Violet Oakley, 1919 - 1965

File — Box: 31

Scope and Contents

Copies of 6 notices or catalogs for exhibitions by American artist Violet Oakley both at home and in Europe between 1919 and 1958, as well as copies of two pamphlets dated 1965 from the Violet Oakley Memorial Foundation, and annotated copies of a typescript introduction to Oakley’s work by art critic Dorothy Grafly.

Dates

1919 - 1965

Conditions Governing Access

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.

Biographical / Historical

Violet Oakley (June 10, 1874 – February 25, 1961) was an American artist noted for her work as a painter, stained glass maker, and muralist in the pre-Raphaelite style. Along with Jessie Wilcox Smith and Elizabeth Shippen Green, Oakley was one of the Red Rose Girls, a group of radical feminist artists and illustrators working in and around Philadelphia in the early 20th century. She was the first woman to receive a public mural commission, painting a series of 43 murals at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Building in Harrisburg and later undertaking a 16-year mural project at the State Senate and Supreme Court. Oakley’s partner, Edith Emerson, also moved in the artistic circles of Philadelphia and acted as her sometime secretary, promoting her work and legacy.

Extent

From the Collection: 30 Cubic Feet (68 boxes)

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

From the Collection: Latin

From the Collection: French

From the Collection: Italian

From the Collection: Welsh

From the Collection: Danish

From the Collection: Swedish

From the Collection: Spanish

From the Collection: German

From the Collection: Norwegian

From the Collection: Persian

From the Collection: Japanese

From the Collection: Russian

From the Collection: Greek, Ancient (to 1453)

Additional Description

Related Materials

The Violet Oakley Papers, as well as the records of the Violet Oakley Memorial Foundation are held by the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian.