Elbert S. Mowery

Elbert S. Mowery was an artist active between 1935 and 1941, primarily known for contributing documentation to the Index of American Designs (IAD). This Federal Art Project initiative aimed to systematically record and illustrate American decorative arts and folk history, placing Mowery’s work within the context of government-sponsored arts patronage of the Great Depression era.

Mowery’s documented output consists of 15 studies for the Index of American Designs. These works reflect a specialized focus on textiles and domestic artifacts, providing precise, historical documentation of American material culture. Among the items recorded are two detailed studies of the Coverlet: Gentleman's Fancy, the historic pattern illustrated in the Log Cabin Quilt, the vernacular artifact Pioneer Salt Gourd, and an illustration of the functional Shaker Bed.

These documentations and high-quality prints are preserved in major American institutions, establishing the historical value of Mowery's contribution to the IAD. Works by the artist are held in museum collections, including the National Gallery of Art. The meticulous nature of these drawings provides museum-quality records of crafts history. Many of these historical studies, including several Elbert S. Mowery prints, are accessible to researchers today as downloadable artwork available in the public domain.