Lorraine S. Makimson

Lorraine S. Makimson was an American artist and renderer active between 1935 and 1943. Her documented output is specifically tied to the Index of American Design, a crucial project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) that focused on systematically documenting American historical decorative and utilitarian arts.

Makimson contributed six documented designs to the Index, utilizing a precise, factual illustrative style characteristic of the project’s goal to create a visual archive of American material culture. Her subjects were primarily common industrial and commercial artifacts. Specific works represented in collections include detailed studies such as the "Fish Bitters" Bottle, the Indian Bottle (Medicine Bottle), the Green Whiskey Bottle, and the Fire Extinguisher.

These documentary renderings of early American aesthetics are primarily preserved in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. As archival studies often derived from federally funded projects, many of Makimson’s works reside in the public domain. This accessibility allows researchers and enthusiasts to obtain high-quality prints and downloadable artwork of her contributions to the Index of American Design. The meticulous detail captured in these studies ensures their continued value as museum-quality historical records.