Elizabeth Valentine

Elizabeth Valentine was active during the latter half of the 1930s, documenting American decorative arts primarily between 1935 and 1940. Their work is closely aligned with the Index of American Design, a major federal arts project initiated during this period to create a comprehensive pictorial record of historic American folk and decorative art objects. Thirteen documented designs by Valentine are recorded as contributions to this initiative, emphasizing textiles and functional domestic crafts.

Valentine’s represented works focus on the accurate rendering or recording of textile arts. Five specific examples are listed in institutional databases, including a Sampler or Embroidered Picture, a Tablecloth, and three separate entries documenting various Hooked Rug designs. These specific items reflect the project’s emphasis on utilitarian design, contributing to a detailed catalog of American material culture.

Documentation of Elizabeth Valentine’s contributions to the Index of American Design is held within the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. The preservation of these records ensures that the designs remain available for scholarly research into American craft traditions. Because much of the Index’s documentation has entered the public domain, the records can be used to generate high-quality prints and reproductions, offering access to these museum-quality historical designs.