Archives of American Art
Betty Carpenter papers
Carpenter, Betty
AAA.carpbett
Archival Resource Key
2.8 Linear feet
circa 1867-1971
bulk 1927-1963
The papers of Betty Carpenter measure 2.8 linear feet and date from circa 1867-1971, with the bulk from 1927-1963. The papers document Betty Carpenter's extensive research of John Orne Johnson (J.O.J) Frost and George E. Lothrop, the primitive style painters whose work she collected. Included are: drafts, notes and manuscripts of Carpenter's unpublished book on Frost; primary source material including letters from Frost to his grandchildren, copies of articles by Frost; photographs of Frost, his family and paintings; scrapbooks compiled by Carpenter and Frost, respectively; exhibition catalogs; printed material such as newspaper clippings on Frost and his hometown Marblehead, Massachusetts; notes on George E. Lothrop and photographs of his paintings.
English
.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Scope and Contents
The papers of Betty Carpenter measure 2.8 linear feet and date from circa 1867-1971, with the bulk from 1927-1963. The papers document Betty Carpenter's extensive research of John Orne Johnson Frost and George E. Lothrop, the primitive style painters whose work she collected. Materials included are correspondence related to Carpenter as well as the Frost Family. Betty Carpenter's letters are with museums, historical societies, publishers, and writers regarding the selling, loaning, book planning and exhibitioning of art work by J.O.J Frost and George Lothrop. There are also letters from the Frost family to Carpenter discussing both J.O.J Frost's life as well as matters of Carpenter's personal friendship with the family. The Frost Family correspondence is comprised of letters from J.O.J Frost to his granddaughters Ethelyn Frost Flagg and Irena Frost Greatorex as well as letters from J.O.J Frost's son Frank A. Frost to his daughter Ethelyn; and miscellaneous letters to J.O.J Frost. Writings primarily consist of manscripts and notes related to catalogs and an unpublished biography on Frost that Carpenter was working on. Additional writings include essays and notes by J.O.J Frost, biographical notes on George Lothrop and notes on American folk art. Also found are exhibition files; personal business records such as expense receipts and documenation of a probate court trial related to the ownership of some of Frost's work; scrapbooks respectively complied by Carpenter and Frost. Printed material such as newspaper clippings and exhibition ephemera, photographs and negatives of Frost, his home and artwork as well as photographs and negatives of Lothrop's paintings. Additionally, there is an artwork series which contains 35 figurative pencil sketches signed "IL Prado", an unidenfied pen and ink sketch and a pen sketch sent to Carpenter on an unsigned postcard.
Biographical / Historical
Betty Carpenter, was an art historian, biographer and collector from Massachusetts. Her collection comprised the work of Massachusetts folk artists John Orne Johnson and George E. Lothrop. In 1943 Carpenter and her husband began collecting Frost's work from his son Frank Frost. From there Mrs. Carpenter developed friendships with Frost's family and in 1948 she helped arrange an exhibition of Frost's work (along with George Lothrop's) at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston.
In addition to collecting the work of these two artists, Carpenter gathered primary source material, such as Frost's scrapbooks and diaries, as well as utilizing secondary sources; this, exclusively, in the case of George E. Lothrop on whom information was rather more limited; for the purpose of compiling biographies of the two. After both Carpenter and her husband had died, the art collection was sold at auction and the reposit of the source materials facilitated by an agent of the auction house. The source material, through Parke-Bernet, was eventually given to the Archives.
John Orne Johnson Frost (1852-1928), also known and self referred to as J.O.J Frost, was a self taught artist from Marblehead, Massachusetts. Originally a fisherman and restaurant owner, Frost only began to paint and sculpt at after his first wife Annie Frost's death in 1919. His naive style paintings depict scenes from his youth at sea, and the history of Marblehead and how it developed from its early wilderness beginnings through the American Revolution and the Civil War. George Lothrop (1967-1939), was from Dighton, Massachusetts and also began painting later in life. Lothrop was highly interested in poetry and theater, but by trade worked as a wood carpenter at a piano factory where he would carve frames for many of his paintings. He held a second job as a night security guard at the Howard Watch Company, which is where he did most of his painting. Many of his works are of fanciful or mythical scenes in oil.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated 1972 by Peter Carpenter.
