Skip to main content

Dorothy O. Gaymer Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 1995-74

Collection Scope

The collection consists of correspondence, exhibition catalogues and samples of Dorothy’s art. The correspondence relates primarily to awards she won and exhibitions she entered. The photographs, which include glass slides, represent Dorothy’s textiles, images of Cranbrook and of her with Cranbrook students and faculty. Box 2 contains samples of Dorothy’s textiles.

Dates

  • 1949 - 1959

Creator

Access

Access to the collection is unrestricted.

Use

Permission to use collection materials must be requested in writing.

History

Dorothy Ora Gaymer was born 19 Oct 1908 in Jackson, Michigan. She graduated from Albion High School in 1927 and worked as a registered nurse at Sheldon Memorial Hospital in Albion from 1928-1931, and an anesthetist at University of Michigan Hospital from 1933-1934, as well as in Iowa, Virginia and California. In May 1943, Dorothy entered the U.S. Navy as a nurse and served until Nov 1945 in the Hawaiian Islands.

She attended the Rudolph Schaeffer School of Design in San Francisco (1948-1949) where she studied Interior Design, and the Penland School of Handicrafts (1950-1951) where she majored in handweaving. In the summer of 1951, Dorothy entered Cranbrook Academy of Art under the VA bill and studied weaving with Marianne Strengell. She was selected for the student traveling exhibition 1952-1953 and studied at The Textile Institute of Boras - Stockholm in the fall of 1953. She stayed to study Arts and Crafts and therapeutic work in Europe for the next six months.

Dorothy returned to the United States in 1954 and resided in Detroit. She continued to exhibit her textiles throughout the 1950s, winning several awards. She died 5 Jan 1995 in Wayne County, Michigan.

Extent

1.1 Linear Feet (1 MS, 1 OS)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

In the summer of 1951, Dorothy entered Cranbrook Academy of Art under the VA bill and studied weaving with Marianne Strengell. She was selected for the student traveling exhibition 1952-1953 and studied at The Textile Institute of Boras - Stockholm in the fall of 1953. She stayed to study Arts and Crafts and therapeutic work in Europe for the next six months. Dorothy returned to the United States in 1954 and resided in Detroit. She continued to exhibit her textiles throughout the 1950s, winning several awards. She died 5 Jan 1995 in Wayne County, Michigan. The collection consists of correspondence relating to awards she won and exhibitions she entered, exhibition catalogues and samples of Dorothy’s art. The photographs, which include glass slides, represent Dorothy’s textiles, images of Cranbrook and of her with Cranbrook students and faculty. There are also samples of Dorothy’s textiles.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged topically by folder.

Acquisition

Gift of Dorothy Gaymer on October 4, 1995.

Related Materials

The Cranbrook Art Museum has two of Dorothy’s textiles in the collection.

Processing History

Ethel McNaughton, 1996; Leslie S. Edwards, 2008.

Title
Guide to the Dorothy O. Gaymer Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Ethel McNaughton
Date
1996
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Edition statement
Resource record created by Laura MacNewman.

Revision Statements

  • 2008: Revised by Leslie S. Edwards.

Repository Details

Part of the Cranbrook Archives, Cranbrook Center for Collections and Research Repository

Contact: