Sterling Strauser Papers

Collection — Box: 1

Identifier: SG.2016.01

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Sterling Strauser Papers and Photographs include correspondence, photographs, news clippings, exhibit catalogs and lists, and art publications. Business correspondence is separate from personal correspondence, although many correspondents were both friends and business associates so their letters could fall into either category. Most of the letters are to Sterling, or to both Sterling and Dorothy. Letters to Dorothy, or to their granddaughter, Kathryn Zervos, are included in the appropriate series.

In addition to the business correspondence, Strauser’s professional life is represented mostly by receipts, exhibit catalogs, exhibit, flyers, and exhibit lists. His interests as an artist are represented by the publications and by the news clippings about art that he chose to keep.

Dates

Creation: Majority of material found within 1917 - 2001

Biographical / Historical

Sterling Boyd Strauser (1907–1995) was born in Bloomsburg, Pa. to Boyd and Emma Strauser. He began painting at 15 and took a few art classes while attending Bloomsburg State Teachers College from which he graduated in 1928. After graduation, he married Dorothy Ferry and moved to East Stroudsburg, Pa. where he lived for the rest of his life.

After teaching elementary school in Mount Pocono, Pa. from 1928 to 1929, Strauser took a job as a shipping clerk at International Boiler Works. He retired from the company as the company secretary in 1962. Strauser continued painting while he worked his day job. His first show in New York City was in 1939 at the Zimbalist Gallery. He continued to exhibit his work during his lifetime while mentoring other self-taught artists, such as Jack Savitsky, Victor Gatto, and Justin McCarthy.

In 1989, Strauser received the Delaware Water Gap Celebration of the Arts award, which is now named after he and Dorothy Strauser, also an artist.

Sterling and Dorothy Strauser had one child, a daughter named Jill. Strauser died on September 16, 1995 in East Stroudsburg, Pa.

Extent

1 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Sterling Boyd Strauser (1907–1995) was born in Bloomsburg, Pa. to Boyd and Emma Strauser. He began painting at 15 and took a few art classes while attending Bloomsburg State Teachers College from which he graduated in 1928. After teaching elementary school in Mount Pocono, Pa. from 1928 to 1929, Strauser took a job as a shipping clerk at International Boiler Works. He exhibited his work during his lifetime while mentoring other self-taught artists, such as Jack Savitsky, Victor Gatto, and Justin McCarthy.

The Sterling Strauser Papers and Photographs include correspondence, photographs, news clippings, exhibit catalogs and lists, and art publications.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in five series: Series I is Kathryn Zervos, Series II is Dorothy Strauser, Series III is Sterling Strauser, Series IV is Photographs, and Series V is Oversized Materials. The folders within each series are arranged alphabetically by topic.