Julia Farnsworth Lund Wassmer papers

Collection

Identifier: ACCN 1599

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The bulk of the collection, besides the scrapbook of the Depression years, consists of a three-volume scrapbook, "Julia (Judy) Farnsworth Lund," that was compiled by Wassmer's husband shortly after her death. In these volumes, which begin with memorabilia from her childhood and continue through her death in 1996, are reproductions of paintings by herself and her husband, reproductions of paintings in their personal collection, photos, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and announcements and awards. The headings for these volumes indicate that four volumes were prepared. The fourth volume consisted of a script and score for a Christmas musical, "Full of Wonder." This material, along with reviews of the play, have been foldered and placed at the end of box 1. This same box also contains a file on Philo T. Farnsworth, the noted television inventor. The collection also contains Utah Art of the Depression, which includes a history of several projects that Wassmer organized and in which she participated.

Dates

1911-1996

Creator

Wassmer, Judy Lund, 1911-1996 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.

Conditions Governing Use

The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library’s Use Agreement and Reproduction Request forms.

Biographical Note

Julia Farnsworth Lund Wassmer was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, on November 26, 1911. She became interested in the arts at an early age. While at Bryant Junior High School she won a national poster contest sponsored by Keds and was selected as a "junior reporter" for the Salt Lake Tribune. Her writing and artistic ambitions continued through high school and college. While at the University of Utah she was elected editor of SPUR, a national college publication, and did some illustrations for The Pen college literary magazine. In 1935 she became the first student to receive a Master's Degree in Art from the University of Utah. Wassmer's involvement in the Utah art community began as a volunteer in 1933, planning work projects for artists hit hard by the Depression. She went on to supervise the first statewide program for the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. The success of that project led to further involvement planning projects for the Work Projects Administration. When the Federal Art Project she had proposed was accepted, she became State Art Director and devoted herself full time to art in Utah, developing beautification projects for public facilities, which provided work for artists struggling through the Depression. In 1937 Wassmer moved to New York City where she became a staff member of the Permanent Exhibition of Decorative Arts and Crafts at the Rockefeller Center. She married Theodore Milton Wassmer, another artist, in December 1945. The two spent time in New York City, Cape Cod, Europe, and Woodstock, New York, until 1952 when they settled in the art community at Bearsville (Woodstock), New York, where they continued their artistic pursuits for thirty-three years. In 1985 they returned to Salt Lake City, where Wassmer died in May 1996.

Extent

5.5 Linear Feet (2 boxes and 2 oversize boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Julia Farnsworth Lund Wassmer papers (1911-1996) consists chiefly of scrapbooks chronicling Wassmer's involvement in the arts in Utah and New York.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Boxes 1-3 were donated in 1996 by Theodore M. Wassmer.

Box 4 was donated in 1997 by Theodore M. Wassmer.

Related Materials

See also the Theodore Milton Wassmer papers (MS 0655) in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.

Forms part of the Aileen H. Clyde 20th Century Women's Legacy Archives.

Separated Materials

See also the Julia Farnsworth Lund Wassmer photograph collection (P0681) in the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.

Processing Information

Processed by Tad Davies in 1996.

Addendum processed by Amanda Cornelius in 2004.

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