Harold Ballerd

Harold Ballerd was an artist active between 1935 and 1942 whose known output centers on the precise documentation of American utilitarian and industrial objects. His work is identified primarily through his contributions to the "index of american designs," a systematic effort to record historical American material culture.

Ballerd’s documented pieces focus on functional items, demonstrating a clear, technical rendering style. Specific works preserved in collections include detailed studies of implements such as Trimming Shears, Knife, Log Loading Hook, Rain Gutter Stirrup, and Stool. In total, seven designs attributed to Ballerd are represented in museum collections.

The work is principally held by the National Gallery of Art, which maintains these historical documents and facilitates the study of American design heritage. Due to the age and nature of these records, Harold Ballerd prints and designs are often found in the public domain. Their accurate representation of historical artifacts provides valuable resource material, frequently made available as high-quality prints and downloadable artwork for historical reference and research.