Adelaide Dyball

Adelaide Dyball was an artist active during the mid-1930s, documenting American decorative arts and architecture. Though biographical details are scarce, her documented period of activity spans 1935 to 1937. Dyball is primarily recognized for her contributions to the Index of American Design, a key project of the Federal Art Project (FAP) established during the Great Depression to record examples of historic American decorative arts.

The six works by Dyball represented in the National Gallery of Art collections demonstrate a meticulous, documentary style characteristic of the Index. These pieces focus on early American utilitarian objects and architecture, providing important visual records of material culture. Notable works held in museum collections include the architectural drawing Second Family House, Alfred, ME. and several detailed studies of Shaker objects: Shaker Wooden Dipper, Ladder Back Chair, Lantern (Shaker), and Pastry Jagger.

The inclusion of her work in the National Gallery of Art confirms her role within the federally sponsored documentation projects of the era. As many works from this Index are now in the public domain, Adelaide Dyball prints and related high-quality prints are frequently utilized for academic and historical reference. These documents serve as a critical repository of American design history and are available as downloadable artwork for scholarly use.