Oakley, Thornton, 1881-1953.
Thornton and Amy Oakley collection1927–1949
MSS 509
1 linear foot and 3 oversize boxes
(6 boxes)
This collection houses pen and ink drawings on boards, water colors, manuscripts, a
promotional display board, scholarly journals, disbound leaves, printer's proofs, and
booklets related to Thornton Oakley (1881–1953) and Amy Oakley (. Oakley illustrated numerous books and
magazines, including Harper's, Century Magazine,
Collier's Weekly, and Everybody's Magazine during the 20th
century.
Materials entirely in English.
University of Delaware Library - Special
Collections
Source
Gift of Roger Garland, 1984; and purchases, 1986.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use
and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to
publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special
Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, http://www.lib.udel.edu/cgi-bin/askspec.cgi
Citation
MSS 509, Thornton and Amy Oakley collection, Special Collections, University of Delaware
Library, Newark, Delaware.
Shelving Summary
- Boxes 1-3: Shelved in SPEC MSS manuscript boxes
- Boxes 4-6: Shelved in SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
Processing
Processed by Karalee Kopreski, October 2005. Encoded by Natalie Baur, September 2009.
Biographical Note
The illustrator Thornton Oakley (1881–1953) was a student of Howard Pyle, founder of
the Brandywine School. Oakley illustrated numerous books and magazines, including
Harper's, Century Magazine, Collier's
Weekly, and Everybody's Magazine during the 20th century. Known
for his paintings of industrial America, his work is found in the collections of
numerous institutions, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Pennsylvania Academy of
Fine Arts, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, National Gallery of Art, Library of
Congress, Boston Public Library, New York Public Library, and the British Museum.
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Oakley graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with
a degree in architecture. He then studied at Pyle's school in Wilmington, Delaware. During
part of his time with Pyle, Oakley was in charge of the school's supply store. He was
responsible for sales, inventory, and collecting students' monthly accounts. He married Amy
Ewing in 1910, and they had one child. Together they published numerous travel books, which
she wrote and he illustrated. In 1914, Oakley was hired to head the Department of
Illustration at the Philadelphia Museum's School of Industrial Art, now the Philadelphia
College of Art. He taught at the school until 1936. During World War II, the National
Geographic Society commissioned 48 paintings of war plants and related topics.
Falk, Peter Hastings, ed. Who Was Who in American Art. Madison,
Connecticut: Sound View Press, 1985.
Pitz, Henry C. Howard Pyle: Writer, Illustrator, Founder of the Brandywine
School. New York: Clarkson N. Potter, Inc., 1975.
Scope and Content Note
The Thornton Oakley and Amy Oakley Collection consists of pen and ink drawings on
boards, water colors, manuscripts, a promotional display board, scholarly journals,
disbound leaves, printer's proofs, and booklets related to Thornton Oakley. The
collection spans the dates 1927–1947, and provides a glimpse not only of Thornton
Oakley's artistic work and Amy Oakley's literary achievement, but also of Thornton
Oakley's involvement in the scholarly and artistic community of the Delaware valley.
Series I. and II. contain manuscripts, pen and ink drawings on boards and disbound leaves
from
The Cloud-Lands of France (Century Co., 1927) and Enchanted
Brittany (Century Co., 1930). The disbound leaves of both works include only those
pages with illustrations, the dust jackets from the first printings, and two brown envelopes
signed by Thornton Oakley. Some of the pen and ink drawings from Series I. and II. include
display notices for Philadelphia art and local events. In addition, the folders housing the
pen and ink drawings for Enchanted Brittany also include six drawings that
did not appear in the published version of the book. Series I. and II. were purchased in
1986.
Series III. contains pen and ink drawings on boards and a promotional display board for
The Heart of Provence (D. Appleton-Century, 1936). Series IV. contains five
water colors and Series V. contains two articles written by Thornton Oakley published in
scholarly journals as well as three items that show his involvement in the Philadelphia area
art and educational community. Series III. — V. of the collection were acquired as a gift
from Roger Garland in 1984.
Arrangement
- I. Cloud-Lands of France (1927)
- II. Enchanted Brittany (1930)
- III. The Heart of Provence (1936)
- IV. Watercolors
- V. Miscellaneous items related to Oakley
Selected Search Terms
Personal Names
Oakley, Thornton, 1881-1953.
Oakley, Amy, 1882-1963.
Topical Terms
Illustrators--United States--History--20th century--Sources.
Illustration of books--United States--History--20th century--Sources.
Periodicals--Illustration--United States--History--20th century--Sources.
Artists, American--History--20th century.
Authors, American--History--20th century.
Travel writing--History--20th century.
Travel writers--History--20th century.
Pen drawing, American--History--20th
century.
Watercolor painting, American--History--20th century.
Watercolor painting, American--Exhibitions--History--20th century.
Art--Societies, etc.--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia--History--20th
century--Sources.
Geographic Names
Philadelphia (Pa.)--History--19th
century--Sources.
Form/Genre Terms
Watercolors (paintings)
Pen-and-wash drawings.
Manuscripts for publication.
Articles.
Illustrations (layout features)
Book jackets.
Books.
Occupation
Illustrators.
Travel writers.
Personal Contributors
Oakley, Amy, 1882-1963.
Related Materials in this Repository
MSS 192, Frank E. Schoonover - Thornton Oakley Correspondence related to Howard Pyle.
MSS 278, Thornton Oakley diaries
Detailed Contents List
Series I.
