Louise Kidder Sparrow Papers, 1900-1986

2.5 linear feet; 3 containers
Louise Kidder Sparrow was a sculptor of portraits and busts from 1924 to 1934, earning her international recognition. Maintaining her studio in Washington, D.C. for several years, she was successful in securing commissions for portrait busts of Senators and military leaders. Her works are on permanent display in public buildings and galleries throughout the United States. Sparrow was a writer and translator as well. Her poetry appeared in anthologies, small journals and poetry magazines. She wrote more than a dozen books of poetry. Her last piece was written right before her death, “Midnight Meditation.”

The collection contains biographical essays, chronologies, and notes written by Sparrow; clippings, letters to the editor and Sparrow’s obituary; correspondence, ephemera including brochures for commission portrait busts and exhibition pamphlets, writings including memoirs, poetry and essays; and 48 of Sparrow’s sculptural tools such as rulers, calipers, wooden and metal modeling tools, loop and ribbon tools, a tape measurer, and improvised tools.

A majority of the materials in the Louise Kidder Sparrow Papers are photocopies from the Louise Kidder Sparrow Papers at the Schlesinger Library, which is part of the Harvard University Libraries system. The photocopies are interspersed throughout the collection but there are original exhibition catalogues, tools, and small works of art. The seven series are Biographical Files, Clippings, Correspondence, Works of Art Files, Writings, and Tools.

The Louise Kidder Sparrow papers were donated in 1986 by the artist’s son, Maj. Gen. Herbert G. Sparrow, USA, Ret. from the artist’s effects after her death. This collection is an excellent representation of the artist’s methods, her work and her thoughts. The Library and Research Center also has a vertical file on the artist in the Archives on Women Artists, with photographs of the artist, news clippings, catalogs, etc, attained before the donation.

Finding Aid for the Louise Kidder Sparrow Papers as PDF