By Trevor Sandgathe
Collection Overview
Title: Marian Field Collection, 1933-1982
Predominant Dates: 1933-1941
ID: MSS Field
Primary Creator: Field, Marian
Extent: 3.0 cubic feet. More info below.
Arrangement: The Marian Field Collection is comprised of two series: Series 1. Illustrations for Trees and Shrubs in Winter, 1936-1982 and Series 2. Illustrations of Oregon Fungi, 1933-1934. All illustrations are organized by species name.
Languages of Materials: English [eng]
Abstract
The Marian Field Collection is comprised of botanical illustrations produced by Marian Field, an Oregon artist and botanical illustrator. The illustrations in the collection appear to have been generated by Field between 1933 and 1941 in collaboration with faculty at the University of Oregon and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The collection includes approximately 250 illustrations of plants and fungi, materials from an exhibit of Field's works, photographs, correspondence, and a short biography of Field's life and work.
Scope and Content Notes
The Marian Field Collection is comprised of nearly 250 botanical illustrations created by Field between 1933 and 1941, as well as a small collection of photographs and textual documents.
The bulk of the collection is comprised of nearly 200 illustrations created for use in Trees and Shrubs in Winter, a book written by University of Oregon botany professor Frank Sipe and supported by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Though the book was never published, the University of Oregon Herbarium exhibited Field's illustrations in the 1980s and the collection includes text panels from that exhibit. The collection also includes colorized photos of 15 of Field's illustrations and a small body of correspondence between Sipe and potential publishers.
The collection also includes more than 50 illustrations of Oregon fungi created by Field in 1933-1934. These illustrations were likely created in cooperation with Louis Henderson, curator of the University of Oregon Herbarium. A small number of reference photographs of fungi is also extant.
Biographical / Historical Notes
Marian Field (née Rorapaugh) was born in the Dakota Territory on November 7, 1885. She attended the Cincinnati Art Institute and, in 1902, married musician William B. Field. In 1905, she took a position as head of the University of North Dakota Art Department where she stayed until 1909. After leaving the University of North Dakota, she attended the Minneapolis School of Fine Arts.
The Field family moved to Eugene, Oregon in 1910. She attended the University of Oregon and earned a B.A. in fine arts in 1930 and took graduate coursework through 1933. From 1929 to 1933, Field worked at the University's art and architecture library. During this time, she also worked closely with Dr. Louis Henderson, curator of the University of Oregon Herbarium, for whom she made numerous botanical illustrations. Beginning in the mid-1930s, Field also did extensive illustrative work for botany professor Frank Sipe.
In 1939, Field became director of the Salem Art Center, a Works Project Administration (WPA) project. After the Salem Art Center was defunded in the early 1940s, she moved to Corvallis, Oregon and taught in the Oregon State College Art Department until her retirement in 1948. Field died in 1957 at the age of 72.
Author: Trevor Sandgathe
Administrative Information
More Extent Information:
6 oversize boxes including 250 illustrations and 23 photographic prints
Statement on Access:
The collection is open for research.
Acquisition Note:
Field's illustrations and other materials related to Trees and Shrubs in Winter were held by the University of Oregon Herbarium until 1993 when the University of Oregon and Oregon State University herbariums were combined on the Oregon State University campus. The Marian Field Collection was then transferred to the OSU Archives in December 1998. The Applegate Art Guild donated Illustrations and photographs of Oregon fungi to the Special Collections and Archives Research Center in March of 2015. The collection now resides in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center.
Related Materials:
Photographs of Marian Field are available in Harriet's Photograph Collection (P HC) and the President's Office Photographs (P 092). Other botanical illustrations can be found in the Helen M. Gilkey Papers (MSS GilkeyH) and the Watercolor Society of Oregon Records (MSS Watercolor). Records of the OSU Art Department are available in the College of Liberal Arts Records (RG 143). Materials documenting the history of the OSU Herbarium are located in the Herbarium Records (RG 117) and the Herbarium Photographs (P 093).
Preferred Citation:
Marian Field Collection (MSS Field), Oregon State University Special Collections and Archives Research Center, Corvallis, Oregon.
Processing Information:
The Marian Field Collection was processed in 1999. The collection was reprocessed in 2018 to bring it into compliance with current processing standards and include recently accessioned materials.
