Caroline L. Whiting student notebooks
Abstract
Caroline L. Whiting received a diploma in Illustrative Advertising from the New York School of Fine and Applied Art (later, Parsons School of Design) in 1925. The collection consists of two notebooks of hand-written lecture notes, tracings, drawing exercises, and visual research Whiting maintained during her studies.
Dates
- 1922-1925
Creator
- New York School of Fine and Applied Art (Degree grantor, Organization)
Extent
.1 Cubic Feet (2 folders)
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of Caroline Loretz Whiting's notebooks from her studies at the New York School of Fine and Applied Art (later, Parsons School of Design), which spanned 1922-1925. The notebooks are hand-written in a distinctive, looping script that researchers may struggle to decipher. Media present in the notebooks consists of pencil, ink, and watercolors.
The earliest notebook appears to cover Whiting's first academic year and includes notes from Frank Alvah Parsons's book, The Art Appeal in Display Advertising, hand lettering exercises, visual research on traditional Peruvian design and folk art motifs, tracings of European historical costume, notes on perspective and color, and copies of portraits in watercolor. This notebook also contains notes from a Frank Alvah Parsons lecture, likely from January 1923.
The second notebook, the more voluminous of the two, focuses on French history and culture. William M. Odom is identified as a lecturer on several pages. The notebook begins with a list titled, "Rulers of France," followed by an outline of historical periods in French history, and a series of photographic reproductions of churches and cathedrals affixed to the notebook paper and identified by location. The remainder of the notebook is organized by historical periods (Medieval, Renaissance, Louis XIV and XV, etc.) with notes on historical costume, furniture and architectural styles of each period. The notebook has an illustrated section featuring different chateaux (castles), and ends with pencil tracings of historical costume and architectural elements. It is unclear in which year of her studies Whiting kept this notebook. As William M. Odom held the title, "Director of European Schools," for the New York School of Fine and Applied Art, it is possible but unconfirmed that this notebook dates from Whiting's time in Paris in early 1925.
Language of Materials
Handwritten notes are in English. Clippings pasted on to the notes from William Odom's lecture contain captions in French.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research use. Please contact archivist@newschool.edu for appointment.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to The New School Archives by Isabell VanMerlin, niece of Caroline L. Whiting, 2025.
- Castles (Subject) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Cathedrals (Subject) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Clothing and dress -- France (Subject) (Places) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Design -- History -- Study and teaching (Subject) Subject Source: Local sources
- France -- Description and travel (Places) (Subject) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Lecture notes (Type of Material) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Notebooks (Type of Material) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Tracings (drawings) (Type of Material) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Title
- Guide to the Caroline L. Whiting student notebooks
- Status
- In Process
- Author
- New School Archives and Special Collections Staff
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin