Elmer G. Anderson

Elmer G. Anderson was an artist active during the brief period of 1935 to 1936. Anderson’s documented output centers on his participation in the Index of American Design, a major initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) that sought to systematically document historical American decorative arts and folk objects through precise illustration.

Records indicate that 15 detailed renderings by Anderson, specifically related to the Index, are represented in museum collections. These works function as critical archival documentation, focusing on the careful depiction of everyday historical artifacts. Representative pieces include the documentation of a Hoseholder with Fire Company Insignia, a Pa. German Chest, and the illustration of a Cigar Store Figure. Other preserved works include a drawing of a Pennsylvania German Pie Plate and a Sampler.

Due to the nature of their creation under a governmental arts project, the original works, along with many Elmer G. Anderson prints derived from the Index, are preserved in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. This collection ensures that these museum-quality illustrations remain accessible. Furthermore, a substantial portion of this material resides within the public domain, making the detailed drawings available as downloadable artwork for research and historical study.