Bookmark this page or copy and paste URL to Email message

Katherine M. Harvey Sandpainting collection, 1938-1939

MS-034

Biographical Note

Katherine Medary Harvey (1892-1962) was the granddaughter of Fred Harvey, the entrepreneur who developed the Harvey House lunch rooms, restaurants, souvenir shops, and hotels, which served passengers on the rail lines. Born to wealth and privilege, Harvey grew up engaging in philanthropic pursuits and using her family’s connections she was able to travel extensively around the American Southwest. Harvey started collecting Native American art at a young age—even using her allowance to purchase paintings from a young Fred Kabotie. Over the years, her collection grew and became more well-rounded, being careful to purchase paintings from as many artists as possible instead of a select few.

After Harvey’s father and brother died tragically in the 1920s and ‘30s, she would have taken over the Fred Harvey Co. if she were not a woman. Instead, her uncle took charge and Harvey eventually sold all of her shares in the company. In 1949, she moved permanently to Santa Barbara where she remained for the rest of her life. Harvey passed away in 1962.

The Katherine Harvey collection of fine art was donated to the Museum of Northern Arizona and the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center.

Scope and Content

This collection consists of 36 sandpainting reproductions, some of which were published, as well as illustration materials for various published and unpublished publications by Gladys Reichard and the Fred Harvey Co.

Arrangement

Restrictions

Conditions Governing Access

This collection contains culturally sensitive material (Navajo sandpaintings). Therefore, this collection has been restricted. The restriction was placed in 2004 by staff at the Navajo Nation Historic Preservation Department. Contact the Museum of Northern Arizona Archivist for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Unpublished and published manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Related Material

The Museum of Northern Arizona has related archival collections that contain sandpainting images; these have been collected, researched, and cross-indexed by Wyman with material in his sandpainting file:

See also MS-30, the Byron Harvey collection for obituaries, photos, etc. of Katherine Harvey.

Harvey also donated 111 sandpaintings to the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center in the 1940s.

Controlled Access Terms

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Katherine M. Harvey Sandpainting collection, MS-034 [Box Number]. Museum of Northern Arizona. Flagstaff, Arizona.

Acquisition Information

This collection was bequeathed to the museum by Harvey, and deposited in 1963.

Processing Information

Processed in September of 2010.

Bibliography

Reichard, Gladys A. 1939. Navajo Medicine Man: Sandpaintings and Legends of Miguelito. New York: J.J. Augustin.

Container List