Skip to main content

Jack Sears photograph collection

 Collection
Identifier: P1426

Scope and Contents

The Jack Sears photograph collection contains black-and-white negatives and photographs of Sears' illustrations for the 1932 book Thunder Cave by Jeremiah Stokes. The images date from the 1930s.

Dates

  • 1930-1939

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

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

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Jack Sears photograph collection must be obtained from the Special Collections Manuscript Curator.

Biographical Note

John Septimus “Jack” Sears (1875-1969) was born on February 20, 1875. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He studied painting and drawing with J.T. Harwood from 1891 to 1893. Between 1894 and 1897, Sears studied at the Mark Hopkins Art Institute in San Francisco, California, and at the Art Students League in New York. While in New York, Sears began working as a “joke-drawing” artist, or cartoonist for William Randolph Hearst’s Journal. Beginning in 1897, Sears took on cartoonist positions with Utah's Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News, where he worked with Mahonri Young; he also contributed cartoons to various other newspapers.

Sears moved back to New York City around the turn of the century, where he worked for various news organizations and papers while continuing his study of painting with teachers such as Dan McCarthy and Robert Henri. From 1907 to 1917, Sears worked as a freelance artist. In 1919, Sears returned to Utah, where he joined the faculty of the University of Utah Department of Art. He remained an instructor and leader in the art department, organizing a program in commercial art, until 1943. Beginning in 1920, Sears also rejoined Deseret News. Sears died on June 6, 1969.

Extent

53 Items (1 box)

Abstract

John Septimus "Jack" Sears (1875-1969) was an artist, cartoonist, journalist, and faculty member at the University of Utah Department of Art. This collection contains photographs and negatives of Sears' illustrations for the 1932 book Thunder Cave by Jeremiah Stokes.

Arrangement

Arranged by subject

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Lyndon W. Cook Jr. in 2006.

Separated Materials

See also the Jack Sears papers (ACCN 1245) in the Manuscripts Division of Special Collections.

Processing Information

Processed by Special Collections staff.
Title
Guide to the Jack Sears photograph collection, 1930-1939
Author
Finding aid created by Claire A. Kempa
Date
2022
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English in Latin script.

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