James Sansom Carpenter House - Credit: Wikimedia Commons
James Sansom Carpenter House - Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The James Sansom Carpenter House was significant to Des Moines cultural history from 1906 to 1939. The 13 acre property named Oakwood estate by its owners J. S. Carpenter and his Spouse Florence L. Carpenter because of the old growth oak forestation. The Carpenters' collection was deemed by art critics as one of the finest collections of etchings and lithographs in America.December 28, 1994, Des Moines Register, J. S. Carpenter Was Visited by King of Sweden to See Art The house held the Carpenter collection of 125 paintings and 350 etchings. J. S. Carpenter was also known as Sannie or Sandy after his oddly spelled middle name.Henry Ossawa Tanner papers, 1860s-1978 (bulk 1890-1937). Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, J. S. Carpenter letter J. S. Carpenter, a bridge building magnet, founded the Des Moines Association of Fine Arts in 1916.Book, An Uncommon Vision, the Des Mines Art Center, 1998 p. 26, Hudson Hills Press, Library of congress Catalog Number 98-72941 The Association members each contributed $100.00 annually for the purchase of paintings and sculptures.Des Moines Tribune, April 7, 1939, J. S. Carpenter's Art Delighted A Prince. The members also received a 25% discount on art purchased at Association events.Henry Ossawa Tanner papers, 1860s-1978 (bulk 1890-1937). Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Carpenter letter to H.O. Tanner March 8, 1927 Carpenter was known as the Guru of fine arts by the Des Moines community.Louise Rosenfield Noun Papers, Iowa Women's Archives, University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa, Noun was an original member of the Des Moines Association of Fine Arts Visiting artists and dignitaries came to Des Moines to sell their art and often stayed with the Carpenter's at Oakwood. Carpenter was president of the Association from its inception until his death of heart disease in 1939. The Association transformed into the Edmundson Art Museum in 1940 under the auspices of Association Executive member, and Carpenter's close friend Jay N. (Ding) Darling.J. N. "Ding" Darling Papers Series V - Correspondence Subseries 1 - chronological, numbered, indexed items MsC 170, Series II, Box 1, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa Darling as President of the Edmundson Art Foundation merged the original collection into the present day Des Moines Art Center. Read more on Wikipedia
Source: en.wikipedia.org