GEORGE ELBERT BURR PAPERS & ARTWORK

The George Elbert Burr Papers span the years 1881 to 1985 with the bulk of the material dating between 1925 and 1945. The collection includes correspondence, manuscripts and articles on Burr, exhibit catalogs, pamphlets and photographs. A majority of the correspondence consists of the letters Burr wrote to Cyrus Boutwell, a friend and colleague who managed a gallery in Denver, Colorado that exhibited Burr's work. The correspondence sent to Boutwell provides insight into Burr's personal life, philosophy and views on his artwork.

The publications on Burr and his artwork consist of numerous articles and drafts by A. Reynolds Morse. As well as the pieces written by Morse, articles by individuals in the art field are included. The collection also includes a large selection of original drawings, illustrations, paintings, prints (etchings, wood blocks), and watercolors generated by Burr as well as photographic prints, negatives and transparencies.

The series consists of correspondence written by Burr to Cyrus Boutwell. Burr wrote many of the letters on index cards. Correspondence includes ink sketches by Burr that depicted himself, places he visited or other people he met. The sketches portray Burr's humorous view of himself. Often Burr would mail several cards at once, even though the dates in which he originally wrote or sketched them might vary by a month or two. Therefore, although the correspondence is in chronological order, at times, the dates may vary by a couple of months.

Personal material includes correspondence sent and received by Burr and his wife, Elizabeth, an art publication, Art and Artists Curious Facts and Characteristic Sketches by W. P. Nimmo and notes. Burr and his wife joined the Monday Literary Club of Denver. The series contains several versions of notes for a talk that they gave to the Club.

A. Reynolds Morse wrote several manuscripts on Burr. The series includes the notes, research, drafts and final versions of the following manuscripts: The Life and Work of George Elbert Burr; George Elbert Burr and the Western Landscape - The Case for the Post-Victorian Realists; George Elbert Burr, Etcher of the American West and Spring in the Foothills.

The pamphlets and exhibit catalogs include lists of Burr's etchings. The lists vary in the type of information but usually the following is included: the title, size, price, method and edition number.

The articles on Burr are arranged by publication title in alphabetical order. Numerous articles contain information on the subject matter of Burr's work, his method and style, exhibitions or biographical.

Photographs of Burr working in his studio and scenic views from his studio form a portion of the series. Transparencies and photographic negatives of Burr's artwork, and illustrations from A. Reynolds Morse's The Life and Works of George Elbert Burr are also included

Series contains example of artwork: drawings, illustrations, paintings, prints, and watercolors, as well as some original printing plates generated by the artist, George Elbert Burr. Etchings included in this series are arranged using the numbering system developed by Louise Combes Seeber for her book: George Elbert Burr, 1850-1939, Catalogue Raisonne and Guide to the Etched Works with Biographcal and Critical Notes.