Creators
Field, Marian
Sipe, Frank Perry
United States. Works Progress Administration
People, Places, and Topics
Botanical artists--Oregon--Corvallis.
Field, Marian
History of Science
Mushrooms--Oregon.
Natural Resources
Oregon State University. Herbarium
Sipe, Frank Perry
United States. Works Progress Administration
University History
Woody plants--Oregon.
Forms of Material
Botanical illustrations.
Drawings (visual works).
Photographic prints.
Scientific illustrations (images).
Box and Folder Listing
- Series 1: Illustrations for Trees and Shrubs in Winter, 1936-1982
Series 1 is comprised predominately of 193 pen and ink botanical illustrations of woody plants produced by Marian Field between 1936 and 1941. The drawings were originally intended to illustrate Trees and Shrubs in Winter by Frank Sipe, a botany professor at the University of Oregon. The series also includes a small quantity of correspondence documenting Sipe's efforts to publish the book, colorized photographs of 15 of Field's illustrations, and reprints of her illustrations of Acer macrophyllum and several species belonging to genus Arctostaphylos. The project, which was supported by the Works Project Administration (WPA), was defunded prior to publication.
Following the discontinuation of the book project, the illustrations were held and exhibited by the University of Oregon Herbarium. Twelve text panels from this exhibit are included in the series and provide details about the life and work of Marian Field, context for the production of the illustrations, and information about the process of plant identification. The source of some of the exhibit text, a manuscript biographical sketch of Marian Field produced by Mary Field Etter in December 1982, is also present along with a partial inventory of the illustrations.
- Box-Folder 1.1: Abies Amabilis - Ceanothus velutinus, 1936-1941
- Item 1: Abies amabilis. Amabilis fir. Lovely fir. Red silver fir, 1937
- Item 2: Abies concolor. White fir, undated
- Item 3: Abies grandis. Lowland fir, 1941
- Item 4: Abies grandis. Giant fir. White fir, 1936
- Item 5: Abies lasiocarpa [?], undated
- Item 6: Abies lasiocarpa. Alipine fir, 1941
- Item 7: Acer circinatum. Vine maple, 1936
- Item 8: Acer circinatum. Vine maple, 1938
- Item 9: Acer macrophyllum. Large-leaf maple, 1936
- Item 10: Acer macrophyllum. Large-leaf maple, 1936
- Item 11: Acer macrophyllum. Large-leaf maple, 1936
- Item 12: Acer macrophyllum. Large-leaf maple, 1936
- Item 13: Acer macrophyllum. Large-leaf maple, 1936
- Item 14: Acer macrophyllum var. Kimballi. Kimball's maple, 1941
- Item 15: Alnus oregona. Red alder, 1936
- Item 16: Alnus oregona. Red alder, 1938
- Item 17: Alnus sinuata. Sitka alder, 1940
- Item 18: Alnus sinuata. Sitka alder, 1940
- Item 19: Alnus sinuata. Sitka alder, 1941
- Item 20: Amelanchier alnifolia. Service berry, 1936
- Item 21: Arbutus menziesii. Madrona, undated
- Item 22: Arctostaphylos columbiana. Hairy manzanita, 1936
- Item 23: Arctostaphylos columbiana. Hairy manzanita, 1937
- Item 24: Arctostaphylos columbiana. Hairy manzanita, 1938
- Item 25: Arctostaphylos patula, 1938
- Item 26: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi. Kinnikinnic, 1936
- Item 27: Artemisia tridentata. Sagebrush, 1936
- Item 28: Baccharis pilularis. Coyote brush. Chaparral broom. Kidneywort, undated
- Item 29: Berberis aquifolium. Oregon grape, 1936
