Art and Design Files, Ade Bethune Papers

Collection

Identifier: ABC-02-AD

Staff Only

Contains:

The collection contains sketches, design work, detailed drawings and artifacts representing Ade Bethune’s original artwork, done over the course of her life. Materials in the art and design category of the collection represent work done between 1935 and 2001. Work includes miscellaneous art and design produced throughout her career, some items remaining difficult to classify within a specific category. Highlights of this collection include works commissioned by individuals for the purpose of ordination cards, paintings and other projects including the fireplace screen design for Carlton G. MacDougald, and the Sacred Heart design for the mantel in the Putnam residence of Woonsocket, RI. Significant illustrative design work was done for the Stedman Missal and Stedman’s My Lenten Missal. Other projects include extensive heraldic work for Indiana University and a symbol for the Scranton, PA, University Library. Some of the designs in this collection were done for proposed work that was never carried out or simply as an outlet for Bethune’s creative expression. All of the files represent the progression of her artistic work over time and as a result of her education and experiences. She worked steadily and with passion throughout her life.

Dates

1935 - 2000

Creator

Bethune, Ade (Person)

About Ade Bethune

Ade Bethune was born on January 12, 1914, in the Schaerbeek district of Brussels, Belgium. Bethune’s younger years were influenced greatly by her family and world events like World War I. In 1928, Bethune and her family immigrated to the United States. She attended Cathedral High School in New York City and the National Academy of Design (NAD) as well. During the 1930’s Bethune’s artwork was influenced by a number of individuals including Arthur Connick of the Stained Glass Studio in Boston, MA. She also met Dorothy Day, editor of the Catholic Worker (CW) who had a profound influence on her, helping to raise her level of social consciousness and concern for poor and under-represented peoples. Bethune did an enormous amount of work for the Catholic Worker, including a redesign of the CW masthead in 1985. Besides self-study, Bethune took many liturgical classes, including those by Gerald Ellard, S.J., at the Summer School of Catholic Action in New York City. She worked with and was influenced by Graham Carey and John Howard Benson of Newport, RI. She was amazed by the recitation by Peter Maurin of his “Easy Essays” and later illustrated them in the Sheed and Ward publication of that text. Bethune worked tirelessly on a number of original art and design projects during the same time she worked with St. Leo Shop, Terra Sancta Guild, and other businesses with which she was affiliated. As an artist, her imagination and vision were always a part of her life and her life’s work. Bethune died on May 1, 2002, at her home in Newport, RI.

Extent

8.75 Linear Feet (27 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Includes original art and design work: sketches, drawings by Ade Bethune and correspondence relating to this work that is independent of her other business enterprises, such as St. Leo Shop and Terra Sancta Guild.

Organization

The collection is organized alphabetically into one sequence.

Acquisition

Ade Bethune donated her personal and business papers, sketches, artwork, books, and artifacts to the College of St Catherine (now St. Catherine University) over the period from 1984-2002.