John R. Towers

John R. Towers was active in 1936, contributing significantly to the federal initiative known as the Index of American Design. Towers’s work focused on the meticulous documentation and rendering of American decorative and folk art objects.

Fifteen works attributed to the artist, listed as index of American designs, are preserved in museum collections, establishing the importance of their archival efforts during the period. These documentations are held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Notable surviving works include detailed renderings of textiles and metalwork, such as two examples titled Applique Coverlet, documentation concerning Iron Porch Supports, and two representations of a Latch. These historical studies, often residing in the public domain, are available today as high-quality prints or downloadable artwork, facilitating research into early American craft traditions documented through John R. Towers prints.