Cloud-Lands of France
circa 1927
Pen and ink drawings on boards circa 1927
22 pen and ink drawings illustrating
Cloud-Lands of France, published
in 1927. All drawings are signed on the back by Thornton Oakley. The drawing titled
"Au Mont-Blanc," the headpiece for Chapter XV, has a display ticket affixed on back
from the twenty-fifth annual Philadelphia Water Color exhibition sponsored by the
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the Philadelphia Water Color Club in 1927.
The title of the piece and Oakley's address are written in his hand on the ticket. In
addition, the drawing titled "Geneva Quai Du Seujet" from Chapter XIX has a display
ticket affixed on back from the Woodmere Art Gallery, the Art center of Germantown and
Chestnut Hill in Chestnut Hill, PA.
4
F1
File 1 of 6
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
4
F2
File 2 of 6
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
4
F3
File 3 of 6
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
4
F4
File 4 of 6
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
4
F5
File 5 of 6
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
4
F6
File 6 of 6
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
Cloud-Lands of France
undated
Holograph manuscript of
Cloud-Lands of France by Amy Oakley, with
handwritten corrections and alterations.
1
F1
File 1 of 4
1
F2
File 2 of 4
1
F3
File 3 of 4
1
F4
File 4 of 4
3
F1
Disbound leaves 1927
Disbound pages of
Cloud-Lands of France including only those pages
with illustrations. Also includes dust-jacket and envelope labeled as "Leaves from
'Cloud Lands of France'" written in Thornton Oakley's hand.
Series II.
Enchanted Brittany
circa 1927–1930
Pen and ink drawings on boards circa 1927–1930
44 pen and ink drawings illustrating
Enchanted Brittany, published in
1930. Most drawings are signed on the back by Thornton Oakley. The drawings titled
"Bride and Bridegroom of Pont-l'Abbe" and "The regal velvets of Carhaix" have display
notices affixed on back. Both have a notice that reads, "Shown in The Exhibition Hall
of the Wm. Penn Charter School." "Bride and Bridegroom" has a second notice of
display at the 1936 exhibition for the Fellowship of the Pennsylvania Academy of the
Fine Arts. "The regal velvets of Carhaix" has no second notice, but a piece of tape
where a notice once was. Also includes six pen and ink drawings that do not appear in
published version of Enchanted Brittany. The print titled "Annecy" has
a display notice on the back from the twenty-fifth annual Philadelphia Water Color
exhibition sponsored by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the Philadelphia
Water Color Club in 1927.
5
F1
File 1 of 8
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
5
F2
File 2 of 8
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
5
F3
File 3 of 8
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
5
F4
File 4 of 8
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
5
F5
File 5 of 8
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
5
F6
File 6 of 8
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
5
F7
File 7 of 8
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
5
F8
File 8 of 8
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
Enchanted Brittany
circa August 1930
Holograph manuscript of
Enchanted Brittany with three pages of
handwritten corrections and a letter, August 12, 1930, from Helen Woodrow Bones from
the Book Editorial Department of The Century Company to Amy Oakley regarding
corrections and questions about the manuscript. Housed in four folders.
2
F1
File 1 of 4
2
F2
File 2 of 4
2
F3
File 3 of 4
2
F4
File 4 of 4
3
F2
Disbound leaves 1930
Disbound pages of
Enchanted Brittany including only those pages with
illustrations. Also includes dust-jacket and envelope labeled as "Leaves from
Enchanted Brittany" written in Thornton Oakley's hand.
5
F9
Printer's proofs circa July
1930
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
Includes a letter from Bernard Miller of The Century Company dated July 23, 1930,
which states that two sets of the proofs of the illustrations for
Enchanted
Brittany have been enclosed for Thornton Oakley's perusal. Only one set of
the proofs is present, along with a square of blue ribbon on which is printed
"Enchanted Brittany" in gilt. Enclosed in a folder with "Enchanted Brittany" written
on the front cover in Thornton Oakley's hand.
Series III.
The Heart of Provence
circa 1936
6
unfoldered
Pen and ink drawings on boards
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
58 pen and ink drawings illustrating
The Heart of Provence, published
in 1936. Most drawings are signed on the back by Thornton Oakley.
6
F1
Promotional display board
Removed to: SPEC MSS oversize boxes (20 inches)
A promotional display board for
The Heart of Provence written by Amy
Oakley and "profusely illustrated" by Thornton Oakley. Includes an excerpt from the
text and two illustrations.
Series IV.
Watercolors undated
3
F3
Watercolors undated
Three 8" x 10" beach scenes with initials "T.O." in bottom right corner. Two smaller
watercolors, one of a mountain which is initialed on back, and one of a river, which
is unsigned.
Series V.
Miscellaneous items related to Oakley circa 1927–1949
3
F4
Articles written by Oakley 1948–1949
The Summer 1949 edition of
The General Magazine and Historical
Chronicle, produced by the alumni society of the University of Pennsylvania
contains an article by Thornton Oakley entitled "Again the Question: 'What is Art?'"
Also includes the September – December 1948 issue of the Western Pennsylvania
Historical Magazine containing the article "From Pittsburgh Toward the
Unknown" by Thornton Oakley. Loosely laid-in photocopy of a short biography of
Thornton Oakley from the National Cyclopeadia. Both journals are
signed on the covers by Oakley.
3
F5
Items referencing Oakley 1927,
1947, and undated
Contains an historical booklet on Germantown Academy with cover drawing by Thornton
Oakley; the fifty-first annual report (1927) from The Pennsylvania Museum and School
of Industrial Art in which Oakley is listed as an illustration instructor in the art
department; and the 1947 Catalogue of the Forty-Fifth Annual Water Color and Print
Exhibition and the Forty-Sixth Annual Exhibition of Miniatures sponsored by the
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in which Thornton Oakley is listed as president
of the Philadelphia Water Color Club. Catalogue is signed on cover by Oakley.