PATRICIA TRENTON RESEARCH PAPERS ON HARVEY OTIS YOUNG
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of the research compiled by Patricia Trenton for a monograph on Harvey Otis Young for her doctoral thesis. The original material in the collection dates from circa 1970. Copies made for her research span 1883-1901. Material includes Trenton's correspondence, notes, and photocopies of mining deeds, legal documents, articles and photographs of Young's artwork. In 1975, the Denver Art Museum published the monograph Harvey Otis Young The Lost Genius, 1840-1901 (C759.1 Y85tre). Patricia Trenton served as a Research Associate in the American Art Department for the Denver Art Museum. She attended the University of California at Los Angeles.
The series contains correspondence between Trenton and various descendants of Harvey Otis Young. Additional materials include copies of Young's business, financial and legal records, newspaper clippings and articles, which Trenton collected during her research. Limited copies of paintings and sketches, as well as Trenton's research notes also form part of the series.
Images of Young's paintings comprise the bulk of the series. Numerous images are identified by title. Formats include color and black and white prints and negatives. Additional images include family members, Colorado scenes and structures, and portraits of Harvey Otis Young.
Microfilm images relate to Young's mining interests in the Compromise Mining Company and the Percy Consolidated Mining Company in Pitkin and El Paso Counties, Colorado and other mines in Sonora, Mexico. Documents include mining claims, correspondence, financial records and records of legal proceedings. Stock certificates for Elitch Zoological Gardens, Denver, Colorado also form a portion of the series.
Dates
- 1874-1972
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Copyright
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.
Biographical / Historical
Harvey Otis Young was born in Lyndon, Vermont on November 23, 1840. In 1857, at the age of seventeen he left Vermont and moved to Worcester, Massachusetts where he studied art. In 1860, he moved to San Francisco to join the search for gold. In 1867, Young opened his first studio as a practicing fine artist, "without money or any instruction." Young wrote a letter to his brother on September 15, 1868, in which he states that his work commanded "good prices…from the start."
Young moved to New York City with the hope of entering the established and prestigious art world. In 1870, he met and married Josephine Bowyer. They had four children. Young traveled to Europe several times to study French painting. He studied at the L' Academie Julian and later under the tutelage of Carolus-Duran. He continued to travel throughout the next decade, touring Nevada, California, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. He maintained his New York studio. In Aspen, he was actively involved in mining and owned shares in several mines. Young lived the last years of his life in Colorado Springs with his family. Up until he passed away on May 13, 1901 he devoted all his time to painting. Harvey Otis Young, a well-known western oil and watercolor artist, often had his paintings displayed at the famous old Antlers Hotel in Colorado Springs by his friend and benefactor General William Palmer. He developed a varnish that gave the watercolors the appearance and permanency of oils.
Extent
1 Boxes
1 PhotoBox
Language of Materials
English
Other Finding Aids
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Patricia Trenton donated the Harvey Otis Young research papers in 1976. "Mike" (George) Young and Harvey Otis Young II donated microfilmed copies of documents related to Harvey Otis Young's mining activities and other financial and legal dealings in January 1970.
PROCESSED BY:
April Cox
January 2001
REVISED AND ENCODED BY:
Ann Brown
2004
Dennis Hagen
July 2009
PROJECT MANAGER:
Ellen Zazzarino
- Artists -- 19th century -- Research -- Colorado. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Artists. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Microfilms. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Photographs. Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Research (document genres). Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Trenton, Patricia -- Archives.
- Women authors, American -- Colorado. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Young, Harvey Otis, -- 1840-1901 -- Archives.
- Title
- PATRICIA TRENTON RESEARCH PAPERS ON HARVEY OTIS YOUNG
- Date
- REVISED JULY 2009
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Denver Public Library, Western History and Genealogy Repository
