George G. Adomeit Collection of Cleveland Artists' Ephemera This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit March 12, 2018 Ingalls Library and Museum Archives 11150 East Blvd. Cleveland, OH, 44106 216-707-2492 [email protected] George G. Adomeit Collection of Cleveland Artists' Ephemera Table of Contents Summary Information .................................................................................................................................3 Biographical/Historical note..........................................................................................................................4 Administrative Information .........................................................................................................................4 Related Materials ........................................................................................................................................5 Controlled Access Headings..........................................................................................................................5 List of artists identified in collection............................................................................................................6 Collection Inventory......................................................................................................................................7 Scrapbooks...............................................................................................................................................7 Loose Materials........................................................................................................................................8 - Page 2 - George G. Adomeit Collection of Cleveland Artists' Ephemera Summary Information Repository Ingalls Library and Museum Archives Creator Adomeit, George G. (George Gustav), 1879-1967. Creator Coltman, Ora, 1858-1940 Creator Peck, Miriam Smith, 1910-1984 Creator Semon, Carle Title George G. Adomeit Collection of Cleveland Artists' Ephemera Date circa 1900 - circa 1990 [bulk 1905-1965] Extent 3.0 Cubic feet [6 clamshell boxes and 1 Hollinger box] Language English - Page 3 - George G. Adomeit Collection of Cleveland Artists' Ephemera Biographical/Historical note Born in Memel, Germany, George Gustav Adomeit's family immigrated to the United States when he was three years old. Adomeit became interested in drawing at an early age and while in high school won a scholarship to attend classes at the Cleveland School of Art, now Cleveland Institute of Art. Adomeit studied painting under noted Cleveland artist F. C. (Frederick Carl) Gottwald. Adomeit specialized in oils, but also worked in watercolors. His works, mostly landscapes, chronicle the places he frequented, notably Monhegan Island, Maine and Provincetown, Massachusetts. Likewise, he captured the Ohio landscapes of Cleveland, Berlin Heights, Zoar, and Gates Mills. Between 1919 and 1958, Adomeit exhibited his artwork in 40 consecutive May Shows. His works were also accepted into other juried exhibitions including the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Corcoran Gallery’s biennial exhibitions, and Carnegie International Exhibition of 1930. An active member and proponent of the Cleveland arts community, Adomeit along with Charles Shackleton founded the Cleveland Society of Artists. The society held numerous events and programs, and organized an annual auction to finance scholarships to the Cleveland School of Art. Adomeit started his career as a lithographic apprentice. After a few years, he and a colleague purchased the Mason Engraving Co. renaming it Caxton Engraving Co., later simply Caxton Co.. Adomeit rose to be president and director before retiring in 1956. Adomeit married Ida Von Den Steinen and their daughter Ruth Adomeit was a noted collector of miniature books. Administrative Information Publication Information Ingalls Library and Museum Archives Conditions Governing Access note Open to the public. For more information or to access this collection contact archives staff at [email protected]. Accruals note This collection may be an accrual to the Cleveland Society of Arists Records Collection which was previously processed without a record of its origins. The Cleveland Society of Artists Records contain the articles of incorporation, meeting minutes, and membership ledgers. A separate finding aid is available. - Page 4 - George G. Adomeit Collection of Cleveland Artists' Ephemera Immediate Source of Acquisition note Gift of Ruth Adomeit Processing Information note Processed by Peter Buettner, December 2017. Related Materials Separated Materials note Two bound copies of Silhouette sent to the Ingalls Library. Controlled Access Headings Corporate Name(s) • Cleveland Society of Artists. Genre(s) • Photography Subject(s) • Art -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Exhibitions. • Art -- Ohio -- Cleveland. • Art, American -- Ohio -- 20th century. • Art. • Artists -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Biography. • Artists -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Portraits. - Page 5 - George G. Adomeit Collection of Cleveland Artists' Ephemera • Artists -- Ohio -- Cleveland. • Artists. • Cleveland School of Art • Exhibitions -- Ohio -- Cleveland. • May Show (Cleveland, Ohio) List of artists identified in collection Adomeit, George G. (George Gustav), 1879-1967 Bohnard, Bill Busch, Hans Clough, Thomas, 1872-1945 Corsi, Antonio Dinardo, Alida Dinardo, Tony Edmonson, William J., 1868-1966 Gottwald, F.C. (Frederick Carl), 1858 -1941 Horton, Clyde E. Kubinyi, Kalman, 1906-1973 Malmquist, Harold (Hal?) Oakes, Wilbur L., 1876-1934 Peck, Miriam Smith, 1910-1984 Scott, Philip D. Semon, Carle Shackleton, Charles 1857-1920 Sommer, William, 1867-1949 Stoll, Rolf, 1892-1978 - Page 6 - George G. Adomeit Collection of Cleveland Artists' Ephemera Scrapbooks Collection Inventory Scrapbooks Separated Materials note The size of several boards in the Ora Coltman scrapbook do not match the size of the binding.These boards most likely came from the Adomeit scrapbook. Scope and Contents note The series contains six scrapbooks - four about Adomeit, one about Ora Coltman, and one about Miriam Smith Peck. Each was presumably compiled by its respective artist. Of Adomeit's, two pertain to his artwork and contain reproductions and photographs of many pieces. Most of the images have annotations, presumably by Ruth Adomeit, concerning location and provenance. One of these scrapbooks is mounted on brittle black paper and many leaves have come unbound.The other was previously in a three-ring binder. The third scrapbook focuses on Adomeit's retirement in 1955. The fourth scrapbook relates to Cleveland artists (mostly Adomeit), Ruth Adomeit, the Cleveland Society of Artists, and the Caxton Company. Ora Coltman's scrapbook contains very fragile newspaper mounted on boards. All the boards have come loose from the binding. Reference photocopies of each board were made for researcher use. The Miriam Smith Peck scrapbook relates primarily to her interaction with the Cleveland Museum of Art's Annual Exhibition of Work by Cleveland Artists and Craftsmen [May Show] and includes newspaper clippings, sales slips, prize placards and other ephemera. Box George G. Adomeit Scrapbook 1900-1967 1 2 George G. Adomeit Scrapbook [artwork reproducations] - Page 7 - George G. Adomeit Collection of Cleveland Artists' Ephemera Loose Materials 3 George G. Adomeit Scrapbook [retirement] 1942-1967 (Bulk, 1955) 4 Ora Coltman Scrapbook 1930s 5 Miriam Smith Peck Scrapbook 1936-1949 Loose Materials Box Folder 6 1 Artworks, original [19 engravings Adomeit and "A Woodland Study" by Alphonse Legros] 6 2 Bailey, Henry Turner, and Ivor G. Johns. "Where Men and Minerals Meet; an appreciation" Cleveland: Central National Bank, 1928. [on Ivor G. Johns's mural at Central National Bank] 6 3 Calendars: January 1902, May 1930 7 1 Caxton Company - The Rowfant Club 1930, 1942-1952 7 2 Caxton Company - The Rowfant Club[?] - William G. and Katharine L. Mather Holiday Card [with Gwinn illustration] 1926 7 3 Cleveland Museum of Art [May Show/Life Membership] 1919-1958 7 4 Cleveland School of Art [Cleveland Institute of Art] Program on the Unveiling of the Fountain 1918 - Page 8 - George G. Adomeit Collection of Cleveland Artists' Ephemera Ephemera 7 4 Cleveland School of Art [Cleveland Institute of Art] Handbook[?] 1928 Box 4 Coltman, Ora [Portrait of Coltman (drawing) by Weller, portrait photographs, obituary] Box Folder 7 5 Correspondence undated, 1939-1963 Ephemera Box Folder 6 4 Cleveland Society of Artists Scope and Contents note Announcements, invitations, programs, and exhibition catalogs for the Cleveland Society of Artists. May contain some Cleveland Arts Club materials. 5 2 Clippings Scope and Contents note Original and photocopied clippings of newspapers and magazines. Also contains some reproductions of artwork. 7 6 Invitations [to exhibition openings] 7 7 Newspaper Clippings [original] - Page 9 - George G. Adomeit Collection of Cleveland Artists' Ephemera Ephemera Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements note Very fragile, reference photocopies were made and are filed with Clippings Box Folder 7 8 Exhibitions undated, 1903-1963 6 5 Periodicals Scope and Contents note Periodicals most likely printed by Caxton Company, includes The Albatross, 1914-1915; The Bystander, 1930; and Cleveland Town Topics, 1911-1912. Each title has less than three issues. 7 9 Photographs - Broemel, Carl W. Scope and Contents note Photographs presumably sent by Carl Broemel. Includes exhibition views and portrait snapshots. 7 10 Photographs - Cleveland Society of Artists 7 12 Photographs - Objects - George G. Adomeit 7 13 Photographs - Objects - Henry G. Keller 7 14 Photographs - Objects - William Sommer - Page 10 -