Frederick Jackson

While the name Frederick Jackson is linked historically to figures ranging from Arctic exploration to banking and screenwriting, the documented contributions of the designer active between 1935 and 1937 stand distinct. This Jackson was a core contributor to the Index of American Design (IAD), a critically important visual archive established during the New Deal era under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The IAD sought to systematically record the history of American functional and decorative arts from the colonial period through the mid-nineteenth century, preventing the knowledge of these unique craft traditions from being lost.

Jackson's documentation efforts focused on precision and technical clarity, cataloging pieces of high historical and utilitarian value. His surviving entries, listed within the National Gallery of Art collection, Washington D.C., include detailed renderings of objects such as a Highboy chest, an Iron Tea Kettle, and specific examples of early silver like a Silver Salt Spoon. These aren’t mere sketches; they are exacting technical illustrations, often rendered in watercolor and graphite, designed to capture texture, dimension, and ornamentation for use by future researchers, designers, and manufacturers. Jackson’s focused output, summarized by the listing 15 index of american designs, demonstrates a meticulous dedication to historical accuracy. It is perhaps the most subtle marker of his personality that, while many WPA artists focused on grand murals or political themes, Jackson applied his talent to documenting the beauty inherent in the American domestic utility object.

The Index of American Design remains an unparalleled resource for the study of American material culture. Because the works were commissioned under a governmental project, Jackson’s substantial contributions are now firmly in the public domain. This affords scholars and contemporary designers immediate access to the documentation, allowing for unparalleled historical study. These meticulously prepared drawings, celebrated for their museum-quality detail, are frequently used as reference material and are widely available today as high-quality prints, ensuring the enduring relevance of early American craft traditions.