Ursula Lauderdale

Ursula Lauderdale was an American renderer and documentarian active for a defined period between 1935 and 1942. Her output is primarily associated with the Index of American Design (IAD), a significant initiative established during the New Deal era to create a visual documentation of American decorative and folk arts.

Lauderdale contributed to the collection of 10 index of american designs, focusing on highly detailed representations of historical artifacts and utilitarian objects. Her documented work demonstrates a meticulous study of early American craftsmanship, encompassing religious implements, furniture, and domestic items. Noteworthy documented pieces include the Limestone Font, the functional Monk's Chair, and the domestic item Earthen Jug. Other works, such as the Writing Desk Set and the Office High Stool, further illustrate the project’s goal of preserving the visual history of American-made goods.

These historical renderings are preserved in major institutional holdings, establishing their credibility as museum-quality documents. Ursula Lauderdale’s works are represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Art. Due to the federal mandate under which they were created, much of the documentation, including Ursula Lauderdale prints, is now in the public domain, offering widely available downloadable artwork for scholarly research and reference.