J. Herman McCollum

J. Herman McCollum was an artist documented as active between 1935 and 1941. McCollum’s known output is primarily associated with the Index of American Design (IAD), a critical initiative established under the Federal Art Project during the Great Depression. The IAD aimed to create a visual record of American decorative arts, crafts, and folk objects, emphasizing meticulous documentation and resulting in detailed, museum-quality renderings of historical artifacts.

Eight index designs by McCollum are represented in major collections, confirming the artist’s contribution to this national preservation effort. His work focused on documenting diverse elements of historical material culture, including specific studies titled Dress, Bonnet, Chalkware Bird, Cigar Store Indian, and Comb and Brush Case. These detailed records reflect the IAD’s mandate to capture the breadth of American utilitarian and decorative history.

Examples of J. Herman McCollum’s designs are held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. As governmental documentation, much of the Index of American Design is now in the public domain, making high-quality prints and downloadable artwork of McCollum’s contributions accessible for study and historical reference.