Gladys C. Parker

Gladys C. Parker was an artist active primarily between 1936 and 1937, contributing documentation to the extensive Index of American Design (IAD). This ambitious New Deal arts initiative was tasked with creating a comprehensive visual survey of American decorative arts and material culture spanning the colonial period through the nineteenth century.

Parker’s contributions focused primarily on documenting American textiles, garments, and domestic crafts. Eleven of her index of american designs renderings are represented in museum collections, confirming her role in the systematic preservation of historical aesthetics. These works are held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art.

The documented objects attest to a focus on period apparel and home goods, including studies of a Civil War Sash, a Woven Bedspread, and detailed renderings of historical clothing such as Child's Dress and Embroidery for Dress. The meticulous nature of the IAD documentation ensures these visual records are considered museum-quality sources. As these renderings are part of the Index of American Design archives, the works of Gladys C. Parker are frequently available as downloadable artwork for educational purposes, often residing in the public domain.