Lucy M. Stanton collection

Descriptive Summary
Title: Lucy M. Stanton collection
Creator: Stanton, Lucy M., 1875-1931
Inclusive Dates: 1867-1997
Language(s): English
Extent: 2.6 Linear Feet 6 document boxes, 1 slide box
Collection Number: ms3486
Repository: Hargrett Library

---

Collection Description

Historical Note

Lucy May Stanton (1875-1931) is best known as a painter of portrait miniatures in watercolor on ivory, during a revival of that art form, which took place during the Arts and Crafts movement in the United States after 1890. Her mature style in miniature painting is distinguished by her innovative use of broad washes, and her portraits, both miniature and full-scale, and particularly those depicting African Americans, are powerful evocations of character, expression, and mood. Working in the Deep South in the early twentieth century, Stanton was among the first artists to represent black subjects without sentimentality or prejudice.

Lucy was born in Atlanta and educated and the Southern Female College, and taught classes both there and other schools once she graduated. Her professional artist career began in 1894. She studied abroad in Paris twice (1896-1898 and 1905-1906) where she received most of her formal instruction in art. She died in 1931 from a sudden illness.

W. Stanton Forbes was born in Athens, Georgia. He was the son of Lucy Stanton's sister, Willie Forbes. As a child, he studied art with his aunt, the artist Lucy May Stanton. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1932 with a BA in English and received a Master's degree in English from Vanderbilt University under the poet John Crowe Ransom.

Frances Forbes Heyn (1906-2005) was Lucy May Stanton's niece. She married Anton Heyn (1906-1992).

For more information, see the article Lucy May Stanton in the New Georgia Encyclopedia.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of works of art and materials relating to Lucy May Stanton, Frances Forbes Heyn, and W. Stanton Forbes. Items includes scrapbooks, exhibition catalogs, photographs, calling cards and memorabilia relating to Lucy May Stanton's funeral, family expense records, sketchbooks, paint pots and paint brushes used by W. Stanton Forbes, ivory pieces, and an audiotape of Frances Forbes Heyn singing Gullah songs. There is also corespondence from Stanton, Heyn, and Forbes, and printed material concerning Lucy M. Stanton.

---

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Lucy M. Stanton collection, ms3486, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

---

Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

Related Collections in this Repository

For related collection held by the Hargrett Library see also: Lucy M. Stanton collection, ms846; Lucy M. Stanton papers, ms392; W. Stanton Forbes collection, ms2081; and W. Stanton Forbes papers, ms940.

Related audiovisual materials from this collection are housed in the Walter J. Brown Media Archive: http://purl.libs.uga.edu/brown/har-ms3486/bmac-coll

---

Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

1. Correspondence
box	folder
Request box
1	1	Lucy M. Stanton correspondence, 1905-1924
1	2	Lucy M. Stanton correspondence, 1924-1930
1	3	Lucy M. Stanton correspondence from nieces and nephews, 1917-1925
1	4	Lucy M. Stanton correspondence and souvenir postcards
1	5	Lucy M. Stanton frame catalogue
1	6	W. Stanton Forbes correspondence, 1931-1966
			W. Stanton Forbes was Lucy May Stanton's nephew.
1	7	W. Stanton Forbes correspondence, 1966-1967
1	8	W. Stanton Forbes correspondence, 1967-1974
1	9	W. Stanton Forbes correspondence, 1975-1979
1	10	Willie Forbes correspondence, 1931-1932
			Willie Stanton Forbes was Lucy Stanton's sister.
1	11	Miscellaneous correspondence
1	12	Frances Forbes Heyn - Correspondence, 1949-1997
1	13	Frances Forbes Heyn - Guggenheim scholarship- plans for work on "Negro Children's Play Songs and Dances"
1	14	Frances Forbes Heyn - Work for "Negro Children's Play Songs and Dances"
1	15	Frances Forbes Heyn - Drafts of "Negro Children's Play Songs and Dances"
1	16	Frances Forbes Heyn - Frances Forbes Heyn magnetic reel to reel recording
1	16	Condolence letters- death of Lucy M. Stanton, 1931
box	folder
Request box
2	1-4	Condolence letters- death of Lucy M. Stanton, 1931
2	5	Blank postcards

 

2. Education and career
box	folder
Request box
2	6	Southern Female College catalogues and reports, 1867-1891
2	7	Southern Female College catalogues and reports, 1894-1896
2	8	Southern Female College catalogues and reports, 1896-1899
2	9	Copley Society annual report, 1925-1926
2	10	Schools of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts booklet, 1929-1930
2	11	Sketchbooks (3)
box	folder
Request box
3	1	Sketchbook
3	2	Ivory pieces
3	3	Notes on Jeannie Evelyn (miniaturist)
3	4	LMS Scrapbook
3	5	Dynamic Symmetry of the Greek Vase by Jay Hambridge
3	6	The Parthenon and Other Greek Temples: Their Dynamic Symmetry by Jay Hambridge
3	7	Dynamic Symmetry in Composition by Jay Hambridge
3	8	LMS notes from Jay Hambridge course in Boston
3	9	LMS notes on reviews
3	10	LMS miscellaneous notes
3	11	Classes taught
3	12	Class record (taught by LMS), 1922
box	folder
Request box
4	1	Exhibition catalogues, 1906-1950
4	2	Sesqui-centennial International Exposition Catalogue, 1926
4	3	Annual Watercolor and Miniature Exhibitions catalogue, 1928 November-December
4	4	Exhibition of Watercolors, Pastels Drawings and Miniatures, 1931 January-February
4	5	LMS list of exhibitions and pieces
4	5	Exhibition list, 1930
4	7	Exhibition tags/LMS membership cards
4	8	Exhibition notes
4	9	Exhibitions (no participation by LMS)

 

3. Financial and estate material
box	folder
Request box
4	10	Financial ledger , 1915
4	11	Family expense record, 1925
4	12	Family expense record, 1928
4	13	Family expense record, 1929
4	14	Family expense record, 1930
box	folder
Request box
5	1	Receipts, bills
5	2	Will
5	3	Funeral memorial book, 1931

 

4. Printed material and photographs
box	folder
Request box
5	4	Ephemera, 1920-1939
5	5	Clippings- Atlanta
5	6-9	Clippings- unsorted
5	10	Printed material
5	11	Lucy May Stanton, Artist and Teacher by Claudine Swickard, 1994 May 23
5	12	Biographical Information and research
5	13	Photocopies of art
5	14	Photocopies of art used by W. Stanton Forbes in book
5	15	Contemporary Art of the United States, 1940
5	16	Photographs of Lucy M. Stanton
5	17	Photographs of relatives and friends
5	18	Photographs of scenery/buildings

 

5. Artifacts
box	item
Request box
6	1	Silver goblet used by LMS in self-portrait "The Silver Goblet"
6	2	Block print portrait of LMS
6	3	The Works of Horace by Thomas Chase, 1884
6	4	Poems by Francis Thompson, 1911
6	5	Mont St. Michel and Chartres by Henry Adams, 1928
6	6	Modern Masters of Etching by Anders Zorn
6	7	W. Stanton Forbes-paintbrushes
box	item
Request box
7	1-9	W. Stanton Forbes- paint pots