Descriptive SummaryCherry, Emma Richardson, 1859-1954
E. Richardson Cherry Papers1882 to 19541909 to 1950Materials are
in English.MSS 2710 boxes: 12.5 lin. ft.
Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public
Library
Biographical Note
E. Richardson Cherry resided in Houston between the years of 1892 and 1954. Her works, primarily in oil or watercolor, depicted landscapes, still lives, and portraits. She was perhaps the city's best known artist for half a century.
Ms. Cherry was born on Februay 28, 1859 in Aurora, Illinois. She initially attended the Art Institute of Chicago, and then the Art Student League in New York City. Following this period, she studied in Paris and Italy.
Upon completion of her studies, she began teaching at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and the Metropolitan Museum in New York. In 1887, she married Dillon Brooke Cherry. After five years of living in Denver, Colorado, the couple moved to Houston, Texas. There, Mrs. Cherry worked as a painter and arts promoter. She was director of the Elisabet Ney Museum in Austin and worked to organize the San Antonio Art League.
It was during this time that Mrs. Cherry helped found the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. She and her husband remained permanent residents of Houston.
Scope and ContentsE. Richardson Cherry's collection of correspondence, notes, newspaper clippings, and memorabilia detail her family's history, her own travels and artistic achievements as well as her role in the founding of what has become the Houston Museum of Fine Arts. Her papers also contain an extensive assortment of materials relating to the career of her son-in-law, Colonel Walter H. Reid, who served for a time as the commanding officer of Ellington Air Force Base.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in two series contained in ten boxes. Boxes one through eight contain E. Richardson Cherry's papers; including correspondence, postcards, clippings and photographs. Boxes nine and ten contain Mrs. Cherry's sketch books.
- Series 1: Letters
- Series 2: Sketches
Access Restrictions
None.
Use Restrictions
Permission to publish or reproduce materials from the E. Richardson Cherry Papers must be obtained from the Houston Metropolitan Research Center or the appropriate copyright holder.
Preferred Citation
E. Richardson Cherry Papers. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston
Public Library.
Acquisition Information
Collection donated November 4, 1977.
Processing Information
Processed by: 'COC', November 1977.
Index TermsSubjects Artists--Texas--HoustonSubjects (Organizations)Museum of Fine Arts (Houston, Tex.)Ellington Air Force Base (Tex.) Subjects (People)Cherry, Emma Richardson, 1859-1954Cherry familyReid, WalterDetailed DescriptionLetters11Undated Correspondence12Undated Correspondence13Undated Correspondence14Undated Correspondence15Undated Correspondence16Undated Correspondence17Fragmented Correspondence18 Correspondence, 1894 to190719 Correspondence, A. E. Job to Mrs. Cherry, 1905 to 192121 Correspondence, 190822 Correspondence, 190923 Correspondence, 1910 to 191124 Correspondence, 191225 Correspondence, 1913 to 195131 Articles about Mrs. Cherry32 Newspaper clippings about the Cherry family33 Miscellaneous materials about Mrs. Cherry34 Clippings and miscellanous materials about Col. W. H. Reid35 Correspondence and newspaper clippings about Col. Reid36Photographs of the Cherry family37 Miscellaneous newspaper clippings41Miscellaneous newspaper clippings42Miscellaneous newspaper clippings43Miscellaneous newspaper clippings44Miscellaneous newspaper clippings45Miscellaneous newspaper clippings46Miscellaneous newspaper clippings47Miscellaneous newspaper clippings51Catalogues of exhibits containing the works of Mrs. Cherry61Undated postcards62Undated postcards63Undated postcards64Postcards, 1900 to 194265Miscellaneous memorabilia66Undated Christmas cards71Miscellaneous art notes by Mrs. Cherry72Miscellaneous art notes by Mrs. Cherry73Diploma fragments74Address book81Correspondence, 1882 to 190982Correspondence, 1910 to 192983Correspondence, 1930 to 195484Correspondence, undated85Correspondence, undated86Photographs: WPA murals, unidentified exhibit87Notes88The Little Review: Joseph Stella89Photo negatives of paintings810Scripts: The Humanitarian Hour; Biographical sketch of E. Cherry; MiscellaneousSketches9Sketch books10Sketch books