James Taylor Harwood oral history video collection
Collection
Identifier: A0090
Scope and Contents
The James Taylor Harwood oral history video collection (1991) consists of interviews with Harwood's widow, Ione, and daughter, Lark, about Harwood's artwork and the process and circumstances of its creation. The video was taken by Harwood's son, Jim, in Ione Harwood's Honolulu, Hawaii home and features shots of her husband's artwork as displayed in the home. All materials have been digitized and are available to view on the DVDs described in this finding aid.
Dates
- 1991
Creator
- Harwood, Jim (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Materials must be used on-site; no use of original material, access copies will be made available for viewing. Five business days advanced notice required. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law, condition of the material, or by donor.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.
Permission to publish material from the James Taylor Harwood oral history video collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Multimedia Archivist.
Permission to publish material from the James Taylor Harwood oral history video collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Multimedia Archivist.
Biographical Note
James Taylor Harwood (1860-1940) was born in Lehi, Utah. His father was a saddle and harness maker. Harwood began drawing as a child, making pictures of animals and portraits of his schoolmates. In his boyhood, he formed lifelong friendships with artists John Hafen and Cyrus E. Dallin. In his teens, Harwood carried mail and worked in his father's shop to earn enough money to go to art school.
At the age of 25, he entered the San Francisco School of Design. At the end of one year, he won a gold medal for the best painting of the year. In 1886, he returned to Utah, opened a studio, and taught art. Two years later he had saved enough money to go to France and enter the Ecole des Beaux Arts. From 1891 to 1893 he studied at the Academie Julian in Paris where he won a medal for painting.
In 1891, Harwood married one of his art students, Harriet Richards. They settled in Salt Lake City, after their sojourn in France, where he taught at East and West high schools. They had five children. During the next twenty-five years, the Harwoods divided their time between France and Utah. In 1920, the family moved to California due to Harriet's poor health. She died in 1922 and the family returned to Salt Lake City.
Harwood became head of the art department at the University of Utah in 1922. He held that position until 1931, when he resigned in order to devote more time to his painting. At the university, he taught the first class in color etching ever given in the United States. In 1929, Harwood married Ione Godwin. They traveled to Europe for two years where Harwood developed his impressionist painting technique. He became famous in Europe as well as in the United States and won many honors for his works. The Harwoods returned to California in 1939 with their two children, Jim and Lark. In 1940, the University of Utah assembled the James Taylor Harwood art exhibition. This exhibit was in honor of his 80th birthday and represented his life's work. He died in Salt Lake City on 16 October 1940. Ione Harwood passed away at the age of 96 in November 2003. Lark succumbed to cancer in October 1998.
From Jim Harwood: During the period of their marriage, "Ione was usually with [her husband] on his excursions searching for subject matter and would be nearby as he worked at his easel or drawing pad. Some of his works included Ione in the distance relaxing on a blanket or just on the grass within the scene, usually reading a book while he worked . . . children were sometimes there also."
Harwood "didn't creat the finished work in the field. He would make sketches, notes, and sometimes take photos for use back in the studio, where conditions were controllable and amenable for hours spent at the easel."
At the age of 25, he entered the San Francisco School of Design. At the end of one year, he won a gold medal for the best painting of the year. In 1886, he returned to Utah, opened a studio, and taught art. Two years later he had saved enough money to go to France and enter the Ecole des Beaux Arts. From 1891 to 1893 he studied at the Academie Julian in Paris where he won a medal for painting.
In 1891, Harwood married one of his art students, Harriet Richards. They settled in Salt Lake City, after their sojourn in France, where he taught at East and West high schools. They had five children. During the next twenty-five years, the Harwoods divided their time between France and Utah. In 1920, the family moved to California due to Harriet's poor health. She died in 1922 and the family returned to Salt Lake City.
Harwood became head of the art department at the University of Utah in 1922. He held that position until 1931, when he resigned in order to devote more time to his painting. At the university, he taught the first class in color etching ever given in the United States. In 1929, Harwood married Ione Godwin. They traveled to Europe for two years where Harwood developed his impressionist painting technique. He became famous in Europe as well as in the United States and won many honors for his works. The Harwoods returned to California in 1939 with their two children, Jim and Lark. In 1940, the University of Utah assembled the James Taylor Harwood art exhibition. This exhibit was in honor of his 80th birthday and represented his life's work. He died in Salt Lake City on 16 October 1940. Ione Harwood passed away at the age of 96 in November 2003. Lark succumbed to cancer in October 1998.
From Jim Harwood: During the period of their marriage, "Ione was usually with [her husband] on his excursions searching for subject matter and would be nearby as he worked at his easel or drawing pad. Some of his works included Ione in the distance relaxing on a blanket or just on the grass within the scene, usually reading a book while he worked . . . children were sometimes there also."
Harwood "didn't creat the finished work in the field. He would make sketches, notes, and sometimes take photos for use back in the studio, where conditions were controllable and amenable for hours spent at the easel."
Extent
2 DVD
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The James Taylor Harwood oral history video collection (1991) consists of interviews with Harwood's widow, Ione, and daughter, Lark, about Harwood's artwork and the process and circumstances of its creation. The video was taken by Harwood's son, Jim, in Ione Harwood's Honolulu, Hawaii home and features shots of her husband's artwork as displayed in the home. Born in Lehi, Utah, J.T. Harwood (1860-1940) was the first of the late-nineteenth-century Utah artists to study in Paris. As a painter, he his work shows the beginning of Utah impressionism.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated by Jim Harwood in 2011.
Processing Information
Processed by Molly Creel in 2012.
Creator
- Harwood, Jim (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the James Taylor Harwood oral history video collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Molly Creel.
- Date
- 2012
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the J. Willard Marriott Library Special Collections Repository
Contact:
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu
295 South 1500 East
Salt Lake City Utah 84112 United States
801-581-8863
special@library.utah.edu