David P Willoughby

David P Willoughby was active for a concentrated period between 1935 and 1937, contributing documentation to the Index of American Designs. This federal project focused on surveying and recording historical American material culture and decorative arts, suggesting that Willoughby’s work centered on precise rendering and technical drawing rather than traditional fine arts media.

Willoughby’s documented output consists of fifteen studies filed under the Index of American Designs project, which are preserved in institutional collections. These works are represented in the National Gallery of Art, establishing his role within this significant historical documentation effort. Specific pieces held by the museum include detailed renderings of the functional and ceremonial, such as the two documented studies titled Hitching Post, along with the domestic object Silver Teapot, the devotional Altar Chimes, and the architectural furnishing Lectern (Reading Stand).

The verifiable record of David P Willoughby’s prints confirms his contribution to surveying American decorative arts during the Depression era. Today, documentation related to Willoughby’s output, including many David P Willoughby prints, are widely considered public domain and are frequently studied by researchers interested in high-quality prints of historical American objects.