HAV-01-403-Z-K-201
GUSN-356964
This collection contains photographic materials, watercolor designs, and ephemera related to the products manufactured by The Chapman Company, a decorative lighting manufacturer. Materials are dated circa 1907-1910. Materials relate primarily to the Boston area, although some items relate to Baltimore, Maryland, and Melrose, Massachusetts. The collection primarily documents the design of leaded lamps by Waldo E. Chapman, the companys lead designer. The collection is arranged in three series. The photographic materials were separated and grouped according to size. They were then again separated and grouped based on whether they were on a mount. Folder titles were assigned by the processor.
The collection is arranged in 3 series, which are arranged as follows:
Series I. Photographic materials, circa 1907-1910
Series II. Original art, circa 1907-1910
Series III. Ephemera, circa 1907-1910
Series I: Photographic materials, circa 1907-1910
Series includes three small albumen prints on mount, nineteen small albumen prints, and thirty-one standard-sized albumen and color prints. These images depict lamps made by The Chapman Company. While the photographs are undated, it is assumed they were taken circa 1907-1910 as that is when The Chapman Company was in operation. The photographer is unknown. Waldo E. Chapman is the designer of the lamps pictured.
Series II: Original art, circa 1907-1910
Series contains three mounted and five unmounted watercolor designs. The majority are on paper although a few are on linen. The designs were completed by Waldo E. Chapman and can be dated circa 1907-1910.
Series III: Ephemera, circa 1907-1910
Series contains four pieces of ephemera related to The Chapman Company's operations. Includes one sales catalogue for The Chapman Company, one proof for a House & Garden advertisement for The Chapman Company, a price list for a Baltimore-based manufacturer of mirrors, and an envelope with attached wax seal and tie for Waldo E. Chapman. These items can be dated circa 1907-1910.
lighting devices
lamps (lighting devices)
lighting fixtures
manufacturing
design drawings
decorative arts
decorative lighting
advertisements
black-and-white photographs
albumen prints
watercolors (paintings)
booklets
advertisements
.42 linear feet (1 document case)
An electronic finding aid is available through Historic New England's Collections Access Portal. A paper finding aid is available in the Library & Archives.
This collection was purchased by Historic New England in 2019 from James E. Arsenault & Company, sellers of rare books and manuscripts, maps, prints, photographs, and other ephemera.
CC020
The Chapman Company collection
2019
CC020
This collection contains photographs and original art of leaded lamps designed by Waldo E. Chapman of Boston, Massachusetts. It also contains some ephemera related to Chapman and The Chapman Company.
Library & Archives Purchase
circa 1907-1910
Library & Archives purchase, 2019
Boston (Suffolk county, Massachusetts)
Baltimore county (Maryland) [county]
Melrose (Middlesex county, Massachusetts)
The Chapman Company (Agency)
Chapman, Waldo E., 1879-1949 (Designer)
black-and-white photographs
albumen prints
watercolors (paintings)
booklets
advertisements
Chapman, Waldo E., 1879-1949
The Chapman Company
C.W. Eschbach
Lighting
Photograph
Art
Watercolor
This collection is available for research.
Materials were rehoused for long-term preservation.
All photographs were placed in polyester film sleeves.
Moderate wear. Discoloration to photos. Staining to photos, some chipping at photo margins.
Collection
HAV-01-403-Z-K-201
Accruals are not expected.
No materials have been removed from this collection.
Materials are entirely in English.
Item identification. Box #. The Chapman Company collection (CC020). Historic New England, Library & Archives.
This collection was processed by Jordan Meyerl, Archives Cataloguer, 2021.
This finding aid is Second Edition DACS-compliant.
The Chapman Company was founded in 1907 and sold decorative lighting, specifically leaded lamps, or stained glass lamps. These lamps are made by joining pieces of art glass using lead cames, or a divider bars used to hold the pieces together. Cames can come in various different metals, but lead is traditionally used. The pieces of glass are carefully placed in order to create different designs. In the case of leaded lamps, the completed design is then used as the lampshade.
The company was legally formed by Arthur W. Ford, Frank B. Cyr, and R. E. Abbot. The incorporation papers for the company are dated January 28, 1907. The name Chapman comes from the lead designer for the company, Waldo E. Chapman. He was born in Boston on July 14, 1879. He attended Harvard University for three years, from 1900-1903. He left before completing his degree in architecture and mechanical drawing. Following Harvard, he was employed for a year as a designer and superintendent for an unknown company on Congress Street in Boston. From 1904 through 1906, Chapman worked as a designer and superintendent for another unknown company in New York. It is assumed both unnamed companies were involved in the design and manufacturing of lamps or similar products.
Following his stint in New York, he moved back to the Boston area and started working as the lead designer at The Chapman Company. The Chapman Company was open for three years, from 1907 through 1910. In 1910 the company was dissolved. Chapman eventually pursued a career in the military and he passed away in Boston in 1949.
The Chapman Company. (2019). Leadedlamps.com. Retrieved October 8, 2021, from https://www.leadedlamps.com/Chapman/chapman.html
The collection is arranged in 3 series, which are arranged as follows:
Series I. Photographic materials, circa 1907-1910
Series II. Original art, circa 1907-1910
Series III. Ephemera, circa 1907-1910
Historic New England is committed to implementing reparative language description for existing collections and creating respectful and inclusive language description for new collections. If you encounter language in Historic England's Collections Access Portal that is harmful or offensive, or you find materials that would benefit from a content warning, please contact [email protected].
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