- Item 30: Berberis aquifolium. Oregon grape, 1936
- Item 31: Berberis aquifolium. Oregon grape, 1937
- Item 32: Berberis nervosa. Mountain Oregon grape, 1937
- Item 33: Berberis nervosa. Mountain Oregon grape, 1939
- Item 34: Castanopsis chrysophyll. Chinquapin. Golden-leaved chestnut, 1937
- Item 35: Castanopsis chrysophyll. Chinquapin. Golden-leaved chestnut, 1939
- Item 36: Ceanothus cordulatus. Snow bush, 1937
- Item 37: Ceanothus cuneatus, 1938
- Item 38: Ceanothus cuneatus. Buckbrush. Greasewood, 1938
- Item 39: Ceanothus cuneatus. Buckbrush. Greasewood, 1938
- Item 40: Ceanothus sanguineus. Oregon tea. Buckbrush. Wild lilac, 1937
- Item 41: Ceanothus velutinus. Cinnamon bush. Snow bush, 1940
- Box-Folder 2.1: Cercocarpus ledifolius - Micromeria douglasii, 1936-1941
- Item 1: Cercocarpus ledifolius. Mountain Mahogany, 1939
- Item 2: Chamaecyparis Lawsoniana. Lawson cypress. Port Orford cedar, undated
- Item 3: Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. Yellow cypress. Alaska cypress. Yellow cedar, 1937
- Item 4: Cornus Nuttallii. Dogwood, 1936
- Item 6: Cornus occidentalis. Creek dogwood, 1936
- Item 5: Cornus occidentalis. Creek dogwood, 1936
- Item 7: Cornus occidentalis. Creek dogwood, 1938
- Item 8: Corylus californica. Hazel, 1939
- Item 9: Crataegus Douglasii. Hawthorn, 1936
- Item 10: Crataegus Douglasii. Hawthorn, 1938
- Item 11: Crataegus Douglasii. Hawthorn, 1939
- Item 12: Cytisus scoparius. Scotch broom, 1936
- Item 13: Cytisus scoparius. Scotch broom, 1936
- Item 14: Cytisus scoparius. Scotch broom, 1936
- Item 15: Cytisus scoparius. Scotch broom, 1936
- Item 16: Euonymus occidentalis. Western burning bush, 1941
- Item 17: Euonymus occidentalis. Western burning bush, 1941
- Item 18: Fraxinus oregona. Oregon ash, 1936
- Item 19: Fraxinus oregona. Oregon ash, 1936
- Item 20: Fraxinus oregona. Oregon ash, 1936
- Item 21: Fraxinus oregona. Oregon ash, 1936
- Item 22: Fraxinus oregona. Oregon ash, 1936
- Item 23: Gaultheria shallon. Salal, 1936
- Item 24: Gaultheria shallon. Salal, 1937
- Item 25: Gaultheria shallon. Salal, 1938
- Item 26: Holodiscus discolor. Ocean spray, 1937
- Item 27: Holodiscus discolor. Ocean spray, 1938
- Item 28: Juniperus occidentalis. Western juniper, 1936
- Item 29: Ledum columbianum. Labrador tea, 1936
- Item 30: Libocedrus decurrens. Incense cedar, 1936
- Item 31: Libocedrus decurrens. Incense cedar, undated
- Item 32: Lithocarpus densiflora. Tan oak, 1940
- Item 33: Lonicera ciliosa. Climbing honeysuckle, 1936
- Item 34: Lonicera ciliosa. Climbing honeysuckle, 1937
- Item 35: Lonicera hispidula. Pink honeysuckle, 1936
- Item 36: Lonicera involucrata. Bush honeysuckle, 1939
- Item 37: Lonicera involucrata. Bush honeysuckle, undated
- Item 38: Menziesia ferruginea. Fool's huckleberry. Rusty leaf, undated
- Item 39: Menziesia ferruginea. Fool's huckleberry. Rusty leaf, 1937
- Item 40: Micromeria douglasii. Yerba buena. Oregon tea, 1938
- Box-Folder 3.1: Myrica californica - Rhamnus purshiana, 1936-1940
- Item 1: Myrica californica. Wax myrtle. California myrtle, 1937
- Item 2: Myrica californica. Wax myrtle. California myrtle, 1937
- Item 3: Myrica californica. Wax myrtle. California myrtle, 1937
- Item 4: Oplopanax horridum. Devil's club, 1936
- Item 5: Oplopanax horridum. Devil's club, 1940
- Item 6: Osmaronia cerasiformis. Oso berry. Indian peach, 1936
- Item 7: Osmaronia cerasiformis. Oso berry. Indian peach, 1938