Conditions Governing Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Preferred Citation
Betty Carpenter Papers, 1867-1971. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Sabine Lipten in 2023.
Arrangement
The Collection is arranged as eight series. Glass plate negatives are housed separately and closed to researchers.
- Series 1: Correspondence, 1912-1968 (0.4 Linear feet: Box 1)
- Series 2: Writings, circa 1868-1966 (1.1 Linear feet: Box 1-2)
- Series 3: Exhibition Files, 1948-1949 (1 Folder: Box 2)
- Series 4: Personal Business, 1943-1964 (6 Folders: Box 2)
- Series 5: Printed Material, 1902-1971 (0.5 Linear feet: Box 2)
- Series 6: Scrapbooks, circa 1868-1954 (0.5 Linear feet: Box 3)
- Series 7: Photographic Material, circa 1852-1965 (0.4 Linear feet: Box 3-4, MGP4)
- Series 8: Artwork, circa 1939-1950 (2 Folders: Box 4)
Art historians -- Massachusetts
Biographers -- Massachusetts
Collectors -- Massachusetts
Art -- Collectors and collecting
Women art historians
Marine painting
Folk art
Scrapbooks
Primitivism in art -- United States
Frost, J. O. J. (John Orne Johnson), 1852-1928
Lothrop, George E., Jr.
Correspondence
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
0.4 Linear feet
Box 1
1912-1968
Scope and Contents
Betty Carpenter's correspondence is primarily with museums, historical societies, publishers, and writers regarding the selling, loaning, book planning and exhibitioning of art work by J.O.J Frost and George Lothrop. Included are a few handwritten copies or drafts of her outgoing letters. Carpenter's regular correspondence is followed by letters from the Frost family to Carpenter discussing both J.O.J Frost's life as well as matters of Carpenter's personal friendship with the family. Also found are letters related to appraisal of Carpenter's personal collection of arwork. The Frost Family correspondence is comprised of letters from J.O.J Frost to his granddaughters Ethelyn Frost Flagg and Irena Frost Greatorex as well as letters from J.O.J Frost's son Frank A. Frost to his daughter Ethelyn; and miscellaneous letters to J.O.J Frost.
Betty Carpenter Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
A
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940-1955
1
1
B
Archival Resource Key
1951-1966
1
2
C
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1964
1
3
D
Archival Resource Key
circa 1947-1959
1
4
E
Archival Resource Key
1950-1959
1
5
Ethelyn Frost Flagg to Betty Carpenter
Archival Resource Key
1947-1957
1
6
Frank J. Frost to Betty Carpenter
Archival Resource Key
1946-1947
1
7
Marguerite Frost to Betty Carpenter
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1956
1
8
Sadie Frost to Betty Carpenter
Archival Resource Key
1946-1953
1
9
F
Archival Resource Key
1955-1964
1
10
G
Archival Resource Key
circa 1947-1964
1
11
H
Archival Resource Key
1945-1966
1
12
Margot Johnson
Archival Resource Key
1950-1968
1
13
Louis C. Jones
Archival Resource Key
1955-1964
1
14
J
Archival Resource Key
1949-1964
1
15
K
Archival Resource Key
1947-1962
1
16
L
Archival Resource Key
circa 1942-1966
1
17
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Archival Resource Key
1941-1959
1
18
M
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940-1967
1
19
N
Archival Resource Key
1947-1965
1
20
Betty Parsons
Archival Resource Key
1964-1965
1
21
John Alexander Pope
Archival Resource Key
1945-1955
1
22
P
Archival Resource Key
1943-1961
1
23
R
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950-1959
1
24
Grace Kellog Smith
Archival Resource Key
1955
1
25
S
Archival Resource Key
circa 1946-1959
1
26
V
Archival Resource Key
1946
1949
1
27
W
Archival Resource Key
1947-1966
1
28
