California Botanic Garden

Fox (Clara Mason) botanical illustrations, 1893-2017

Clara Mason Fox botanical illustrations, 1893-2017

Summary

Creators:
Fox, Clara Mason, 1873-1959
Abstract:
Extent:
0.79 linear feet (2 boxes)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Clara Mason Fox botanical illustrations. California Botanic Garden

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains 147 watercolor botanical illustrations of plants of Silverado Canyon and the surrounding area by Clara Mason Fox that were made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The illustrations were acquired by the California Botanic Garden Herbarium (RSA-POM) at an unknown date and each contains a RSA accession number. Most illustrations are undated. Some illustrations include detailed notes by Fox describing the identifying characteristics of the species, the common name, and a brief description of the locality. A small number of illustrations contain species annotations by other individuals. The collection also includes two books by Fox, three publications about Fox by Lorraine Passero, and a file of correspondence and other biographical information on Fox that was compiled by California Botanic Garden staff.

Biographical / historical:

Clara Mason was born in 1873 in Jackson Township, Ohio. In 1887, she moved with her family to Orange County, California and settled in Silverado Canyon, where she worked as a schoolteacher. During this time, she created watercolor drawings of the flora of Silverado Canyon, as well as drawing landscapes, animals, and people. She married George Fox in 1905 and eventually moved to El Toro (Lake Forest). In addition to her artwork, she published poetry and produced a history of El Toro. She died in Orange, California in 1959.

Acquisition information:
The Clara Mason Fox botanical illustrations were acquired by the California Botanic Garden Herbarium (RSA-POM) at an unknown date and accessioned and filed as herbarium specimens. In 2010, the illustrations were rediscovered and transferred to the archives. Additional illustrations may still be located within the herbarium and so further accruals are possible.

Indexed terms

Subjects:
Endemic plants
Botanical illustrations
Watercolors (paintings)

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

Copyright of the materials in this collection is held by California Botanic Garden.

Preferred citation:

Clara Mason Fox botanical illustrations. California Botanic Garden

Location of this collection:
1500 N College Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711, US
Contact:
(909) 625-8767
info@calbg.org
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