- Item 8: Osmaronia cerasiformis. Oso berry. Indian peach, 1938
- Item 9: Pachistima myrsinites. Mountain lover, 1938
- Item 10: Philadelphus gordonianus. Mock orange. Syringa, 1938
- Item 11: Phoradendron villosum. Mistletoe, 1937
- Item 12: Phyllodoce empetriformis. Heather, 1937
- Item 13: Physocarpus capitatus. Nine bark, 1936
- Item 14: Physocarpus capitatus. Nine bark, 1936
- Item 15: Picea sitchensis. Sitka spruce. Tideland spruce, 1938
- Item 16: Pinus albicaulis. White-bark pine, 1936
- Item 17: Pinus albicaulis. White-bark pine, 1937
- Item 18: Pinus contorta. Lodge pole pine, 1937
- Item 19: Pinus ponderosa. Western yellow pine, 1936
- Item 20: Polygonum paronychia. Sand knotweed. Dune knotweed, 1937
- Item 21: Populus trichocarpa. Cottonwood, 1936
- Item 22: Prunus demissa. Wild cherry, 1936
- Item 23: Pseudorsuga taxifolia. Douglas fir, 1938
- Item 24: Purshia tridentata. Antelope brush, 1937
- Item 25: Pyrus rivularis. Wild crab apple, 1936
- Item 26: Pyrus rivularis. Wild crab apple, 1939
- Item 27: Quercus chrysolepsis. Canyon live oak. Mountain holly. Maul oak. Golden leaf oak, 1937
- Item 28: Quercus chrysolepsis. Canyon live oak. Mountain holly. Maul oak. Golden leaf oak, 1937
- Item 29: Quercus garryana. White oak. Garryana. Garry oak, 1936
- Item 30: Quercus garryana. White oak. Garryana. Garry oak, 1936
- Item 31: Quercus garryana. White oak. Garryana. Garry oak, 1939
- Item 32: Quercus Kelloggii. California black oak, 1936
- Item 33: Quercus Kelloggii. California black oak, 1936-1939
- Item 34: Quercus Kelloggii. California black oak, 1937
- Item 35: Rhamnus Purshiana. Cascara. Chittim, 1936
- Item 36: Rhamnus Purshiana. Cascara. Chittim, 1936
- Item 37: Rhamnus Purshiana. Cascara. Chittim, 1936
- Item 38: Rhamnus Purshiana. Cascara. Chittim, 1936-1938
- Box-Folder 4.1: Rhododendron albiflorum - Salix sitchensis, 1936-1941
- Item 1: Rhododendron albiflorum, 1940
- Item 2: Rhododendron californicum, 1936
- Item 3: Rhododendron californicum, 1936-1939
- Item 4: Rhododendron occidentale. Azalea, 1937
- Item 5: Rhus diversiloba. Poison oak, 1939
- Item 6: Ribes bracteosum. Stink currant, 1938
- Item 7: Ribes bracteosum. Stink currant, 1939
- Item 8: Ribes cereum. Squaw currant, 1937
- Item 9: Ribes cruentum. Shiny leaved gooseberry, 1938
- Item 10: Ribes divaricatum. Coast black gooseberry. Straggly gooseberry, 1938
- Item 11: Ribes lacustre, 1938
- Item 12: Ribes menziesii, 1938
- Item 13: Ribes sanguineum. Red-flowering currant, 1936
- Item 14: Ribes sanguineum. Red-flowering currant, 1936
- Item 15: Ribes sanguineum. Red-flowering currant, 1936
- Item 16: Ribes sanguineum. Red-flowering currant, 1938
- Item 17: Rosa gymnocarpa. Wood rose, 1936
- Item 18: Rosa nutkana, 1936
- Item 19: Rosa pisocarpa, 1936
- Item 20: Rosa rubiginosa. Sweet briar, 1936
- Item 21: Rosa rubiginosa. Sweet briar, 1937
- Item 22: Rubus laciniatus. Evergreen blackberry, 1936
- Item 23: Rubus leucodermis. Black-cap, 1937
- Item 24: Rubus macropetalus. Wild blackberry, 1936
- Item 25: Rubus parviflorus. Thimble berry, 1936
- Item 26: Rubus parviflorus. Thimble berry, 1938
- Item 27: Rubus spectabilis. Salmon berry, 1938
- Item 28: Rubus Coulteri. Coulter's willow, 1941
- Item 29: Salix Hookeriana. Coast willow, 1938
- Item 30: Salix lasiandra. Yellow willow. Red willow, 1938
- Item 31: Salix mackenziana. Mackenzie black willow, 1938
