Howard H. Sherman

Howard H. Sherman was an American artist and documentarian whose documented activity period spanned 1935 through 1936. Sherman’s professional output is associated with the Index of American Designs, a significant initiative within the Federal Art Project (FAP) established during the New Deal era. This project focused on creating meticulous, detailed records of American decorative arts, folk art, and material culture predating 1900.

Fifteen works attributed to Sherman are represented in major museum holdings, confirming their concentrated contribution to this national inventory effort. These works typically depict specific functional and artistic artifacts with precision and detail. Examples of documented designs include the Coverlet, a Crockery Mold, and the specific study of a Fireman's Trumpet. Sherman also completed renderings of ecclesiastical items, such as the Baptismal Font at San Luis Rey Mission Church, and studies of smaller artifacts like a Flask.

The principal repository for work by Howard H. Sherman is the National Gallery of Art. Due to their documentation status under a federal project, many of these design records are considered public domain, allowing for widespread academic study. Today, researchers often utilize high-quality prints derived from these detailed, museum-quality original drawings, preserving the historical importance of the recorded artifacts.