Overview of the Collection
Austin History Center, Austin Public Library,
810 Guadalupe, PO BOX 2287, Austin, TX 78768
Curtis, Mary L.
Mary L. Curtis Papers
1982-2002
.4 linear feet (1 box)
Mary L. Curtis is an Austin, Texas artist that specializes in pen and ink illustrations and watercolors of Austin's historic past, as well as pastels and watercolors of Texas wildflowers. The collection contains artwork, project notebooks, newspaper clippings and a scrapbook that document her career as an artist.
AR.2002.014
Archives stacks and qAR
The records are in English.
Biographical Note
Mary Curtis is a Texas native that moved to Austin, Texas to attend the University of Texas at Austin. She met her husband Bob at UT and together they had one child. After years as a stay-at-home mom and secretary Mary L. Curtis returned to college at age 50 and graduated from St. Edward's University's New College having discovered that she had a talent for drawing and painting. She began a second career as an artist and art teacher and became well-known in Texas for her work that depicts Austin's historic past and as well botanical drawings and watercolors. She was sanctioned as the 1986 Texas Sesquicentennial Artist. Curtis also sees her art as way to help deserving organizations and has donated her time and talent to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center and the Austin History Center to name a few.
Scope and Contents
The collection highlights Mary's career as an artist starting in the 1980s. Included are prints and photocopies of some of her work, some of which are oversized. Her 1998 portfolio submission to the Texas State Artist Committee provides a good overview of her work and includes slides of her art. Also contained in the collection are proofs of
Dawn Breaks with Silent Echoes that are illustrated by Curtis. Curtis was well known for her charity work and all the project records documenting her work with the Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center are included. A scrapbook and newspaper clippings provide insight into her accomplishments as an artist through the years. The scrapbook contains photographs, event flyers, examples of her work, biographical information and correspondence.
Arrangement
Arranged by material type.
Related Material
AF Biography - Curtis, Mary L.
Separated Material
Added to the General Collection - A 813.54 SH AA
Dawn Breaks with Silent Echoes: Book One.
Index Terms
This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Persons:
Curtis, Mary L.
Organizations:
Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center
Places:
Austin (Tex.)
Subjects:
Painters--Texas--Biography.
Texas in art.
Restrictions on Access
Open to all users.
Restrictions on Use
None.
Preferred Citation
Mary L. Curtis Papers (AR.2002.014). Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, Texas.
Acquisition Information
Donor #: DO/1984/003
Donation Date: 2002
Processing Information
Finding aid created and encoded by Molly Hults/2010.
Some materials originally housed 3-ring binders were removed and foldered in original order and the notation (3RB) has been added to the folder tab.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Mary L. Curtis Papers,
1982-2002
1
1
Artwork,
1991-2002, undated
1
2
Texas State Artist Committee submission,
1998
1
3
"Dawn Breaks with Silent Echoes" proofs,
undated
1
4
Alaska Raptor Rehabilitation Center,
1997-1998, undated
1
5
Newspaper clippings,
1982-2000
1
Scrapbook,
circa 1980s-2000s
Oversized materials,
circa 1980s, undated
qAR
9/36, 49/66
Artwork,
circa 1980s
qAR
49/71-73
Event notices,
undated