Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Kathrin Cawein Collection, 1915-1993
Overview of the Collection
- Artist
- Cawein, Kathrin
- Title
- Kathrin Cawein Collection
- Dates
- 1915-1993 (inclusive)19151993
- Quantity
- 3.5 cubic feet, (4 boxes)
- Collection Number
- MS.37
- Summary
- Kathrin Cawein was a visual artist who lived most of her life in Pleasantville, New York. This collection includes examples of her artwork, personal correspondence, scrapbooks, photographs and other material illustrating her career and personal life.
- Repository
-
Pacific University, Archives
Pacific University Archives
2043 College Way
Forest Grove, OR
97116
Telephone: 5033521400
archives@pacificu.edu - Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research.
- Languages
- English
- Sponsor
- Sponsored by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
This collection shares the story regarding the life and artwork of Kathrin Cawein. The contents include many examples of Kathrin's artwork and writings, a collection of her personal correspondence and papers, and two large scrapbooks containing newspapers clippings and certificates recieved throughout her career as an artist. Examples of her artwork include many sketches and holiday greeting cards featuring her artwork. A large number of photographs depict Kathrin throughout her life from the time she was a young girl to her time as an artist working her trade, and continuing through her later birthday celebrations and exhibits into the early 1990s.
Biographical NoteReturn to Top
Kathrin Cawein was a visual artist who lived most of her life in Pleasantville, New York. She was born May 9th, 1895 in New London, Connecticut. Her first work surrounded research on methods for recording musical performances, and she worked as a piano roll editor from 1911-32. She studied at the Art Students League from 1927 to 1932, and made a career of working with several different media in fine arts, notably printmaking. She exhibited her work in group shows in the United States and internationally in countries including England, France, and Italy. She was a member of the National Association of Woman Artists, Chicago Society of Etchers, Society of Graphic Artists, and had a life membership in the Art Students League. In 1964 she married Senator Seabury Cone Mastick of New York. She received an honorary degree of Master of Arts from Oberlin College in 1966. In 1980 Kathrin was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts from Pacific University. Her name is included in Who’s Who of American Women, and The World Who’s Who of American Women. In 1979 Kathrin exhibited her work in Marsh Hall on the Pacific University campus and established a scholarship fund for art students on campus. She died in 1996 at the age of 100.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Preferred Citation
[item identification], Kathrin Cawein Collection, Pacific University Archives, Forest Grove, Oregon.
Restrictions on Use
Pacific University owns the copyright to some, but not all, of the materials housed in its archives. Copyright for materials authored or otherwise produced as official business of Pacific University is retained by Pacific University and requires its permission for publication. Copyright status for other collection materials varies. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Artwork and Writings, 1960-1990Return to Top
Artwork is chiefly original works on paper, including: a small black notebook containing Kathrin's sketches, along with two different initial stencils with the letters "KG"; examples of her art prints on greeting cards in black and white and color; original artwork for event announcements; and some pieces of lace created in childhood. The Writings include a handwritten draft and a printed copy of the same section of a work with the first line, "It all began in Paris." This may be a section of the work "Never A Dull Moment," a typescript of which is also included. "Never a Dull Moment" includes transcripts of undated letters from Kathrin to Milllie Miller.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | Artwork and Writings. 16 folders. |
1960-1990 |
Correspondence, 1960-1990Return to Top
This series also includes examples of Kathrin's original artwork.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 1 | Seabury Mastic
Contains letters between Seabury Mastic and family, including many letters from his nephews regarding various personal matters.
|
1956-1965 |
| 1 | 1920s - General Correspondence
Includes a letter one from a lawyer, Joseph Day Lee, regarding a legal matter between Kathrin and her sister, Olga E. Flechsenhaar, as well as a list of expenses and a receipt from Kathrin.
|
1920s |
| 1 | 1930s - General Correspondence
Contains letter from The Art Students League of New York certifying that Kathrin studied there and took the included list of classes.
|
1930s |
| 1 | 1940s - General Correspondence
Includes correspondence regarding purchase and building of a residence and studio on Mountain Road, Pleasantville, New York, and Tom Ryiue from the General Commission on Army and Navy Chaplains.