- Item 32: Salix melanopsis. Dusky willow, 1938
- Item 33: Salix Piperi. White willow. Dune willow. Piper willow, 1938
- Item 34: Salix scouleriana. Nuttall willow. Scouler willow, 1938
- Item 35: Salix sessilifolia, 1938
- Item 36: Salix sitchensis. Satin willow. Silky willow, 1939
- Item 37: Salix sitchensis. Satin willow. Silky willow, 1940
- Item 38: Salix sitchensis. Satin willow. Silky willow, 1941
- Box-Folder 5.1: Sambucus - Viburnum pauciflorum, 1936-1941
- Item 1: Sambucus, 1938
- Item 2: Sambucus, 1938
- Item 3: Sambucus glauca. Blue elderberry, 1936
- Item 4: Sambucus glauca. Blue elderberry, 1936
- Item 5: Sambucus racemosa. Red elderberry, 1938
- Item 6: Sequoia sempervirens. Redwood, 1938
- Item 7: Spirea densiflora, 1941
- Item 8: Spirea Douglasii. Hardhack spirea, 1936
- Item 9: Symphoricarpos albus. Snow berry, 1939
- Item 10: Symphoricarpos albus. Snow berry, 1939
- Item 11: Taxis brevifolia. Western, 1937
- Item 12: Thuja plicata. Red cedar. Canoe cedar. Giant cedar, 1937
- Item 13: Tsuga heterophylla. Western hemlock, 1937
- Item 14: Tsuga Mertensiana. Mountain hemlock, 1937
- Item 15: Tsuga Mertensiana. Mountain hemlock, 1937-1941
- Item 16: Ulex europaeus. Gorse. Whin, 1937
- Item 17: Umbellularia californica. California laurel. Oregon myrtle, 1938
- Item 18: Umbellularia californica. California laurel. Oregon myrtle, 1938
- Item 19: Vaccinium caespitosum. Dwarf bilberry, 1938
- Item 20: Vaccinium caespitosum. Dwarf bilberry, 1939
- Item 21: Vaccinium membranaceum. Mountain huckleberry, 1938
- Item 22: Vaccinium occidentale. Western huckleberry, 1941
- Item 23: Vaccinium ovalifolium. Tall blue huckleberry, 1938
- Item 24: Vaccinium ovatum. Common evergreen huckleberry, 1936
- Item 25: Vaccinium ovatum. Common evergreen huckleberry, 1937
- Item 26: Vaccinium ovatum. Common evergreen huckleberry, 1937
- Item 27: Vaccinium Oxycoccos. Small cranberry, 1939
- Item 28: Vaccinium parvifolium. Red huckleberry, 1936
- Item 29: Vaccinium parvifolium. Red huckleberry, 1936
- Item 30: Vaccinium parvifolium. Red huckleberry, 1938
- Item 31: Viburnum ellipticum. Western way-faring tree, 1936
- Item 32: Viburnum ellipticum. Western way-faring tree, 1938
- Item 33: Viburnum ellipticum. Western way-faring tree, 1938
- Item 34: Viburnum ellipticum. Western way-faring tree, 1938
- Item 35: Viburnum ellipticum. Western way-faring tree, 1938
- Item 36: Viburnum pauciflorum. High bush cranberry. Squash berry. Pimpina, 1938
- Box-Folder 6.1: Panels from Winter and Spring Twigs of Oregon Woody Plants exhibit, undated
- Box-Folder 6.2: Photographs and reprints of illustrations for Trees and Shrubs in Winter, 1936
- Box-Folder 6.3: Correspondence re: Trees and Shrubs in Winter, 1938-1941
- Box-Folder 6.4: Partial inventory of illustrations for Trees and Shrubs in Winter, circa 1982
- Box-Folder 6.5: Biographical sketch of Marian Field by Mary Field Etter, 1982
- Series 2: Illustrations of Oregon Fungi, 1933-1934
Series 2 is comprised of 54 illustrations of fungi created between 1933 and 1934. These illustrations were produced in a variety of sizes and mediums and include pencil drawings, oil paintings, and watercolors. Some illustrations depict the subjects in various life stages and sometimes contain notes on the origin of the reference specimen. It is likely these illustrations were produced in collaboration with Louis Henderson, curator of the University of Oregon Herbarium.
