The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Charles Roger Stauffer

Title: Collection

Dates: 1940-1963

Call No.: Col. 536

Acc. No.: 97x24

Quantity: 6 boxes

Location: 18 G 4-5

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Charles Roger Stauffer was born on April 7, 1887, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; he was the son of Magdalena and Wilfred Ludwig Stauffer. Charles attended the Episcopal Academy and the Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia and was associated with the Lee Carpet Company of Norristown. He had two children by his first wife: Magdalena Strassburger (Synder) and Louise Rosella (Todd). On June 3, 1950, he married his second wife, Sadie Lucile Wise, in Portland, Pa. She was the daughter of Lenora Harvey and Lewis Reuben Wise. Sadie Wise was a long-time collector of 18^th and 19^th century American and European decorative arts. Mr. Stauffer, an amateur artist, made copies of Pennsylvania German folk art. As his work advanced, he painted furniture and decorative accessories and did fraktur for individuals in the Easton, Pa., area. Charles Stauffer died on June 19, 1965, in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

The collection consists almost entirely of Pennsylvania German designs of flowers, birds, hearts, people, angels, animals, and scenes as drawn by Stauffer. Included are frakturs, small cards (perhaps meant to be gift enclosure cards), score cards, and sketchbooks. All of this work is done on cards and paper of varying sizes and types. In box 2, folder 6, one picture is on the back of Horlacher Brewing Co. stationery; two pencil drawings by Mr. Stauffer drawn on the back of Wise Brothers stationery from the 1880s are located in box 6, folder 8. The Wise Brothers were lumber dealers in Portland, Pa. There are some prints of Pennsylvania scenes, not done by Mr. Stauffer; one of these was engraved by John Sartain. Three ceramic plates, two of which are decorated in Pennsylvania German motifs are in the collection. One of the plates was done by Mr. Stauffer. In 1959, Mr. and Mrs. Stauffer were chairmen of an antiques show in Easton, Pa. Mr. Stauffer painted designs on the backs of some of the cards advertising the show. Also in the collection are a few articles and pictures not by Mr. Stauffer, mostly about Pennsylvania German art.

ORGANIZATION

The collection is housed in six boxes, containing 93 folders, three ceramic plates, and six sketchbooks. Boxes 1-4 and 6 contain paintings and sketches by Mr. Stauffer. In addition, Box 1 includes nine slides of his work. Box 2 contains some prints not by Mr. Stauffer. Box 3 houses his sketchbooks. Box 4 holds small sketches and cards. Box 5 contains ceramic plates. Box 6 contains mostly pencil sketches, but has colored sketches as well.

PROVENANCE

Gift of Sadie Wise Stauffer (Mrs.Charles Stauffer).

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Stauffer, Sadie Lucile Wise.

Sartain, John, 1808-1897.

Topics:

Wise Brothers

Horlacher Brewing Co.

Art, Pennsylvania Dutch

Folk art – Pennsylvania

Fraktur art

Birdhouses – Pictorial works

Birds – Pictorial works

Flowers – Pictorial works

Horses – Pictorial works

Deer – Pictorial works

Dogs – Pictorial works

Unicorns – Pictorial works

Children – Pictorial works

Men – Pictorial works

Women – Pictorial works

Pennsylvania – Pictorial works

Animals – Pictorial works

Angels – Pictorial works

Prints

Drawings

Paintings

Sketchbooks

Billheads

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 18 G 4-5

Box 1

Folder 1:

Slides:

04 - Tulips with Hearts 22 - Hearts and Flowers

06 - Angels 26 - Bird and Flowers

10 - Border with Birds 30 - Man with Gun

14 - Man and Woman 34 - Bird

18 - Birds, Flower, Sign

Folder 2:

Woodcut from a 19^th century book of Russian prints.

5 ¼” round, Flowers - 1823.

6” round, Flowers.

6” x 12 ¾”, Flowers - 1829.

5” x 6 ¾”, Flowers.

Folder 3:

8” x 10”, Chicken and Birds.

7 ½” x 11 ½”, Vase, Flowers and Birds.

8” x 12”, Heart, 1810; Angels and Hearts with initials: H. M., S. M.

