John A. Spelman III papers
Abstract
The John A. Spelman III papers (dated 1937-1970; 2.5 cubic feet; 8 boxes) primarily comprise sketches, drawings, linoleum prints, and watercolors created during his time as an art teacher at the Pine Mountain Settlement School in the Appalachian region of Southeastern Kentucky, and depict the architecture and landscape of the area from 1937 to 1941.
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- John A. Spelman III papers
- Date
- 1937-1970 (inclusive)
- Extent
- 2.5 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Artists -- Correspondence
- Arts.
- Art teachers
- Calendars
- Christmas cards.
- Illustrators.
- Manuscripts -- Kentucky -- Private collections.
- Pine Mountain (Ky.)
- Prints
- Reviews.
- Rural schools -- Appalachian Region
- Sketches.
- Watercolor painting.
- Wood-engraving.
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by format.
- Preferred Citation
- 2016ms021 : [identification of item], John A. Spelman III papers, 1937-1970, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- John A. Spelman III was born in Oak Park, Illinos on July 16, 1912. He was the son of artist John A. Spelman Jr. and Florence Seis Spelman. From 1936-1937, Spelman was an art instructor at the Asheville Farmschool in Swannanoa Valley, North Carolina. By 1938, he had moved to Pine Mountain, Kentucky, to teach art at the Pine Mountatin Settlement School. Spelman used his time here to hone his craft in woodblock and linoleum printing, and published a book of prints titled At Home in the Hills: Glimpses of Harlan County, Kentucky, Through the Media of Linoleum Block and the Woodcut. He left Pine Mountain in 1941 after the death of his father. He visited Pine Mountain, Kentucky, and Asheville, North Caroline in later years but spent the rest of his life in Minnesota. He died on October 22, 1969 in Grand Marais, Minnesota.
- Scope and Content
- The John A. Spelman III papers (dated 1937-1970; 2.5 cubic feet; 8 boxes) primarily comprise sketches, drawings, linoleum prints, and watercolors created during his time as an art teacher at the Pine Mountain Settlement School in the Appalachian region of Southeastern Kentucky, and depict the architecture and landscape of the area from 1937 to 1941. The collection includes the manuscript for At Home in the Hills and correspondence between Spelman and Marie Campbell, the author of Cloud-Walking, which Spelman illustrated. The bulk of the collection consists of drawings and prints by Spelman during his time at Pine Mountain Settlement School, and these have been organized by the book in which they appeared or as individual prints if it is not known if they appeared in a publication.
- Spelman typically created sketches and drawings which were later used for printmaking, and both the drawing and print share the same title. In the case where the collection contains a drawing with the same title as a print which appeared in a book, the drawing is categorized under individual works on paper because it did not appear in the book. This was done to clearly delineate which drawings and sketches actually appeared in the publications. If a title is not known, it has been listed as untitled with a description of the work within brackets. The description within brackets is entirely our own and is meant to provide context of the subject, and is not the description of the work used by the artist.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Correspondence, clippings, and photograph, 1945-1970
John A. Spelman III to Marie Campbell correspondence and cards, undated
Marie Campbell correspondence, 1945
Clare Leighton to Marie Campbell correspondence, undated
John A. Spelman III portrait photograph, undated
The Eloquent Graphic Arts newspaper article on John A. Spelman III, Duluth News-Tribune, 1949
John A. Spelman III memorial exhibit program, 1970
Clippings of Homestead and Poor White's Shack images, undated
John A. Spelman III drawings and prints, 1937-1947
Calendars, 1938-1941
Calendars, 1938-1941
January print, ink on paper, 1940
February print, ink on paper, 1940
March print, ink on paper, 1940
April print, ink on paper, 1940
May print, ink on paper, 1940
June print, ink on paper, 1940
July print, ink on paper, 1940
August prints, ink on paper, 1940
September print, ink on paper, 1940
September sketch, pencil on paper, 1940
October print, ink on paper, 1940
November print, ink on paper, 1940
December prints, ink on paper, 1940
January drawing, pencil on paper, 1941
February drawing, pencil on paper, 1941
April print, ink on paper, 1941
August drawing, pencil on paper, 1941
November drawing, pencil on paper, 1941
December drawing, pencil on paper, 1941
Cabin drawing for 1941 calendar, pencil on paper, 1941
At Home in the Hills: Glimpses of Harlan County, Kentucky through the Media of the Linoleum Block and the Woodcut by John A. Spelman III, 1938-1939
At Home in the Hills manuscript, 1938
At Home in the Hills preliminary notes, undated
Reviews of At Home in the Hills clippings, 1939
