Isabella Ruth Doerfler

Isabella Ruth Doerfler was an American artist active for a short but concentrated period between 1935 and 1938. Her output centered entirely on documentation for the Index of American Design, a significant initiative established during the Great Depression to create a comprehensive pictorial survey of traditional American decorative and folk arts.

Doerfler is represented by fifteen index records detailing various crafts and domestic objects. These works required a technical precision reflective of the Index’s mission to record historical objects accurately for scholarly and historical preservation. Specific examples of her meticulous renderings held in museum collections include detailed studies such as Bandbox Design, Bandbox Design - Rhino, Copper Tea Kettle, Linen Cuffs, and the Guilford Blanket Chest.

The documented works of Isabella Ruth Doerfler are preserved in major American institutions, establishing their credibility as research artifacts. The National Gallery of Art holds several of her detailed documentations. Due to their origins in the Index of American Design, many of Isabella Ruth Doerfler's prints are in the public domain, offering access to museum-quality archival material. Researchers can frequently find downloadable artwork of her contributions, ensuring the widespread study of the decorative arts she diligently recorded.