8 ¾” x 10 ½”, Flowers, Birds.

Folder 4:

10 ¼” x 13 ½”, Pots, Flowers and Birds.

9” x 12 ½”, Heart, Angel and Flowers.

10” x 13 ½”, Flowers and Birds, Border.

9 ¾” x 11”, Heart, Pots and Flowers.

Folder 5:

10 ½” x 13 ½”, Angels, Flowers and Borders

10 ½” x 14, Hearts, Flowers and Border.

10 ½” x 13 ¾”, Birds, Pots and Border.

101/2” x 13 ¾”, Hearts and Flowers.

Folder 6:

10 ¾” x 15”, Angels, Flowers and Border.

8 ¼” x 10 ½”, Buildings.

4 ¼” x 6 ¼”, Pots, Birds and Flowers.

7 ½” x 9 ½”, Pots, Flowers and Birds.

Folder 7:

9 ½” x 12 ½”, Birds, Hearts and Flowers.

9 ½” x 12 ½”, Vase, Flowers, Bird.

9 ½” x 12 ½”, Fruit, Birds, Hearts.

Folder 8:

9 ½” x 12 ½”, Vase, Flowers.

9 ½” x 12 ½”, Vase, Flowers.

9 ½” x 12 ½”, Vases, Flowers.

9 ½” x 12 ½”, Bird, Berries and Flowers.

Folder 9:

9 ½” x 12 ½”, Birds and Flowers.

9 ½” x 12 ½”, Birds and Flowers.

9 ½” x 12 ½”, Heart, Flowers.

9 ½” x 12 ½”, Vases, Flowers and Birds, Border.

Folder 10:

9 ½” x 11 ½”, Heart, Birds and Flowers.

9 ½” x11 ½’, Heart, Flowers.

9 ½” x 11 ½”, Heart, Flowers.

Box 2

Folder 1:

5 ¾” Round, Cutout design, Charles R. Stauffer, 1953.

5 ¾” Round, Cutout design, Chas. R. Stauffer, 1952.

7” x 10 “, Heart, Flowers.

Folder 2:

6” x 8”, Heart, Flowers.

6 ¼” x 7 ¾”, Flower, Birds.

6 ¼” x 9”, Heart, Flowers.

Folder 3:

5 ½” x 7”, Bird.

5 ½” x 7”, Bird.

5 ½” x 7”, Bird.

3” x 5”, Birds.

4 ¼” x 5 ½” Birds.

4 ½” x 7”, Birds.

4 ½” x 7”, Bird.

Folder 4:

4 ½” x 7”, Riders on Horses, Flower.

4 ½” x 7”, Flowers.

4 ½” x 7”, Bird.

5” x 8”, Flowers.

7” x 12”, Vase, Bird and Flowers.

Folder 5:

7 ¼” x 10 ½”, Pitcher.

11 ½” x 15”, Dog and Child, Dog.

7” x 10”, Birds.

7” x 10”, Birds.

7 ½” x 9 ½”, Vase, Flowers.

7” x 10”, Angels, Christmas Greetings, From the Hankins Family.

Folder 6:

6 ½” x 10”, Unicorn, Flower.

8 ½” x 11”, Border, Flowers and Birds.

8” x 12”, Vase, Bird and Flowers.

8” x 12”, Man in Wagon, Buildings.

8 ½” x 11”, Birds and Flowers (on back of Horlacher Brewing Co., Allentown, Pa, stationery, c.1900).

8” x 10 ½”, Vase, Flowers.

8 ½” x 11”, Flower.

Folder 7:

4” x 5”, Print: Nicholas Waln.

3 ¼” x 4 ½’, Print: Penn Landing at Chester.

3 ¼” x 4 ½”, Print: Arch Street Bridge at Front Street.

3 ¼” x 4 ½”, Print: The London Coffee House.

3 ½” x 4 ½”, Print: The Swedes Church and House of Sven Sener.

3 ¼” x 4 ½”, Print: Penn Landing at Blue Anchor.

3 ½” x 4 ½”, Print: The Treaty Tree and Fairman’s Mansion.