|
1946-47 |
| 1 | 1960s - General Correspondence
Includes notes from friends.
|
1960s |
| 1 | 1970s - General Correspondence
Includes letters regarding Kathrin's showings, a trip taken to Mexico, and a packet which is labeled "re: Organ which Kathrin gave to St. John's Episcapal Church in Pleasantville in Memory of Seabury". The packet includes correspondence between Kathrin and the church, as well as the company that made the organ itself.
|
1970s |
| 1 | 1980s - General Correspondence
Various correspondence including deeds of gift and a collection synopsis for Seabury's papers, personal cards, letters to and from Pacific University for gifts given by Kathrin, and letters from Pacific University students who were recipients of Kathrin Cawein scholarships. Also contains a packet of papers from The Statue of Liberty Ellis Island Foundation including correspondence and certificates for Kathrin, Barbara Franz, Maria Cavan, Madison Cawein, and Frank Waller.
|
1980s |
| 1 | 1990s - General Correspondence
Includes letters to Katherine regarding various events including gift donations to Pacific University, as well as cards and letters from friends and aquantences. Contents of correspondence show that Katherine had been quite sick during much of this time.
|
1990s |
| 1 | Holiday Cards
Undated Christmas and other holiday cards, many from other artists containing their original artwork. Some are signed, while others are blank.
|
1920s to 1990s |
Personal PapersReturn to Top
This series contains a variety of material saved by Katherine and her family, a group of documents labeled "Travels 1954-1973 Seabury, Agnes, Kathrin" which contain narratives regarding trips taken as a group, along with pamphlets, brochures, and itineraries for such trips. Examples of destinations visited include England, Scandinavia, Spain, Italy, and India, among others. Other contents include handwritten notes, newspaper clippings, fliers for Kathrin's showings, notebooks, Kathrin's passport and other legal documents, and a packet of bulletins and newsclippings labeled "From K's career with piano rolls."
Several oversized items are housed in Oversized Box 4: a piano roll, a horoscope scroll, a brass door knocker, a lace handkerchief created for one of the Masticks, and a packet of linens belonging to Mary Wood Mastic.
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 2 | General Personal Papers. 12 folders. |
1950-1990 |
Photographs, 1920's-1990'sReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 2 | Kathrin Cawein early portraits |
1910s-1930s |
| 2 | Kathrin Cawein snapshots and portraits |
circa 1940s-1950s |
| 2 | Kathrin Cawein snapshots and portraits. 4 folders |
circa 1970s-1990s |
| 4 | Kathrin Cawein portraits - Oversized |
ca. 1930-1960 |
| 2 | Friends and relatives |
circa 1915-1978 |
| 2 | Artwork and exhibits. 3 folders |
1960s-1990s |
| 2 | Negatives, unidentified |
Undated |
Printed Books, 1915 to 1928Return to Top
Container(s): Box 2
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 2 | Balzac, Honore de. Jesus Christ en Flandre. Woodcuts by Allen Lewis. Strawberry Hill Press: 1928. Limited edition of 200. Presentation inscription from Bessie and Allen Lewis to Kathrin Cawein. Signed print laid in. |
|
| 2 | Cawein, Madison. The cup of Comus: fact and fancy. New York: The Cameo Press, 1915. Copy number 489 of an edition of 500. |
Scrapbooks, 1930 to 1990Return to Top
| Container(s) | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Box | ||
| 3 | Scrapbook, 1929-1950
Includes newspaper clippings, photographs, letters and pamphlets regarding art showings featuring Kathrin Cawein or which she attended.
|
1929-1950 |
| 3 | Scrapbook, 1950-1992
Includes newspaper clippings, photographs, letters and pamphlets regarding art showings featuring Kathrin Cawein or which she attended. Some notable contents include her certificate for her honorary degree of Doctor of Fine Arts from Pacific University and cards from Pacific University students and friends.
|
1950-1992 |
OversizeReturn to Top
| Container(s) | Description |
|---|---|
| Box | |
| Oversize 4 | Oversize photographs and personal papers described elsewhere in this guide. |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Pacific University
Finding aid prepared by Jessie Sweeney
2012
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
