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Helping to Preserve Cincinnati’s Art Memory

by Geoff Edwards, Archivist / Records Manager, Mary R. Schiff Library & Archives

2/9/2023

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, artist files, Thom Shaw, Cincinnati artists, Black History Month, Black artists

In honor of Black History Month, the library is currently displaying the artist file of Thom Shaw (1947–2010), one of Cincinnati’s best known and most admired contemporary artists.

Romilda Dilley – Ad Woman

by Mary R. Schiff Library & Archives

2/2/2022

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives

Currently on view in the Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives is a small selection of fashion illustrations by Cincinnati artist Romilda Dilley (1910-2008).

Walter Farmer: Cincinnati's Own "Monuments Man"

by Trisha Brockmeyer & Geoff Edwards

8/6/2021

Paintings, Politics and the Monument’s Men: The Berlin Masterpieces, Monuments Men, Walter Farmer, Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, Trisha Brockmeyer, Geoff Edwards, archives, Cincinnati history, World War II

Although perhaps best known for his wartime service, a new donation of papers and photographs to the Mary R. Schiff Library & Archives is helping to shed light on Walter Farmer’s life and work beyond the Monuments Men.

Trailblazing modernist photographer Germaine Krull enters CAM collection via the Mary R. Schiff Library & Archives

by Emily Bauman, Curatorial Assistant for Photography & Film Programmer for Moving Images

2/10/2021

photography, Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, Germaine Krull, modern art, permanent collection

Krull’s groundbreaking modernist work now resides in the Photography Collection at the museum.

The Museum Steps Up

by Geoff Edwards

4/6/2020

behind the scenes, Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, World War I, Art Academy of Cincinanti

Although the Cincinnati Art Museum is currently closed due to the coronavirus crisis, like museums across the region and across the nation we are looking for ways to help in the fight against the pandemic.

Local Artists, Bring Us Your Materials!

by Alexis Horst, Library Assistant

2/13/2020

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, Black History Month

This month in the library display case, we have an example of one of our local artist files.

Now For Something Completely Different—Archives and Climate Change!

by Alexis Horst, Library Assistant

1/23/2020

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, climate change, australia, william strutt

From the Mary R. Schiff Library & Archives.

Library Blog: Victorian Illustration Display

by Alexis Horst, Library Assistant

11/13/2019

behind the scenes, Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, John Atkinson Grimshaw, victorian period, book, Illustrations

The Victorian Period is widely known as a time of rapid industrialization, mechanization, and scientific inquiry.

Native Americans and Winold Reiss

by Geoff Edwards, Archivist/Records Manager

8/13/2019

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, behind the scenes

When the Cincinnati Art Museum was founded in 1881, it collected much more than just art. In fact, it aimed to gather, preserve, and exhibit “valuable and interesting objects of every kind and nature."

Library Blog: Rockwell Kent Illustrations

by Jennifer Hardin

5/3/2019

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, libary blog

In 1926, Rockwell Kent was commissioned by Lakeside Press to design and illustrate a limited edition of Herman Melville’s literary masterpiece, Moby Dick, or the Whale (1851.)

Library Blog: Art Academy of Cincinnati Student Records

by Jennifer Hardin

4/22/2019

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, Art Academy of Cincinanti, archives, records

The Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives holds the records of the Art Academy of Cincinnati and its predecessor, the McMicken School of Design.

Behind the Scenes in Conservation: Helping the Archives

by Conservation

4/18/2019

behind the scenes, conservation, James W. and Mary Louise McLaughlin, Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, paper conservation, archival conservation

Between doing conservation treatments for upcoming exhibitions, our paper conservator and her intern are working on a group of documents from the Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives.

Library Blog: Minumentals from the Art Academy of Cincinnati

by Library

2/5/2019

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, minumentals, Art Academy of Cincinanti

Each year an average of 450 works of art, no more than 2" in any dimension, by Academy students, faculty, staff and alumni make for a lively and diverse show.

Blog: Art Academy of Cincinnati at 150

by Geoff Edwards

1/4/2019

Art Academy of Cincinnati, behind the scenes, Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives

The Art Academy and Cincinnati Art Museum have closely intertwined histories.

Library Blog: Victorian Christmas Cards

by Jennifer Hardin

12/7/2018

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, christmas cards, behind the scenes, victorian christmas cards

In 1843, the same year that Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol was published, the first commercial Christmas card was created.

The Illustrated Works of Ethel Mars and Maud Hunt Squire

by Jennifer Hardin

11/2/2018

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives

Posted by Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives

Making Monsters: Mary Shelley's Frankenstein turns 200

by Molly Donnermeyer

10/2/2018

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, Frankenstein, Mary Shelley

This year marks the 200th anniversary of when Mary Shelley’s masterpiece, Frankenstein, was first published.

Louis Prang: Lithographer and Art Education Advocate

by Molly Donnermeyer

9/14/2018

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, Louis Prang, Lithographer

Louis Prang, sometimes referred to as “Father of the American Christmas Card,” was born in 1824 in Breslau, Prussian Silesia, present day Poland.

Animals Illustrated

by Molly Donnermeyer

8/6/2018

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, animals, illustrations

From early on in our evolution we have been drawn to these living things that exist alongside us. From the prehistoric cave paintings of Lascaux to the modernist illustrations of Charley Harper.

Voyages Extraordinaires: The Scientific Romance of Jules Verne

by Molly Donnermeyer

7/20/2018

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, Jules Verne, Science Fiction

The French novelist and playwright Jules Verne, the “Father of Science Fiction,” created an elaborate series of adventure novels that became known as Voyages Extraordinaires, which translates literally to Extraordinary Voyages.

The Illustrations of George Barbier

by Molly Donnermeyer

6/13/2018

George Barbier, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives

Following World War I the style known as Art Deco rose in popularity. Originating in France, Art Deco was a response to the style known as Art Nouveau, which was characterized by its organic and curvilinear lines.

The Art of the Bike

by Molly Donnermeyer

5/11/2018

Charles Dana Gibson, August Sander, Marcel Duchamp, Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives

Artists have been fascinated by various modes of transportation throughout time, but the bicycle in particular has a way of capturing the imagination.

Etchings & words about the Seasons: The Work of Clare Leighton

by Molly Donnermeyer

4/13/2018

Clare Leighton, Etchings, Illustrations, Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives

“Spring is here with us. In little wafts it touches the trees and hedges, giving us a feeling of a certainty that it is here for always, and that we have left behind us the cold and wet of winter…”

Artist's Books by Women Artists

by Molly Donnermeyer

3/7/2018

women artists, artists books, Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives

In honor of Women’s History Month, The Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives will have a selection of rare artists’ books created by women on view throughout the month of March.

The Business of Love: Early Paper Lace Valentine's

by Molly Donnermeyer

2/7/2018

Valentine's Day, Valentine, paper lace, Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives

These early examples of paper lace valentines date back to the late 19th century.

Herald in the New Year

by Molly Donnermeyer

1/10/2018

Mary R. Schiff Library and Archives, Library, rare books

The books on display in January are The Art of Heraldry: an Encyclopedia of Armory by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, published by Brentano’s in 1904.