A Biography of Frank Hamilton Taylor (1846-1927) Nancy Louise Gustke University of New Hampshire, Durham
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University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository Doctoral Dissertations Student Scholarship Spring 1991 The ps ecial artist in American culture: A biography of Frank Hamilton Taylor (1846-1927) Nancy Louise Gustke University of New Hampshire, Durham Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation Recommended Citation Gustke, Nancy Louise, "The special artist in American culture: A biography of Frank Hamilton Taylor (1846-1927)" (1991). Doctoral Dissertations. 1645. https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation/1645 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. 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Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6” x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. University Microfilms International A Beil & Howell Information C o m pany 300 North ZeeO Road. Ann Arbor. Mi 48106-1346 USA 313/761-4700 800 521-0600 Order Number 9181287 The Special Artist in American culture: A biography of Frank Hamilton Taylor (1846-1027) Gustke, Nancy Louise, Ph.D. University of New Hampshire, 1991 Copyright ©1991 by Guatke, Nancy Louise. All rights reserved. UMI 300 N. Zeeb Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48106 \ I I THE SPECIAL ARTIST IN AMERICAN CULTURE: A BIOGRAPHY OF FRANK HAMILTON TAYLOR (184 6-1927) BY NANCY LOUISE GUSTKE BS Michigan State University, 1969 MFA University of Florida, 1984 DISSERTATION Submitted to the University of New Hampshire in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History May, 1991 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 1991 Nancy Louise Gustke For Larry iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This dissertation could not have been completed without the assistance and support of a great many people. First and foremost are the members of my committee. Chairman Robert Mennel has encouraged my development of this project from the day I first inquired about the doctoral history program. His unfailing commitment to my research on Frank Taylor, and thoughtful criticism of my work, have been enormously bene ficial. Bill Harris' astute comments on the manuscript kept my focus on the central theme. And his perceptive insights on current scholarship have added to the depth of my analy sis . Charles Clark not only guided me as graduate director, but as a former newspaperman, aided in the examination of Taylor's journalistic importance. To Roy Craven I owe the inception of this project. As former director of the University Gallery at the University of Florida, his purchase of Taylor's watercolors and wash drawings led to my work on an exhibition, catalog, and thesis. His continuing enthusi astic interest in my research, and belief in its artistic and historical significance, confirmed my decision to continue an investigation of Taylor. Finally, to committee member William Jones, who was asked to assume the duties posthaste, I owe a confidence in my abilities as an historian. v Throughout my graduate program at New Hampshire he has helped me hone my academic skills. I particularly want to thank Bob and Claire Taylor and their daughter Marsha for allowing me access to the family archives, and for the wonderful invitations to Shady Ledge. They provided insight only family members can impart, and helped me better understand Frank Taylor — especially his summer life on Round Island. Also Elizabeth Taylor Hyde who has provided exciting new family knowledge. I look forward to continuing to expand our knowledge of their artistic relative. Everyone in the Thousand Islands embraced this project and gave so generously of their time. Special recognition goes to Virginia Minnick, librarian of Clayton's Hawn Memorial Library. Her knowledge of the area was, and is, invaluable. Verda Corbin, Jean Wells, .and Mary Herrick, widows of Lester J. Corbin, William H. Wells, and Harold E. Herrick, Jr., graciously shared the material their husbands had collected on Frank Taylor. At the Antique Boat Museum, former curator Kurt Hasselbalch and librarian Phoebe Tritton, directed me to important contacts as well as archival mate rial on Taylor and the Thousand Islands in general. Jack Brown of Mallorytown, Ontario, provided valuable leads to Taylor gleaned from exhaustive research on other prominent Thousand Islanders. And Charles Dunham's historical knowledge on Taylor was of utmost importance to my com prehension of the artist's interactions with the Thousand vi Island community. In addition I would also like to thank Linda and Joe Kenney, Mr. and Mrs. David Smith, Lois Jean MacFarlane, Ann Potter, Cathy Anderson, Gerry Kirkey, Don Abbott, Betty Grant, Mary Brooks Mercier, Ted Cornell, and Jack and Ann Vosburg. In Philadelphia the staff at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania deserve special praise, in particular Rachel Dach, Linda Stanley, and Marcy Silver. They guided me to important Taylor resources — some literally buried in the stacks. Lou Meehan provided me with excellent trans parencies. Bob Eskind at the Atwater Kent Museum has been a wealth of information on the museum's Taylor holdings which he continues to uncover. At the Philadelphia Maritime Museum Jane Allen and Lisa Brenner provided information and access to their Taylor drawings and engravings. Bruce Laverty at The Athenaeum, Irene Coffee at the Franklin Institute, and Robert Denious at Duane, Morris & Heckscher also provided access to Taylor watercolors, drawings, and pamphlets. In addition I would like to thank Mrs. Joseph Carson for her interest and assistance. Also Marshall Jackel whose warehouse discovery set this entire project in motion. And Peter and Ruth Clark who provided shelter and sustenance as well as contacts during my Philadelphia visits. The members of the Philadelphia Sketch Club provided access to their archival records and valuable assistance in locating additional Taylor drawings. The kindness and friendship they extended made me understand why Taylor found vii this group an important source of companionship and inspiration. Special thanks to William F. Patman, John F. Nemeth, Michael Kuncevich, and Morris Goldsmith. In Florida I would like to thank Charles B. Simmons, Director, and Joan Runkel, Curator of The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum for their assistance. Also Larry Perkins, Curator of Collections at the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art for his continuing interest in the important Grant trip sketches. At the University of New Hampshire financial support for my research was provided by the Gunst Fund, two Central University Research Fund Grants, a Summer Teaching Fellowship,and a Dissertation Fellowship. These awards made possible my travel to the Thousand Islands and Philadelphia, critical to my data collection. Jeanne Mitchell, History Department Secretary, and graduate student Tony Lamanni, willingly handled long-distance details for which I am forever grateful. Finally, I want to thank my parents, Harry and Vivian Shuman, who have been a source of encouragement and inspiration. Also my husband's parents, Stanley and Rita Gustke, who have continually supported my efforts. And most of all, my thanks to a wonderful husband whose faith in me has been unfailing. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION................................................ iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.......................................... v ABSTRACT.................................................. xi CHAPTER PAGE INTRODUCTION.............................................. 1 N otes...................................................... 21 I. "OUR SPECIAL ARTIST": FRANK HAMILTON TAYLOR 2 6 N o tes.......................................... 4 6 II. TAYLOR AND THE ILLUSTRATED NEWSPAPER: THE CREATION OF THE SPECIAL ARTIST......... 53 N o t e s .......................................... 109 III. THE PROMOTION OF TOURISM & LEISURE.......... 128 Notes.......................................... 180 IV. "EVER CHANGING PHILADELPHIA"................. 201 N o t e s .......................................... 249 V. CONCLUSION..................................... 266 BIBLIOGRAPHY.............................................. 272 APPENDICES...............................................