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Jeanne R. Janish (1902-1998)

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PAPERS OF JEANNE R. JANISH (1948-1980)
1. 5 linear feet (3 boxes)

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Jeanne R. Janish (1902-1998) was born in Iowa on October 20,  1902. As a youngster she spent summers with her grandparents in Minnehaha above Manitou, Colorado where she became acquainted with Dr. Frederick and Edith Clemants who were working in the "Alpine Laboratory" of the University of Minnesota's Botany Department. There she learned the scientific names of many plants of the Rocky Mountain region.
    She attended Vassar College as a Latin major and graduated in 1924. She took a masters degree in geology at Stanford University where she was asked by her Paleontology professor, Dr. James Perrin Smith, to illustrate his monograph on Permian Ammonites of Timor. This was the catalyst for her career in botanical illustration.
    In early 1929 she went to China with her cousin, to become a rug designer with a rug manufacturer in Peking. There she met her husband Carl, who after serving in the marines stayed on in Peking to work for the New York Times. They married and stayed there until 1934. Upon their return to the States, they chose to move to Nevada, where Carl, an expert engineer found building opportunities and Jeanne could continue her drawing.
    From 1927-1974 Janish prepared illustrations for thirty -two major books plus many short papers, articles and booklets

SCOPE AND CONTENT

    The collection contains correspondence between Janish and the numerous publishers and authors that she worked with as well as letters to students of botanical illustration seeking her advice on drawing techniques, as well as many of her sketches and drawings. The sketches and drawings have been removed from the archives and are located in the Art and Illustration Collection.
    This collection is arranged in three series and spans her career from 1948-1980.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series 1: Correspondence-General
              Correspondence-Publications
Series 2: Subject files
Series 3: Artwork

        Series 1: Correspondence. 1948- 1980
                        5 lin. in. Arranged in two series.
                            Sub-series 1: General correspondence is arranged by correspondent
                            Sub-series 2: Publications arranged by title of the publication.

Incoming and outgoing correspondence from students interested in botanical illustration and letters to and from publishers and authors regarding the illustrations prepared for publication.

        Series 2: Subject files. 1 lin. in.
                        Arranged alphabetically.

    Contains auto biographical information about Janish, scientific keys, and correspondence on the transfer of artwork and letters to the NYBG archives.

        Series 3: Artwork.
                        Arranged by plate number.

    Contains sketches and pen and ink drawings for many of publications Janish illustrated.

PROVENENCE NOTE

    The bulk of material was transmitted to Charles R. Long, from Jeanne Janish on February 13, 1981. Additional material has been sent by Janish to Patricia Holmgren and forwarded to the archives.

RELATED COLLECTIONS

NYBG Art Collection

Edith Clements

Intermountain Flora
 

Processed September 2000 by  Susan Fraser under a grant from The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) PA-23141-98 and a grant from the Harriet Ford Dickenson Foundation.


For more information and a complete description contact:
Susan Fraser, NYBG Archivist
The LuEsther T. Mertz Library
The New York Botanical Garden
Bronx, New York 10458-5126
(718) 817-8879







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