Peirce, Waldo, 1884-1970

Variant names

Hide Profile

Nationally recognized American artist Waldo Peirce (1884-1970) was known for illustrating envelopes. Peirce was a Harvard alumnus, having earned his Harvard AB 1908; the addressee, William Bingham (1889-1971) earned his Harvard AB 1916 and served as director of athletics at Harvard from 1926 to 1951. These envelopes were sent during a period when the Harvard football team was at a low point and being criticized by the press.

From the description of Illustrated envelopes addressed to William Bingham, 1947 and 1949. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 77064453

From the description of Illustrated envelopes addressed to William Bingham, 1947 and 1949 [videorecording]. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 249202775

Painter Waldo Peirce was born in Maine, educated at Harvard, and studied painting in Europe. He met Ernest Hemingway when serving in France as an ambulance driver in World War I, and they remained life-long friends. Peirce was a major presence among the Lost Generation in post-war Paris, painting and socializing. His colorful, lusty paintings assimilate elements from Renoir, Matisse, and Cezanne into a singular representational style. Known as much for his colorful, larger-than-life personality and Bohemian lifestyle as for his art, Peirce's paintings are owned by some of the most important museums in the world.

From the description of Waldo Peirce correspondence with Francis Hyslop, 1956. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 61356034

Painter.

From the description of Waldo Peirce letters, 1959-1967. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 64075261

Artist.

From the description of Papers of Waldo Peirce, 1889-1985. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71066590

Painter, watercolorist; Searsport, Maine.

From the description of Waldo Peirce letters, 1943. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122553058

From the description of Waldo Peirce papers, 1903-1970. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122571014

No information available.

From the description of Waldo Peirce Collection undated. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 428024654

From the guide to the Waldo Peirce Collection, (University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections [clrc])

American painter.

From the description of Papers of Waldo Peirce, 1936 [manuscript]. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647833943

Biographical Note

  • 1884, Dec. 17: Born, Bangor, Maine
  • 1908: A.B., Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.
  • 1910 - 1914 : Traveled and studied art in France and Spain; attended Julian Academy, Paris, France
  • 1912: Married Dorothy Rice (divorced 1918)
  • 1915 - 1917 : Served with American Ambulance Corps in France during World War I
  • 1920: Married Ivy Troutman (divorced)
  • 1921 - 1922 : Lived in Tunis, Tunisia
  • 1926: First American exhibition of his paintings
  • 1930: Returned to the United States Married Alzira Boehm (divorced)
  • 1944: Awarded first prize, Artists for Victory competition
  • 1946: Married Ellen Larsen
  • 1957: Named director of fine arts, Colby College, Waterville, Maine
  • 1970, Mar. 8: Died, Newburyport, Mass.