Folder 8:

3 ¼” x 4 ½”, Print: State House and Congress Hall.

3 ¼” x 4 ½”, Print: Shippen’s House.

4 ½” x 7 ¼”, Print: Duche’s House, South Third. St.; British Barracks, Northern

Liberties.

4 ½” x 7 ¼”, Print: Christ Church; Carpenter’s Mansion.

4 ¾” x 7”, Print: Friend’s Bank Meeting.

4 ½” x 7 ¼”, Print: Friend’s Alms House, Walnut Street; First Presbyterian

Church, High Street.

4 ¼” x 6 ¾”, Print: Pegg’s Run, Northern Liberties.

Folder 9:

4 ½” x 6 ½”, Print: The Duck Pond, Corner Fourth and High Streets.

4 ½” x 7 3/8”Print: British Defence of Philadelphia in 1787 [sic].

4 ¼” x 6 ½”, Print: The Shields Passing the Site of Philadelphia in 1678.

4” x 8 ¾”, Print: Benj. Franklin; James Logan.

5 ½” x 8 ½”, Print: Green’s House, Germantown.

5 ¼” x 8 ½”, Print: Wm. Penn, engraved by John Sartain.

Folder 10:

Pamphlet: “Pennsylvania Folk-Art,” by John Joseph Stoudt.

Picture: Lehigh County Chest 1805; Lancaster County Chest, 1788.

Picture: Baskets of Flowers.

Picture: Flowers.

Picture: Chest Front: 1782, Birds and Flowers (in 2 pieces).

Folder 11:

Picture: “Motifs of Pennsylvania German Decoration.”

Picture: Reproduction from a medieval illuminated manuscript, showing castles and people.

Article: “Pennsylvania Bride Boxes and Dower Chests.”

Article: The Antiquarian, May 1930, “Bridal Furniture of the Pennsylvania Germans.”

Chart for sampler: Old Sampler Designs publised and sold by Minnie Morgan Williams, copyright 1914.

Box 3

Folder 1:

Autograph Album: Paintings: Birds, Flowers (on title page: “Charles R. Stauffer, 1940.”

Folder 2:

Autograph Album:Paintings: on title page: “Sketch Book, Pennsylvania Dutch Art Designs, Charles R. Stauffer, 1948.”

Bottom Area:

Sketchbook: Paintings, 9” x 12”, 19 pages; Birds, Flowers and Barns (on front cover: “Charles Roger Stauffer, 1949”; on inside front cover: “Book # 35, Pennsylvania Dutch, by Chas. R. Stauffer, 1949, 1^st book, 1917”).

Sketchbook: Paintings, 9” x 12”, 18 pages; Birds and Flowers (on cover: “Pennsylvania Dutch, Charles Roger Stauffer, 1949.”

Sketchbook: Paintings, 10” x 14”, 10 pages; Flowers, Deer, Unicorn, Symbol,

Woman.

Sketchbook: Paintings, 10” x 14”, 21 pages; Angels, Birds, Flowers.

Box 4

File 1: 2 ½” x 3 ½”, 3 paintings: Flowers and Butterfly.

File 2: 2 ½” x 3 ½”, 4 paintings: Trees.

File 3: 2 ½” x 3 ½”, 3 paintings: Flowers.

File 4: 2 ½” x 3 ½”, 3 paintings: Flowers and Star.

File 5: 2 ½” x 3 ½”, 3 paintings: Flowers.

File 6: 2 ½” x 4 ¼”, 4 paintings: Flowers.

File 7: 2 ½” x 4 ¼”, 4 paintings: Flowers.

File 8: 2 ½” x 3”, 4 paintings: Birds, Flowers, Symbols.

File 9: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings: Birds, Heart, Flower.

File 10: 2 ½” x 3 ¾”, 4 paintings: Flowers.

File 11: 2 ½” x 3 ¾”, 3 paintings: Flowers.

File 12: 2 ¾” x 3 ½”, 5 paintings: Flowers.

File 13: 3” x 5”, 4 paintings: Woman, Heart and Birds and Flowers.

File 14: 3” x 5”, 4 paintings: Heart and Flowers, Birds and Flowers.

File 15: 3” x 5”, 3 paintings: Heart and Birds, Flowers.

File 16: 3” x 5”, 4 paintings: Boys, Flowers.

File 17: 3” x 5”, 5 paintings: Birds and Flowers, Man.

File 18: 3 ½” x 5 ½”, 4 paintings: Heart and Flowers, Flowers (3 on reverse side of card advertising the 1959 Easton, Penn., YMCA Antiques Show, which was chaired by Mr. and Mrs. Stauffer).

File 19: 3 ½” x 5 ½”, 4 paintings: Birds, Flowers (3 on Antiques Show cards).

File 20: 3 ½” x 5 ½”, 4 paintings: Bird and Flowers (all on Antiques Show cards).

File 21: 3 ½” x 5 ½”, 4 paintings: Heart and Flowers, Flowers (2 on Antiques Show cards).

File 22: 3 ½” x 5 ½”, 5 paintings: Birds and Flowers, Flowers (4 on Antiques Show cards).

File 23: 3 ½” x 5 ½”, 5 paintings: Birds, Flowers (all on Antiques Show cards).

File 24: 3 ½” x 5 ½”, 6 paintings: Heart and Birds, Birds, Heart and Flowers, Birds and Flowers (all on Antiques Show cards).

File 25: 3 ½” x 5 ½”, 4 paintings: Flowers, Birds.

File 26: 4” x 6”, 4 paintings: Heart and Birds, Fruit, Bird.

File 27: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Heart, Flowers.

File 28: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 29: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Bird, Flowers.

File 30: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 31: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 32: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 33: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 34: 2 ½” x 3”, 4 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 35: 2 ½” x 3”, 4 paintings with strings attached: Hearts and Flowers, Flowers.

File 36: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 37: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Star and Flowers, Flowers.

File 38: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 39: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 40: 2 ½” x 3”, 4 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 41: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Heart, Flowers, Birds.

File 42: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Bird, Flowers.

File 43: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 44: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 45: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 46: 2 ½” x 3”, 2 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 47: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Hearts, Bird.

File 48: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Heart, Flowers.

File 49: 2 ½” x 3”, 3 paintings with strings attached: Flowers.

File 50: 2 ½” x 3”, 2 paintings with strings attached: Bird, Flower.

Box 5: Plates

10” Round Ceramic Plate: inscribed on back: Chas Stauffer; Bird and Tulip design on front, with German inscription, including the date1789 (part of design chipped off).

10” Round Ceramic Plate: inscribed on back: to Sadie from Ophelia Nance, 3-23-51; inscribed on front: Charles R. Stauffer - Sadie Wise Stauffer, 1950-June 3-1951, with Flower and Bird design.

8” Round Ceramic Plate: inscribed on back: M. S. Synder, 1954; design on front: Coat of Arms of Stauffer family.

Box 6

Folder 1: Envelope with enclosures: Pennsylvania Dutch Patterns, by Jane Zook, Lancaster, Pa. 1948.

Folder 2: The Lamp, June 1952 (magazine of Standard Oil Company of New Jersey).

Folder 3: 13” x 20”, Crucifixion of Christ, Hearts.

Folder 4: 16” x 19”, Birds and Flowers.

Folder 5: 9” x 12”, Unicorn, Flowers; 10” x 14”, Flower.

Folder 6:

8” x 14”, Bird.

8 ½” x 11”, Leaf Design.

8” x 11”, Vase, Flowers.

8 ½” x 11”, Birds and Flowers and Hearts.

8 ½” x 11”, Flowers.

Folder 7:

8 ½” x 11”, Dancers and Musician.

7 ¼” x 12”, Birds and Flowers.

8 ½” x 11”, Birds and Flowers.

7” x 12”, Heart and Flower.

8 ½” x 11”, Bird and Flowers.

Folder 8:

7” x 11”, Deer.

8 ½” x 11”, Pitchers.

7 x 8 ½”, Bird and Flowers (on Wise Brothers, Portland, Pa., stationery, c.1880).

7 x 8 ½”, Fraktur Drawing 1815 (on Wise Brothers stationery, c1880).

8 x 10”, Birds and Flowers.

Folder 9:

8 ½” x 10 ½”, Man and Woman.

7” x 12”, Vase, Birds and Flowers.

10” round, Dancers and Musician.

8” x 9”, Bird and Flowers.

7” x 12”, Hearts, Angel and Flowers.

Folder 10:

8 ½” x 10 ½”, Man and Woman.

8 ½” x 11”, Unicorn, Flowers.

7” x 12”, Bird and Flower.

7” x 12”, Vase, Bird and Flowers.

8 ½” x 11”, Vase, Flowers.

Folder 11:

8 ½” x 11”, Vase, Flowers.

8 ½” x11”, Birds, Flowers.

8 ½” x 11”, Buildings.

7 x 10 ½”, Man and Woman.

7 x 9 ½”, Man and Woman.

Folder 12:

8 ½” x 11”, Man, Wagon and Horse, Church.

8 ½” x 11”, Birds, Heart and Flowers.

6” x 8 ½”, Birds and Flowers.

10 ½” x 11 ½”, Man, Church and House, Dog, Cat, Bird and Flower.

6” x 10”; Angel.

Folder 13:

3 ¾” X 6 ½”, Horses and Riders, Flower.

8” x 12”, Flowers.

8 ½” x 11”, Flowers.

8 ½” x 11”, Angel on horse.

8 ½” x 11”, Three Children.

Folder 14:

8 ½” x 11”, Drummer, Flowers.

8 ½” x 11”, numeral 2.

8 ½” x 11”, numeral 3.

8 ½” x 11”, numeral 3.

8 ½” x 11”, Pitchers.

Folder 15:

8 ½” x 11”, Pitchers.

8 ½” x 11”, Flower.

8 ½” x 11”, Flower.

7” x 8 ¼”, Fox.

8 ½” x 11”, Camel, Flower.

8 ½” x 11”, Man with Cart and Horse in front of house.

Folder 16:

8 ½” x 11”, Birds and Fruit.

8 ½” x 11”, Flowers and Bird.

7” x 11”, Flower.

8 ½” x 11”, Pitcher and Bird.

8 ½” x 11”, Birds, Flower, Star.

Folder 17:

8 ½” x 11”, Man and Woman

8 ½” x 11”, Horse and Dog, House.

8 11/2” x 11”, Cookie Cutter Patterns.

8 ½” x 11”, Heart and Flowers.

9” x 12”, Dancers, Musician.

Folder 18:

8 ½” x 11”, Man and Woman.

8 ½” x 11”, Birds and Flowers.

8 ½” x 11”, Flowers.

7 ½” x 11 ½”, Stars, Birds and Flowers.

7 ½” 12”, Vase, Flowers and Birds.

Folder 19:

5” x 8”, Flowers, Birds, Cabinet, Man and Woman (6 sheets).

4” x 7”, Flowers, Hearts, Birds, Horses, Man and Woman (8 sheets).

Folder 20:

5” x 10”, Bird

6” x 8”, Lowboy (furniture design).

8” x 8”, Bird on Nest.

6” Round, Flowers.

Designs for birdhouses by C. R. Stauffer, 1950

Folder 21:

14” x 17”, Birds, Flowers and Arch.

7 ½” x 14”, Birds and Flowers.

7” x 8 ½”, Deer.

14” x 20”, Border, Birds, People, Flowers, Buildings.

14” x 18”, “The Decorated Chest of Rural Pennsylvania” (sketch for title page).

Folder 22:

11” x 15”, Bird and Flower Border.

12 “ x 13 ½”, Angels: Sadie Wise birth fraktur.

8 ½” x 12”, Robert Burkard, Kutztown, Pa. (unfinished fraktur).

8 ½” x 12”, Angels, Horns.

13” x 15 ½”, Angels and Hearts, Flowers.

12 ½” x 15 ½”, Men and Women, Flowers, House.

13 x 15 ½”, Man, Church, House.

13 x 14 ½”, Angels, Flowers and Birds: Charles Stauffer birth fraktur.

11 ½” x 17”, Basket of Fruit.