The series also includes 8 matted photographs of assorted species of mushrooms that may have been used as reference images for Field's illustrations. Many of the photographs are colorized and all but one include handwritten notes identifying the species.
- Box-Folder 6.6: Botanical Illustrations
- Item 1: Alurea aurantia. Orange cup, undated
- Item 2: Amanita calyptrata, 1933
- Item 3: Amanita calyptrata pk., 1934
- Item 4: Amanita muscaria, undated
- Item 5: Amanita muscaria, undated
- Item 6: Amillaria, 1934
- Item 7: Amillaria, undated
- Item 8: Armillaria mellea / Cantharellus floccosus Schw. Long tubed chanterelle, 1933
- Item 9: Boletus eximius Peck., undated
- Item 10: Boletus luridus Schaeff var. Rubeolarius [?], undated
- Item 11: Cantherellus cibarius Fr. Chanterelle, undated
- Item 12: Cantherellus cibarius Fr. Chanterelle, undated
- Item 13: Clavaria, undated
- Item 14: Clavarias, undated
- Item 15: Clilocybe laccata, 1934
- Item 16: Clitocybe laccata Scop., undated
- Item 17: Coprinus atramentarius (Bull.) Fr., 1934
- Item 18: Coprinus comatus, 1934
- Item 19: Coprinus micaceus [?], undated
- Item 20: Cortinarius violaceus, undated
- Item 21: Gomphidius oregonensis, 1934
- Item 22: Heboloma pracox, 1934
- Item 23: Helvella lacunos Afzel, undated
- Item 24: Helvella lacunosa Afzel, undated
- Item 25: Hygrophorus pratensis var. meisneriensis. Meadow hyprophorus / Hygrophorus flammans [?]. Little glassy top, 1934
- Item 26: Hypholoma fasciculare. Sulphur cap, 1934
- Item 27: Hypholoma fasciculare. Sulphur cap, undated
- Item 28: Hypholoma fasciculare. Sulphur cap, undated
- Item 29: Inocybe abundans [?], 1934
- Item 30: Inocybe geophylla var. Violacea, undated
- Item 31: Lactarius deliciosus Fr., 1933
- Item 32: Lactarius deliciosus Fr., undated
- Item 33: Lactarius rufus, undated
- Item 34: Lepiota, 1934
- Item 35: Lepiota, undated
- Item 36: Lycoperdon. Puffball, 1933
- Item 37: Marasmius siccus, 1934
- Item 38: Morchella esculenta Pers., undated
- Item 39: Paxilus involus (Batsch) Fr., 1933
- Item 40: Pholiota adiposa Fr., undated
- Item 41: Pholiota adiposa Fr., undated
- Item 42: Pleurotus ostreatus. Oyster mushroom / Schizophyllum commune. Split leaf, 1934
- Item 43: Pluteolus expansis, undated
- Item 44: Polyphorus picipes, undated
- Item 45: Polyphorus sulphureus Fr., 1933
- Item 46: Polyphorus sulphureus Fr., undated
- Item 47: Polystictus, undated
- Item 48: Russula alutacea Fr., 1933
- Item 49: Russula nigricans Bull. / Clitocybe laccata Scop., 1933
- Item 50: Russula roseipes, undated
- Item 51: Russula roseipes, 1934
- Item 52: Tricholoma equestre, 1934
- Item 53: Tricholoma personatum, 1934
- Item 54: Untitled, undated
- Box-Folder 6.7: Specimen Photographs
- Item 1: Armillaria mellea [?]
- Item 2: Amanitopsis raginata
- Item 3: Cantharellus floccosus
- Item 4: Gomphidius
- Item 5: Hypholoma
- Item 6: Mycena
- Item 7: [Nidulariaceae]. Bird's nest fungus
- Item 8: Untitled

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