Hart, Joel Tanner (1810-1877) Papers, 1836-1877
Held by The Filson Historical Society
Creator: Hart, Joel T. (Joel Tanner), 1810-1877
Title: Papers, 1836-1877
Rights: For information regarding literary and copyright interest for these papers, contact the Collections Department.
Size of Collection: 0.33 cubic feet
Location Number: Mss. A H325
Scope and Content Note
The collection is primarily made up of correspondence to and from Joel Tanner Hart. The earliest is written from Hart to his brother while Hart was still a stonecutter. The preponderance of the letters center around the expatriate group of artists gathered in Florence in the mid and late 1800s. Of particular interest is a letter dated 24 September 1868 from Hart’s cousin, Z. Layson, who writes extensively about economic, social, and political conditions in Whitley County, Ky.
Biographical Note
Joel Tanner Hart was born near Winchester, Ky., on 10 February1810. A sculptor, Hart was most famous for his busts of Cassius Marcellus Clay, Andrew Jackson, John J. Crittenden, Robert Wickliffe, Alexander Campbell, and most notably, Henry Clay. It was his sculptures of Henry Clay which brought him national and even international acclaim. In 1849 Hart moved to Florence, Italy and was a prominent member of the expatriate art community in the city. He died in Florence on 2 March 1877.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HART, SEE THE PHOTOCOPIED ENTRY FROM THE DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY LOCATED IN THE FINDING AID FOLDER OF THIS COLLECTION.
Folder List
Folder 1: Correspondence, 1836-1839
Folder 2: Correspondence, 1845-1849
Folder 3: Correspondence, 1850-1859
Folder 4: Correspondence, 1865-1874
Folder 5: Miscellaneous