From the guide to the Waldo Peirce Papers, 1889-1985, (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Dorothy Lubell Feigin papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Peirce, Waldo : Biographical file. Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
creatorOf Peirce, Waldo, 1884-1970. Letter, 1936, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Ernest Hemingway Papers. 1899 - 1977. Outgoing Letters John F. Kennedy Library
creatorOf Dorothy Varian papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf American Artists Group. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1936-1957, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf James S. Plaut papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Midtown Galleries. Peirce, Waldo, 1884-1970 : artist file. The Barnes Foundation, Barnes Foundation Libraries and Special Collections
referencedIn Isabella Stewart Gardner papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Peirce, Waldo, 1884-1970. Artist file. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
referencedIn Albums of Molly Dewson, 1861-1962 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Midtown Galleries records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Peirce, Waldo, 1884-1970. Papers of Waldo Peirce, 1936 [manuscript]. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Peirce, Waldo, 1884-1970. Waldo Peirce correspondence with Francis Hyslop, 1956. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Peirce, Waldo, 1884-1970 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Peirce, Waldo, 1884-1970. Portrait of Richard P. Blackmur. Wellesley College
referencedIn Robert Lowell papers, 1861-1976 (inclusive) 1935-1970 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Waldo Peirce Papers, 1889-1985 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Dos Passos, John, 1896-1970. Art collected by John Dos Passos [manuscript]. 1912-1962. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Albums, ca., 1861-1962 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Peirce, Waldo, 1884-1970. Waldo Peirce letters, 1959-1967. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Peirce, Waldo, 1884-1970. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1940. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Waldo Peirce papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf PEIRCE, WALDO. Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
creatorOf Peirce, Waldo, 1884-1970. Illustrated envelopes addressed to William Bingham, 1947 and 1949 [videorecording]. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Waldo Peirce letters Archives of American Art
referencedIn New Yorker records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Esquire, Inc. Records, 1933-1977 Bentley Historical Library
creatorOf Peirce, Waldo, 1884-1970. Illustrated envelopes addressed to William Bingham, 1947 and 1949. Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Waldo Peirce Collection University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections
referencedIn Papers of Samuel Eliot Morison Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Dow, Sally, 1892-1980. Sally Dow collection, late 19th and 20th century. Penobscot Marine Museum
referencedIn Mildred Baker papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Wilbur D. Peat correspondence Archives of American Art
creatorOf Hemingway, Ernest, 1899-1961. Papers: 1873-1993 (inclusive), 1899-1961 (bulk). John F. Kennedy Library
referencedIn Papers of Edward Waldo Forbes, 1867-2005 Harvard Art Museums. Archives
creatorOf Peirce, Waldo, 1884-1970. Waldo Peirce : artist file : study photographs and reproductions of works of art with accompanying documentation 1930?-1990 [graphic] [compiled by staff of The Museum of Modern Art, New York]. Frick Art Reference Library of The Frick Collection
creatorOf Ernest Hemingway Papers. 1899 - 1977. Incoming Letters John F. Kennedy Library
referencedIn Midtown Galleries records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Manfred Schwartz papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Waldo Peirce papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Hartley, Marsden, 1877-1943. [Letter], [n.d.]. Raymond H. Fogler Library
creatorOf Peirce, Waldo. Waldo Peirce Collection undated. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Edward Beatty Rowan papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Pierce, Waldo, 1884- : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Oral history interview with Willard Cummings Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith Aiken, Conrad, 1889-1973. person
associatedWith American Ambulance Corps (Paris, France) corporateBody
associatedWith American Artists Group. corporateBody
associatedWith Bahr, Jerome. person
associatedWith Baker, Mildred, 1905- person
associatedWith Baudelaire, Charles, 1821-1867 person
associatedWith Biddle, George, 1885-1973. person
associatedWith Bingham, William J., 1889-1971. person
associatedWith Blackmur, R. P. (Richard P.), 1904-1965. person
