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Oral history interview with Samuel George Cahan

Archives of American Art

Oral history interview with Samuel George Cahan, 1967 March 11 and July 12, Transcript
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
Finding aid
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .

Object Details

sova.aaa.cahan67
GUID
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9d3bb5c4e-280f-42bc-ac6e-6399355129a9
General
Originally recorded on 1 sound tape reel. Reformatted in 2010 as 2 digital wav files. Duration is 1 hr., 9 min.
This interview was previously dated 1969. Judging from his comments about his age at the time of the interview, it could have been 1967. Listed transcription dates were changed to reflect the new date.
Interviewee
Cahan, Samuel George, 1886-1974
Interviewer
Cummings, Paul
Topic
Art, American
Illustrators -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews
Provenance
These interviews are part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.
Interviewee
Cahan, Samuel George, 1886-1974
Interviewer
Cummings, Paul
Biographical / Historical
Samuel George Cahan (1886-1974) was an illustrator in New York, New York.
Extent
30 Pages (Transcript)
Date
1967 March 11 and July 12
Archival Repository
Archives of American Art
Identifier
AAA.cahan67
Type
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Pages
Sound recordings
Interviews
Genre/Form
Sound recordings
Interviews
Scope and Contents
An interview of Samuel George Cahan conducted 1967 March 11 and July 12, by Paul Cummings, for the Archives of American Art.
Cahan discusses his childhood poverty and early love of drawing. He recounts being discovered by a newspaper editor at the age of twelve while drawing a picture on the sidewalk in front of a restaurant. He discusses becoming a staff artist at the New York World at age fifteen and his many years working for that newspaper; his interactions with other artists at the paper, such as George Luks; and his extensive experience covering court cases. He also discusses the illustration work he later did for magazines such as Collier's and his portraits of notable people including Albert Einstein and Woodrow Wilson. He speaks of learning to etch and use oil paint; exhibiting at the National Academy and French & Company Gallery; studying with Robert Henri; his landscape works and paintings of Jewish subjects; and his involvement with the Art Students League. In addition, he mentions the artists John Sloan and Walt Kuhn. His wife also speaks towards the end of the second interview.
Restrictions
Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.
AAA.cahan67
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9d3bb5c4e-280f-42bc-ac6e-6399355129a9
AAA.cahan67
AAA
Record ID
ebl-1596166233659-1596166233660-0
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