Miscellaneous, Last Name Unsigned
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1965
1
29
Frost Family Correspondence
Archival Resource Key
Letters from J.O.J Frost to Ethelyn Frost Flagg
Archival Resource Key
circa 1919-1928
1
30
Letters from J.O.J Frost to Irena Frost Greatorex
Archival Resource Key
1924
1
31
Copies of Letters from J.O.J Frost to Ethelyn Frost Flagg and Irena Frost Greatorex
Archival Resource Key
circa 1924-1928
1
32
Letters from Frank A. Frost to Ethelyn Frost Flagg
Archival Resource Key
1912-1941
1
33
Miscellaneous Letters to J.O.J Frost
Archival Resource Key
1921-1926
1
34
Writings
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
1.1 Linear feet
Box 1-2
circa 1868-1966
Scope and Contents
Writings primarily consist of manscripts and notes related to catalogs and an unpublished biography on Frost that Carpenter was working on. Included are edited drafts of book chapters and accompanying notes, as well as research notes on Frost's life, book planning notes, detailed captions for artwork that were to be included, and an outline of a catalog of his work. Also found is a notebook from Frost, along with diary enteries, essays by Frost on Marblehead, Massachusetts and life as a fisherman, and in memoriam writings by his son Frank and granddaughter Evelyn. Additional writings include biographical notes on George Lothrop and notes on American folk art.
J.O.J Frost Notebook Containing Catalog of Paintings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1919-1928
1
35
J.O.J Frost Frost Diary Excerpts
Archival Resource Key
circa 1868-1869
1
36
Essays to the Marblehead Messenger from J.O.J Frost
Archival Resource Key
circa 1921-1928
1
37
"Frost's Paintings Tell Marblehead History" Lecture by J.O.J Frost
Archival Resource Key
1921
1
38
"Description of The Murals in J.O.J Frost's Kitchen at 11 Pond Street" Interview with J.O.J Frost by George Damon
Archival Resource Key
circa 1927-1928
1
39
"A Fadeless Picture" Memorial Poem by Ethelyn Frost Flagg
Archival Resource Key
circa 1928
1
40
"Memorial to Fisherman of Marblehead" Obituary By Frank A. Frost
Archival Resource Key
circa 1928
1
41
Frost Family Genealogy Notes
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950-1963
1
42
Lists of Paintings by J.O.J Frost
Archival Resource Key
circa 1948
1
43
Notebook Containing Lists of Frost Paintings at the Lee Mansion
Archival Resource Key
1962
1
44
Betty Carpenter Lecture Drafts and Notes on J.O.J Frost
Archival Resource Key
circa 1947-1954
1
45
"The Life Sketch of A Unique Character in a Unique Town" Biography of John Orne Johnson Frost Manuscript
Archival Resource Key
circa 1928
1
46
"John O.J. Frost: Marblehead Painter-Chronicler" by Betty Carpenter Partial Manuscript
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955
1
47
Frost Catalog Layout Draft
Archival Resource Key
circa 1948-1955
1
48
Frost Catalog Painting Captions and Notes
Archival Resource Key
circa 1948-1955
1
49
Essay Drafts on J.O.J Frost's Scrapbooks
Archival Resource Key
circa 1948-1963
1
50
Biographical Notes on J.O.J Frost
Archival Resource Key
circa 1947-1955
1
51
J.O.J Frost Book Chapter Notes and Drafts
Archival Resource Key
"Biography"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1963
1
52
"Preface to Critical Writings About Frost"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1963
1
53
"Early Life"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1963
1
54
"The Compass"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1963
1
55
"Discovery of J.O.J Frost"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1963
1
56
"Off to the Grand Banks"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1963
1
57