associatedWith Brooks, Allan, 1869-1946. person
associatedWith Chaffee, Zechariah, 1885-1957. person
associatedWith Coffin, Robert P. Tristram (Robert Peter Tristram), 1892-1955. person
associatedWith Colcord, Lincoln, 1883-1947. person
associatedWith Cummings, Willard Warren, 1915-1975, person
associatedWith D'Amico, Augustine A., 1905- person
associatedWith Davis, Sally Jane. person
associatedWith Derain, André, 1880-1954. person
associatedWith Dewson, Molly, 1874-1962. person
associatedWith Dickson, Helen, 1884-1969. person
associatedWith Dillon, George, 1906-1968. person
associatedWith Dos Passos, John, 1896-1970. person
associatedWith Dow, Sally, 1892-1980. person
associatedWith Duncan, Isadora, 1877-1927. person
associatedWith Eastman, Max, 1883-1969. person
associatedWith Ehrlich, Bettina, 1903- person
associatedWith Eliot, Charles William, 1834-1926. person
associatedWith Eliot, T. S. (Thomas Stearns), 1888-1965. person
associatedWith Esquire, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Feigin, Dorothy Lubell, 1904-1969. person
correspondedWith Forbes, Edward Waldo, 1873-1969 person
associatedWith Ford, Ford Madox, 1873-1939. person
associatedWith Fort, Paul, 1872-1960. person
associatedWith Gardner, Isabella Stewart, 1840-1924. person
associatedWith Gingrich, Arnold. person
associatedWith Gold, Michael, 1893-1967. person
associatedWith Gorsline, Douglas W., 1913- person
correspondedWith Gorsline, Douglas W., 1913-1985 person
associatedWith Gruskin, Alan B., 1904-1970. person
associatedWith Hartley, Marsden, 1877-1943. person
associatedWith Harvard University corporateBody
associatedWith Hemingway, Ernest, 1899-1961. person
associatedWith Hicks, Granville, 1901-1982. person
associatedWith Hooton, Earnest Albert, 1887-1954. person
associatedWith Hopper, Jo N. (Josephine Nivison), 1883-1968. person
associatedWith Huxley, Aldous, 1894-1963. person
associatedWith Hyslop, Francis E. (Francis Edwin), 1909-1979, person
associatedWith Ingram, Rex, 1892-1950. person
correspondedWith Ipcar, Dahlov Zorach, 1917- person
associatedWith John Herron Art Institute. corporateBody
associatedWith Joyce, James, 1882-1941. person
associatedWith Kent, Rockwell, 1882-1971. person
associatedWith Kipling, Rudyard, 1865-1936. person
associatedWith Lee, Doris, 1905-1983. person
correspondedWith Lowell, Robert, 1917-1977 person
associatedWith Marsh, Reginald, 1898-1954. person
associatedWith MARY (MOLLY) WILLIAMS DEWSON, 1874-1962 person
associatedWith Midtown Galleries corporateBody
associatedWith Midtown Galleries (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Millay, Edna St. Vincent, 1892-1950. person
associatedWith Morison, Samuel Eliot, 1887-1976. person
associatedWith Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
correspondedWith New Yorker Magazine, Inc corporateBody
associatedWith Peirce, Alzira, 1908- person
associatedWith Peirce, Anna Gabrielle, 1937- person
associatedWith Peirce, Anna Hayford, d. 1928 person
associatedWith Peirce, Ellen Larsen. person
correspondedWith Peirce family family
associatedWith Peirce, Hayford, 1883-1946 person
associatedWith Peirce, Jonathan W. person
associatedWith Peirce, Michael, 1930- person
associatedWith Peirce, William, 1930- person
associatedWith Perkins, Maxwell E. (Maxwell Evarts), 1884-1947. person
associatedWith Pierce family. family
associatedWith Plaut, James S. (James Sachs), 1912-1996. person
associatedWith Poor, Henry Varnum, 1887-1970. person
associatedWith Poor, Henry V. (Henry Varnum), 1812-1905. person
associatedWith Reed, John, 1887-1920. person
associatedWith Rowan, Edward Beatty, 1898-1946. person
associatedWith Saint-Gaudens, Homer, b. 1880. person
associatedWith Schwartz, Manfred, 1909-1970. person
associatedWith Sheets, Millard, 1907-1989. person
associatedWith Simon, Lucien, 1861-1945. person
associatedWith Sloan, James Forma, 1874-1933. person
associatedWith Slocombe, George, 1894-1963. person
associatedWith Speicher, Eugene Edward, 1883-1962. person
associatedWith Stein, Gertrude, 1874-1946. person
associatedWith Taubes, Frederic, 1900-1981. person
associatedWith Terry, Alize, 1896-1987. person
associatedWith Thomas, Elbert. person
associatedWith Van Loon, Hendrik Willem, 1882-1944. person
associatedWith Varian, Dorothy, 1895-1985. person
associatedWith Vollard, Ambroise, 1867-1939. person
associatedWith Young, Art. person
correspondedWith Young, Art, 1866-1943 person
associatedWith Zorach, Dahlov. person
associatedWith Zorach, William, 1889-1966. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Bangor (Me.)
United States
Maine
United States
Maine
Maine
Bangor (Me.)
Maine
France--Paris
Subject
Art, Modern
Art, American
Art, American
American history/20th century
Art
Arts
Painters
Sea turtles
Voyages and travels
World War, 1914-1918
Watercolorists
Watercolor painting
Occupation
Artists
Painter
Activity

Person

Birth 1884-12-17

Death 1970-03-18

Americans

English,

French

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bc4q6m

Ark ID: w6bc4q6m

SNAC ID: 44157348