Henrietta and Katie Wilson Papers (CAA/13)

Biographical/Historical Notes

Henrietta “Nettie” Wilson (1855-1940) was a portrait, landscape, flower, and figure painter. She trained in Cincinnati, New York, and Paris, and taught at the Art Academy of Cincinnati (and its predecessor, the McMicken School of Design) from about 1880 to 1940. A cofounder of the Woman’s Art Club in 1892, she exhibited at the National Academy of Design in 1896, and at the Society of Western Artists in 1897 and 1898. Between 1896 and 1902, twenty of her oils, watercolors, and pastels appeared in annual exhibitions of the Art Institute of Chicago. A native of Cincinnati, she lived for many years with her younger sister, Kate.

Kate Wilson (1863-1934) was a woodcarver, sculptor, landscape, and art teacher, active from the early 1890s to at least 1922. She began her training at age 13 in Benn Pitman’ carving class, and she later studied at the Art Academy under Louis T. Rebisso. She exhibited portrait sculptures and reliefs in 1896 at the Art Institute of Chicago, and in 1897 her work was chosen for the first exhibition of the Society of Western Artists. She also received an award for “best specimen, wood carving” at the Ohio State Fair. After 1900, she concentrated increasingly on landscape painting, and by 1910 she was teaching art in Cincinnati public schools.

Biographical details taken from "Artists in Ohio, 1787-1900: A Biographical Dictionary", by Jeffrey Weidman.

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of materials relating to artists (and sisters) Henrietta and Katie Wilson. Papers include letters of recommendation and certificates of attendance for Katie Wilson and works of poetry done by Henrietta Wilson. Photographs of the collection include images of Katie Wilson's sculptures along with images of Henrietta Wilson at work. The collection also consists of the drawings and watercolors by the two sisters and work done by E. Mendenhall and other anonymous artists.

Arrangement

Conditions Governing Access

Whilst the archives aims to provide access to the records in its care to the fullest extent possible, it reserves the right to restrict access for any reason. Please see the archives’ Access Policy for further information: www.cincinnatiartmuseum.org/visit/library-archives/the-archives/

Preferred Citation note

Mary R. Schiff Library & Archives, Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, OH.

Detailed List of Collection