Pine Mountain Settlement School Chapel zinc etching from At Home in the Hills, ink on paper, undated
Hillside Cabin print from At Home in the Hills, ink on paper, undated
Granny Smith's Place, linoleum-block print from At Home in the Hills, ink on paper, undated
Tumble Down, linoleum prints from At Home in the Hills, ink on paper (4 prints), 1938
Cabin on Big Laurel, linoleum-block print from At Home in the Hills, ink on paper (3 prints), 1938
Deserted cabin, linoleum-block print from At Home in the Hills, ink on paper, 1938
Cabin, linoleum print from At Home in the Hills, ink on paper, undated
Cloud-Walking by Marie Campbell; illustrations by John A. Spelman III, undated-1939
Typed potential plan for illustrations in All Wove Into the Pattern, which became Cloud-Walking, undated
Cloud-Walking review (typescript) from the Christian Science Monitor, 1939
Cloud-Walking review clipping from the Christian Science Monitor, 1939
Untitled [cabin], drawing, pencil on paper, Cloud-Walking page 3, undated
Untitled [wood cutting tools], drawing, pencil on paper, Cloud-Walking, page 23, undated
Untitled [school house], drawing, pencil on paper, Cloud-Walking page 35, undated
Untitled [fence and water mill], drawings, pencil on paper, Cloud-Walking pages 67 and 81, undated
Untitled [basket of green beans], drawing, pencil on paper, Cloud-Walking page 91, undated
Untitled [cabin and cemetery scenes], drawings, pencil on paper, Cloud-Walking pages 111 and 165, undated
Untitled [musical instruments and water pump], drawings, pencil on paper, Cloud-Walking pages 143 and 225, undated
Untitled [line of men and women at small building], drawing, pencil on paper, Cloud-Walking page 177, undated
Untitled [rider on a mule and horse waiting], drawings, pencil on paper, Cloud-Walking pages 191 and 213, undated
Untitled [cabins in the hills], drawing, pencil on paper, Cloud-Walking page 201, undated
Untitled [flowers], drawings, pencil on paper, Cloud-Walking pages 243 and 259, undated
Cloud-Walking page proofs, ink on paper, undated
Aunt Sal's at Cutchin Creek, drawing, pencil on board, illustration used on cover of Cloud-Walking, undated
Aunt Sal's at Cutchin Creek, linoleum-block print, ink on paper,, undated
Untitled [Appalachian landscape with grazing horse], drawing, pencil on board, appeared in Cloud-Walking on pages 158-159, undated
Untitled [Appalachian landscape with cabin], drawing, pencil on board, appeared in the end pages of Cloud-Walking, undated
The Kentucky, 1941-1942
The Kentucky correspondence to Ruth E. Anderson regarding images, 1941
Review of The Kentucky by Barbara Tunnell Anderson, New York Herald Tribune, 1942
The Kentucky prints, ink on paper, 1941
Pine Mountain Range, linoleum-block print, ink on paper, 1941
Aunt Sal's at Cutchin Creek, linoleum-block print, ink on paper; drawing appears on the cover of Cloud-Walking, 1942
Middle Fork of the Kentucky River, linoleum-block print, ink on paper, 1941
The Kentucky, linoleum-block print, ink on paper, 1941
Kentucky Bluegrass, linoleum-block print, ink on paper (3 prints), 1941
Individual works on paper, 1937-1947
Untitled [cabin and harvested wheat amidst looming hills], linoleum-block print, ink on paper (2 prints), undated
Summer, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Spring, drawing, pencil on paper, 1941
Fall, drawing, pencil on paper, 1941
Fall, drawing, pencil on paper, undated
Winter, drawing, pencil on paper, 1941
Cabin on Clover Fork, drawing, pencil on paper, 1937
Greasy Creek, drawing, pencil on paper, 1937
Verda Tipple, drawing, pencil on paper, 1937
Untitled [cabin], drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Creech's Barn, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Uncle Mat's Cabin, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Coal House, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Corn Crib, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Kelly's Barn, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Line Fork Cabin, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Out Buildings, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Buildings at Coxton, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Cabin on Kelly's Place, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Cabin on Kelly's Place, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
A House at Coxton, Kentucky, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
On Greasy, drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Near Holmes Mill, drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Doctor's Clinic, drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Clover Fork, drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Greasy, drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Barn, drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Untitled [cabin with two trees], drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Untitled [house], drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Untitled [outhouse], drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Untitled [cabin with figure], drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Untitled [farmhouse], drawing, pencil on paper, 1941
