Mary Bryan Forsyth Collection
Collection
Identifier: AC25
Scope and Content
The Mary Bryan Forsyth Collection includes correspondence with and about Mari Sandoz, materials concerning Forsyth’s interests and concerns about American Indian history and culture, her unpublished book, "Gift from the American Indian," and her sculpture.
Dates
- 1953-1981
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research by appointment.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of print materials allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Biography / History
Mary Sholes Bryan (1910-1986) was the grandchild of William Jennings Bryan. After graduating from high school, she studied at the Maryland Institute of Art in Baltimore and later under Frank Tenney Johnson at Grand Central School of Art in New York. In 1933, she married Alfred Smith Forsyth (d. January 11, 1985), a New York lawyer. They lived in Cappaqua, NY, for many years, moving to Pecos, NM, in 1972 and later to Santa Fe. She frequently used the name “Bryan Forsyth” in her work as an artist.
Mary Bryan Forsyth worked in several media. She painted a portrait of Crazy Horse as she thought he would look from the description in Mari Sandoz’s biography and presented this portrait to Mari Sandoz. Sandoz liked it and suggested Mary Bryan Forsyth as the illustrator for her book, "Love Song to the Plains." Forsyth maintained a correspondence with Mari Sandoz for several years. Sandoz was selected by the Nebraska Hall of Fame in 1976, and Forsyth sculpted a bust of her that was dedicated by the Hall of Fame in 1980.
Other sculptures include busts of the Apache warriors Mangas Coloradas and Victorio. The bust of Victorio is now part of the New Mexico Museum of Art collection. The Art Library of the museum has information about the bust and about Forsyth’s studio.
Mary Bryan Forsyth wrote and illustrated an unpublished book entitled Gift from the American Indian. She presented her research notes, illustrations, and text for this book, other material, and her collection of Sandoz’s published books to the SAR Library.
Mary Bryan Forsyth worked in several media. She painted a portrait of Crazy Horse as she thought he would look from the description in Mari Sandoz’s biography and presented this portrait to Mari Sandoz. Sandoz liked it and suggested Mary Bryan Forsyth as the illustrator for her book, "Love Song to the Plains." Forsyth maintained a correspondence with Mari Sandoz for several years. Sandoz was selected by the Nebraska Hall of Fame in 1976, and Forsyth sculpted a bust of her that was dedicated by the Hall of Fame in 1980.
Other sculptures include busts of the Apache warriors Mangas Coloradas and Victorio. The bust of Victorio is now part of the New Mexico Museum of Art collection. The Art Library of the museum has information about the bust and about Forsyth’s studio.
Mary Bryan Forsyth wrote and illustrated an unpublished book entitled Gift from the American Indian. She presented her research notes, illustrations, and text for this book, other material, and her collection of Sandoz’s published books to the SAR Library.
Extent
27 folders in 3 document boxes
Language of Materials
Undetermined
- Title
- Guide to the Mary Bryan Forsyth Collection, 1953-1981
- Status
- Edited Full Draft
- Author
- Cynthia Dobson, Laura Holt (2020 update by KW)
- Date
- © 2010
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
Revision Statements
- Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.
Repository Details
Part of the School for Advanced Research Repository
Contact:
Catherine McElvain Library
School for Advanced Research (SAR)
PO Box 2188
Santa Fe NM 87504-2188 USA
505-954-7234
library@sarsf.org
Catherine McElvain Library
School for Advanced Research (SAR)
PO Box 2188
Santa Fe NM 87504-2188 USA
505-954-7234
library@sarsf.org