Anna C. Stryke Collection, 1742-1935

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Summary

Creators:
Stryke, Anna C.
Abstract:
This collection primarily contains autograph letters from prominent 19th century English architects, artists, and writers, which appear to have been collected by American illustrator Anna C. Stryke (1884-1973), as well as 15 letters from English naturalist Richard Hancock to Stryke, 1924-1926; two travel diaries to Hawaii, written by Stryke and her sister, Mary C. Stryke, in 1935; and a number of drawings, sketches, and watercolors.
Extent:
182 items; 4 boxes.
Language:
English.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection primarily contains autograph letters from prominent architects, artists, authors, engravers, playwrights, and sculptors from the 19th century in England. These autograph letters appear to have been collected by Anna C. Stryke. Another portion of the correspondence contains letters from Richard Hancock, an English naturalist written to Stryke from 1924 through 1926. Items of interest include travel diaries to Hawaii, written by Stryke and her sister, Mary C. Stryke in 1935. There are also a number of drawings, sketches, and watercolors found in ephemera.

Note: There are unidentified handwritten notes in pencil, which includes the author’s name and occupation that appears throughout the collection.

Biographical / historical:

Anna Clegg Stryke (1884-1973) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on February 14, 1884. Stryke graduated from Cornell University, where she was a member of the Sigma Xi organization for scientific research. She was elected to the faculty after her graduation and remained for several years in the biology department making a specialty of biological illustration. At Cornell, she became widely known for her drawings and illustrations appearing in various periodicals, London publications and children’s books. During her spare time, she perfected illustrations for a New York museum volume and for a text book.

Active participation in the work of the Red Cross in Southern California began for Stryke in the winter of 1917-1918, when she was in Claremont. She entered the chapter student courses offered by Pasadena chapter in May 1918, and began a volunteer instructor for the chapter student courses until they were suspended at the time of the influenza epidemic in 1918-1919. Stryke was the executive secretary for the Pasadena chapter in 1921 and resigned in 1922.

Stryke died in December 1973 in Pasadena, California.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Stryke Estate, February 4, 1974.
Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in the following order: Box 1: Correspondence and manuscripts (arranged alphabetically). Box 2: Correspondence and manuscripts (arranged alphabetically). Box 3: Oversize Manuscripts (arranged alphabetically). Box 4: Ephemera (arranged by type and subject).

Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. For more information, contact Reader Services.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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