Untitled [farmhouse and barn], drawing, pencil on paper, 1941
Untitled [barn with ladder], drawing, pencil on paper, 1944
Brown Briggs, drawing, pencil on paper, 1944
Bogley's Barn, drawing, pencil on paper, 1944
Below Bogley's, drawing, pencil on paper, 1944
Black Sol Days and Pine Mountain Post office, drawing, pencil on paper, 1944
Pine Mountain Settlement School, zinc etching, ink on paper mounted on board, undated
Moonshiner's Still, print, ink on cardboard, undated
Untitled [homestead], drawing, pencil on paper, undated
Appalachian Cabin, drawing, pencil on paper, undated
Untitled [mountain landscape with buildings], print, ink on paper (2 prints), undated
Untitled [globe and books still life], drawing, pencil on board, undated
Untitled [buildings with fence posts], drawing, pencil on paper, undated
Untitled [cabin and wagon], drawing, pencil on paper, undated
Untitled [Appalachian landscape with cabins], drawing, pencil on paper, undated
Old Log, drawing, pencil on paper, 1937
Petite Maison, drawing, pencil on paper, 1937
Cabin, drawing, pencil on paper, 1937
Workshop, drawing, pencil on paper, 1937
Old School House, drawing, pencil on paper, 1937
Untitled [farm buildings], drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Untitled [shed], drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Untitled [farmhouse], drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Untitled [shed], drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Untitled [farm buildings], drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Untitled [fenced yard], drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Untitled [farm buildings], drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Old log, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Bill Lewis's place, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Along Highway, Ages, Kentucky, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Smith's place, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Thomas Smith's place, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Tumble Down, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
House, Verda, Kentucky, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
House, Verda, Kentucky, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Cabin on Big Laurel, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Bull pen, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Jess Field's place, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
House, Verda, Kentucky, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Freight car snacks, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Chapel, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Chad Lewis' place, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Bish Bogg's place, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Barn and Leaf House, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Vacated house--Mouth of Big Laurel, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Untitled [cabin], drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Verda Coal Camp, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Thomas Smith's place, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Lewis Turner's place, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Barnyard, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Ages' Coal Camp, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
House at Ages, Kentucky, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Ages Coal Camp, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Gate and stile, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Untitled [cabin], drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Tipple at Coxton, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Bee gums, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Untitled [cabin], drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Untitled [landscape with cabin], drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Untitled [cabin], drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Untitled [Appalachian homestead], drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Untitled [farm buildings], drawing, pencil on paper, 1941
Homestead, linoleum-block prints, ink on paper (8 prints), undated
Louisa "Granny" Smith's Place, drawing, pencil on paper, 1938
Chicken lot, painting, watercolor on paper, 1938
Fence, painting, watercolor on paper, 1938
Chicken coop, drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Near Bledsoe, Kentucky, drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Untitled [outhouse], drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
Rural landscape, drawing, pencil on paper, 1939
View from Campus--Warren Wilson College, watercolor on paper, 1947
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Table of Contents
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
