Paxson, E. S., 1852-1919

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Edgar Samuel Paxson was born to a Quaker family in East Hamburg, New York, in 1852. His father, William Hamilton Paxson, had a carriage-building business. After attending the Friends' Institute school, Edgar entered his father's business, painting carriages and signs. In 1874 he married Laura Johnson, and the following year he set out for the West. Paxson worked for a stagecoach company, as a guide, and at other frontier jobs. In 1878 he brought his family to Deer Lodge, Montana, where he painted signs and scenery for theatrical backdrops. In 1881 they moved to Butte, where Paxson continued painting scenery but also established a studio and produced easel paintings of historical subjects and portraits of Indians. He is best known for the painting he titled "Custer's Last Fight."

In May 1898, Paxson's work was interrupted when he was mustered into the Army and sent to the Philippines for active service during the Spanish-American War. He returned home after a year.

Paxson exhibited paintings at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904, and the Lewis and Clark Exposition in Portland in 1905, as well as other venues outside Montana. He moved to Missoula, Montana, in 1906. In 1911 he was commissioned to paint six scenes of Montana history for the Senate chambers at the Montana Capitol in Helena. The following year, he was commissioned to execute eight paintings for the Missoula County Courthouse. Edgar Paxson died November 9, 1919.

From the guide to the Edgar Samuel Paxson Commemorative Badge Collection, 1902-1920, (University of Montana-Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Montana History Conference Proceedings, 2011. Montana Historical Society Library
referencedIn Willard A. Hartley photographs, 1888-circa 1975 University of Montana--Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Frank B. Linderman Memorial Collection, 1885-2005 Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections
referencedIn Paxson, E.S., 1852-1919 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Franz R. and Kathryn M. Stenzel Collection of Western American Art Addition, 1853-1962 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Franz R. and Kathryn M. Stenzel research files on western American art, 1859-1997 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Edgar Samuel Paxson Commemorative Badge Collection, 1902-1920 University of Montana--Missoula Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library Archives and Special Collections
creatorOf Paxson, E. S., 1852-1919. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn George Armstrong Custer Collection McCracken Research Library - BBHC
creatorOf Franz R. and Kathryn M. Stenzel Collection of Western American Art Addition, 1853-1962 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Franz R. and Kathryn M. Stenzel collection of western American art, 1728-1966 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Elks (Fraternal order) corporateBody
associatedWith Hartley, Willard A., 1907-1996 person
associatedWith Independent Order of Odd Fellows corporateBody
associatedWith Linderman, Frank Bird, 1869-1938 person
associatedWith Montana History Conference (38th: Helena, Mont.: 2011). corporateBody
associatedWith Montana State Sportsman's Association corporateBody
associatedWith Society of Montana Pioneers corporateBody
associatedWith Stenzel, Franz. person
associatedWith Stenzel, Franz. person
associatedWith Stenzel, Franz. person
associatedWith Stenzel, Franz. person
associatedWith Stenzel, Franz. person
associatedWith Stenzel, Franz. person
associatedWith United Spanish War Veterans corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Montana
Pageants
Pioneers
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1852-04-25

Death 1919-09-09

Americans

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