"After Annie's Death"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1963
1
58
"Last Chapter"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1963
1
59
Miscellaneous Chapters
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1963
2
1-2
Annotated Copy of Catalog Printed by J.O.J Frost (1926)
Archival Resource Key
circa 1948-1963
2
3
Notes on J.O.J Frost's Paintings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1964
2
4
Research Materials for J.O.J Frost Book
Archival Resource Key
1962
2
5
Dedication List of Names for J.O.J Frost Book
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1963
2
6
Miscellaneous Notes on J.O.J Frost for Book
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1963
2
7-8
Biographical Notes on George Lothrop
Archival Resource Key
circa 1948-1952
2
9
Article Research Notes on Lothrop
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952-1963
2
10
American Primitive Art and George Lothrop Article Draft
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952-1963
2
11
"George Lothrop, Yankee Limner" Article by Barbara B. Walker
Archival Resource Key
1952
2
12
Miscellaneous Notes on George Lothrop
Archival Resource Key
circa 1959-1966
2
13
"An Art Dealer is Intrigued by American Folk Art" Talk Transcript given by Albert Duveen
Archival Resource Key
circa 1961
2
14
Miscellaneous Notes
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940-1955
2
15
Exhibition Files
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
1 Folder
Box 2
1948-1949
Scope and Contents
The Exhibition Files series documents a joint exhibition of Frost and Lothrop's work organized by Carpenter. Materials include scrapbook pages of clippings, correspondence with the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston related to the planning of the exhibition, and loan records.
Exhibition of Two New England "Primitives", Frost and Lothrop (Nov.18 - Dec.12, 1948), The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston
Archival Resource Key
1948-1949
2
16
Personal Business
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
6 Folders
Box 2
1943-1964
Scope and Contents
Personal Business includes expense receipts and notes related to Carpenter's research on Frost as well as personal expenses. Also found are insurance policies for Carpenter's collection of Frost and Lothrop artwork and loan and sale receipts of artwork. Additionally there are records including correspondence and notes related to the probate court case the Carpenters were involved in regarding the ownership of Frost's painting. A copy of Sadie Frost, J.O.J's second wife's will is also found in this series.
Painting Sales and Loan Receipts
Archival Resource Key
1943-1952
2
17
J.O.J Frost Research Expenses
Archival Resource Key
1954
2
18
J.O.J Frost and George Lothrop Artwork Insurance Policies
Archival Resource Key
1955-1962
2
19
Carpenter Personal Expense Receipts
Archival Resource Key
1948-1964
2
20
Estate of Frank Frost vs. Mason Jr. Et al. Probate Court Case
Archival Resource Key
1955-1957
2
21
Copy of Sadie Frost's Will
Archival Resource Key
1954
2
22
Printed Material
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
0.5 Linear feet
Box 2
1902-1971
Scope and Contents
Printed materials include newspaper and magazine clippings, exhibition announcements, catalogs and a book about Marblehead, Massachusetts that mentions Frost's first wife Annie Frost. Clippings document J.O.J Frost's career and life; Marblehead, Massachusetts; American folk art and primative art and miscellanea. Printed material related to George Lothrop include a group exhibition catalog featuring two of Lothrop's paintings and a solo exhibition poster.
Articles about J.O.J Frost by Harry Wilkinson for Northshore Breeze and Reminder Magazine
Archival Resource Key
1926-1929
2
23
Magazine Clippings, J.O.J Frost
Archival Resource Key
1954-1956
2
24
Marblehead Messenger Newspaper Columns Written by J.O.J Frost
Archival Resource Key
circa 1921-1928
2
25
Marblehead Messenger Newspaper Columns About J.O.J Frost
Archival Resource Key
1927-1928
2
26
Newspaper Clippings
Archival Resource Key
J.O.J Frost
Archival Resource Key
circa 1948-1971
2
27
Frost Probate Court Case
Archival Resource Key
1956-1957
2
28
Marblehead, Massachusetts
Archival Resource Key
circa 1924-1960
2
29
Excerpts from "The History and Traditions of Marblehead" by Samuel Roads Jr. in The Marblehead Messenger Newspaper
Archival Resource Key
1956-1958
2
30
Folk Art
Archival Resource Key
circa 1954-1962
2
31
Arthur Heintzelman
Archival Resource Key
1958
1965
2
32
Miscellaneous
Archival Resource Key
1956-1963
2
33
J.O.J Frost Exhibition Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1954
2
34
J.O.J Frost Exhibition Announcements and Flyers
Archival Resource Key
1924-1956
2
35
J.O.J Frost Painting Postcards
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1965
2
36
An Old Marblehead Garden book by Elijah Bruce
Archival Resource Key
1902
2
37
George Lothrop Exhibition Catalog
Archival Resource Key
1942
2
38
George Lothrop Exhibition Poster
Archival Resource Key
circa 1948-1963
2
39
Primitive Art Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1954-1955
2
40
Boston Society of Independent Artists Annual Exhibition Catalogs
Archival Resource Key
1929
1938-1939
2
41
Miscellaneous Printed Material
Archival Resource Key
circa 1946-1970
2
42
Scrapbooks
Series 6
Archival Resource Key
0.5 Linear feet
Box 3
circa 1868-1954
Scope and Contents
The Scrapbook series contains scrapbooks of clippings compiled by Carpenter on Frost as well as scrapbooks created by Frost. Frost's scrapbooks document the experiences of fishermen, living in Marblehead, Massachusetts, his family and American history he was interested in such as the Civil War and the relationship between Native Americans and settlers of early Marblehead. Also found are photocopies of some pages of Frost's scrapbooks.
Betty Carpenter Scrapbook of News Clippings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940-1954
3
1
Betty Carpenter Disbound Scrapbook of News Clippings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1940-1954
3
2
J.O.J Frost Scrapbooks of News Clippings, Photographs, Notes and Drawings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1868-1928
3
3-5
Photographic Material
Series 7
Archival Resource Key
0.4 Linear feet
Box 3, MGP4
circa 1852-1965
Scope and Contents
Photographic material contains photographs, slides and negatives of J.O.J Frost and George Lothrops artwork. Also found are photographs of Frost, his home and studio, one of his granddaughter Ethelyn Frost Flagg and citizens of Marblehead MA. There are also two glass plate negatives of a rock sculpture Frost built called the "Musical Rocks".
Photographs of J.O.J Frost Artwork
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1965
3
8-10
Photographs of J.O.J Frost Artwork
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1965
4
1-2
J.O.J Frost Exhibition Photographs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1945-1955
4
3
Photographs of J.O.J Frost
Archival Resource Key
circa 1852-1928
4
4
Photographs of J.O.J Frost's Home and Studio
Archival Resource Key
circa 1890s
1945-1955
4
5
Photographs of Ethelyn Frost Flagg
Archival Resource Key
circa 1918-1928
4
6
Photographs of Citizens of Marblehead, Massachusetts
Archival Resource Key
circa 1867-1928
4
7
Slides of J.O.J Frost's Artwork
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1965
4
8
Negatives of J.O.J Frost's Artwork
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955-1965
4
9
Photographs of George Lothrop Paintings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952-1963
4
10
Glass Plate Negative of "Musical Rocks" sculpture
Archival Resource Key
circa 1915-1928
MGP4
Glass Plate Negative of "Musical Rocks" sculpture
Archival Resource Key
circa 1915-1928
MGP4
Slides of George Lothrop Paintings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952-1963
4
11
Negatives of George Lothrop Paintings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952-1963
4
12
Artwork
Series 8
Archival Resource Key
2 Folders
Box 3
circa 1939-1950
Scope and Contents
The artwork series contains 35 figurative pencil sketches signed "Il Prado", an unidenfied pen and ink sketch and a pen sketch sent to Carpenter on an unsigned postcard.
Pencil Sketches
Archival Resource Key
circa 1939-1942
4
13
Pen and Ink Sketches
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
4
14