Underwood
- H.C. White Co
- Local number
- RSN 1429
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
BOSTON, Mass.--This portrait of the American Chief Executive [President Coolidge] was painted recently by Edwin C. Tarbell, celebrated oil artist. It is life size and will be unveiled Monday, May 10, in th State House here. 5/8/26. [Active no. 1777 : non-stereo photonegative,] 1926
- Notes
- Currently stored in box 3.1.70 [227A]
- Orig. no. A-204
- Date
- 1926
- 1920-1930
- publisher
- Underwood & Underwood
- Subject
- Coolidge, Calvin 1872-1933
- Local number
- RSN 18231
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
Art school students construct wired masks and even their sweethearts wouldn't recognize 'em. [photonegative], 06/04/1926
- Notes
- Company catalog card included
- U&U caption in file box: 2023-A204
- Currently stored in box 3.1.71 [227B]
- Summary
- Caption: "Boston, Mass- Girl art students of the Veker George School, as a part of their art course are taught how to make masks. They are shown here wih a trio of masks wierd and fantastic. Left to right a russioan Peasant Mask; Queen Guenivere and a fantastic mask shown by students of the school."
- Date
- 1926
- 06/04/1926
- 1920-1930
- publisher
- Underwood & Underwood
- Local number
- RSN 18564
- Video number 17876
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
Explosion of ammunition case, near 28th Mass. Infantry--Battle of Gettysburg. 5572 interpositive
- Notes
- Currently stored in box 3.2.9 [201]
- Date
- 1900-1910
- publisher
- Underwood & Underwood
- Local number
- RSN 20499
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
Harmonica Frank Floyd
- Description
- Photographed backstage, "Harmonica" Frank Floyd (1908-1984) was an entertainer for the better part of the 20th century. After running away from home at age twelve, he began playing harmonica in carnivals and medicine shows. His repertoire included jokes, tricks, songs, and stories.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1973
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.006
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.006
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Loretta Lynn
- Description
- Loretta Lynn is a classic country singer whose life--from her autobiography, Coal Miner's Daughter--is a well-known story. She was one of the first stars to sing with a feminist point of view. Her songs, like "Don't Come Home a-Drinkin' (with Lovin' on Your Mind)" and "The Pill," broke new ground in country music. Lynn (b. 1935) and Conway Twitty were named Vocal Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association for years in a row in the early 1970s.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1971
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.011
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.011
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner
- Description
- Dolly Parton joined Porter Wagoner and the Wagonmasters in 1967. She launched her solo career in 1974.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1972
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.018
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.018
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Porter Wagoner
- Description
- One of the most recognizable figures in country music, Porter Wagoner was known as the "Thin Man from West Plains, Missouri." He began recording music in 1954 after several years of singing on a local radio station. In 1961, Wagoner (b. 1927) began to host his own country music television show, which was syndicated for 21 years.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1972
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.022
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.022
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Doc Watson and Merle Watson
- Description
- Doc Watson (Arthel Lane Watson, b. 1923), blind since his early life, achieved national acclaim primarily as a result of his involvement in the folk song revival of the 1960s. Watson remained a powerful influence in many different forms of acoustic music, including blues, old time, country, and bluegrass. His, son Merle (1946-1985), frequently performed on guitar with him until his untimely death in a tractor accident.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- negative
- 1974
- 2003
- maker
- Horenstein, Henry
- ID Number
- 2003.0169.024
- accession number
- 2003.0169
- catalog number
- 2003.0169.024
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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