Eugene C. Miller

Eugene C. Miller was an American artist whose documented period of professional activity spans a precise, two-year timeframe, 1937 through 1938. Miller is primarily known for their contributions to the Index of American Design (IAD), a Works Progress Administration initiative dedicated to creating a comprehensive visual archive of historical American decorative arts and material culture.

Active during the height of the IAD’s operations, Miller’s documented works function as documentary drawings, emphasizing precise rendering of design elements rather than expressive fine art. These studies recorded artifacts ranging from domestic goods to unique folk crafts. Works represented in institutional collections include drawings detailing a Pen Wiper Doll, a Tobacco Box Cover, a Birch Bark Shoe, and a Boot, along with a study of a Butter Tub.

Nine documented renderings by the artist are held in museum collections, establishing Miller’s role in preserving the visual record of historic American crafts. The complete archive of the Index of American Design, which includes Miller’s contributions, is held by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Today, these documentary works are often considered public domain material, ensuring that high-quality prints of Eugene C. Miller prints remain accessible for research and educational uses.