Special Collections & University Archives
Search Special CollectionsHoursMonday - Friday: LocationThe Special Collections is located on the east side of the Library at the front of the 3rd floor. Contact InformationPatricia W. & J. Douglas Perry Library |
The Papers of Bertha Fanning TaylorBiographyBertha Fanning Taylor was born on July 30, 1883 in New York City. She was the daughter of Spencer A. Fanning and Mary A. Switt. In 1889, she moved to Spotswood, New Jersey after her mother's death. In 1896, she attended Hunter College in New York. Upon graduation, Mrs. Taylor studied under Bryson Burroughs at the Women's Art School of Cooper Union in New York City where she received a certificate in 1903. In 1908, Bertha Fanning married Norman Taylor who was Assistant Curator at the New York Botanical Gardens. The next year, Bertha Fanning Taylor and her husband went on a trip to the West Indies for botanical studies. In 1924, she went to Montpellier, France with her two daughters and her son, Norman Taylor, Jr. From 1929-1933, Mrs. Taylor studied at L'Ecole du English-speaking groups at the Louvre and became assistant to the Art Editor in Paris for The American Herald. In this period, Mrs. Taylor exhibited many of her own works in major salons in Paris. In 1933, Mrs. Taylor frequently visited Rome and visited major art centers of Italy. At the outbreak of World War II, she lived for two months in Rome, but returned to the United States and lived in Greenwich Village. Upon leaving New York in 1945, Mrs. Taylor came to Norfolk as Curator of the Sloane collection at the Heritage Foundation Museum. In 1948, she taught extension courses in art appreciation, art history, painting and drawing for the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary (presently Old Dominion University) until 1951. During this period Mrs. Taylor in 1950 began teaching classes in painting and drawing at the, Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences, as well as classes at the YWCA until 1960. She then opened her own studio. In 1963, Mrs. Taylor was awarded the medal of the Order of the Palmes Academique by the French government for efforts in the founding of Salon Francais of the Women's Club in Norfolk, In 1966, Mrs. Taylor had a one person show at the Norfolk Museum of Arts of Sciences of graphic work, including drawings, etchings and wood block prints. Mrs. Taylor published two works. The first was in 1963 entitled Form and Feeling in-Painting and the second in 1968 entitled My Fifteen in France. From 1968 to 1977 Mrs. Taylor was very active in the Norfolk Women's Club and taught students on a personal basis. In 1977 Mrs. Taylor sustained a fall and stayed in the hospital for many weeks and then lived at the Medi-Center nursing home until her death on July 3, 1980. A long time friend of Mrs. Taylor, Mr. Benjamin F. Clymer of the Reference Department at Old Dominion University summarized Mrs. Taylor as, "Blue Blood, Blue Stocking, and True Blue with the brilliance of gold and the warmth of red." Scope and ContentsThe Bertha Fanning Taylor Papers span the years from 1915 to 1979 and is a collection of literary productions, printed materials, correspondence, scrapbooks, charts, photographic materials, and memorabilia. A wealth of information in art and art forms is available in the collection. In addition to the artistic significance of the papers, the collection has a significance in the history of Norfolk, especially in the Arts. Series I is made up of the literary productions produced by Bertha Fanning Taylor, including notes, manuscripts, newspaper clippings, periodical clippings and reminiscences. Because of the nature of the collection, the series is arranged by subject. Of special significance is a manuscript produced by Mrs. Taylor entitled, "Building Anew at Sixty Years in a Southern City; A Book of Memories by Bertha Fanning Taylor from 1939 to 1972." (see Box 1 folders 9 through 15). Printed Materials make up Series II. This series contains: certificates, newspaper clippings, periodical clippings, programs, publications, circulars and brochures. Alphabetical arrangement according to subject was maintained. Series III is correspondence. Because of the scarcity of letters, arrangement is chronological. Series IV is a scrapbook. It contains many news clippings. Of special interest is a letter to Mrs. Taylor from Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson. Series V is Charts which contains hand-drawn furniture styles. Series VI contains photographic material. Most of the photographs are of Mrs. Taylor's works in painting and drawing. A chronological arrangement is maintained The last series is memorabilia - Series VII. It contains invitations, tickets, book marks, postcards and sketches. The series contains two sketches, most likely to be original works by Mrs. Taylor; however neither sketch is signed. ProvenanceDonated by Norman Taylor, Jr. on July 3, 1981. AccessCollection is open to researchers without restrictions. Questions on literary property rights should be directed the Special Collections Librarian Size3 Hollinger Documents Cases Collection NumberMG - 44 Container ListingBox 1SERIES I - Literary ProductionsSubseries A: Notes Folder 1 Artists Subseries B: Manuscripts Folder 9 "Building Anew at Sixty Years in a Southern City; A Book of Memories
by Bertha Fanning Taylor from 1939 to 1972: 12 Chapters - Chapters 1 & 2 Subseries C: Newspaper Clippings Folder 15 Letter to Editor/"Etchings by John Taylor Arms" Subseries D: Periodical Clippings Folder 16 "Around the Art Galleries" series of articles by Bertha Fanning Taylor Subseries E: Reminiscences Folder 17 "Thoughts on Painting"/Short Autobiography SERIES II - Printed MaterialsSubseries A: Certificates Folder 18 Woman's School of Art, New York, June 3, 1905 Subseries B: Newspaper Clippings Folder 19 Clippings - Italian July 1939 - March 1951 Box 2Folder 1 Rembrandt Subseries C: Periodical Clippings Folder 8 Miscellaneous 1942-1966 Subseries D: Programs Folder 9 Lectures offered by Bertha Fanning Taylor Subseries E: Publications Folder 14 Color by Clara Dudley Box 3Folder 1 The Life of Forms in Art by Henri Focillion SERIES III - CorrespondenceFolder 8 Letters, Post Cards, Christmas Cards 1938-1950 SERIES IV - ScrapbooksFolder 9 One Green bound - clippings and of special note: a letter to Mrs. Taylor from Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson SERIES V - ChartsFolder 10 Furniture Styles Box 4SERIES VI - Photographic MaterialSubseries A: Positive Prints Folder 1 Paintings by Bertha Fanning Taylor ca. 1930's Subseries B: Negative Transparencies Folder 5 Mexican cities by Early Settlers undated SERIES VII - MemorabiliaFolder 6 Invitations to Art Premieres and Previews Revised: 7/10/2008 |