William P. Shearwood

William P. Shearwood was an artist active during 1935 and 1936, whose known output is defined entirely by contributions to the Index of American Design (IAD). The IAD was a major Federal Art Project initiative established under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to create a comprehensive visual survey of historic American decorative arts and folk objects.

Shearwood functioned as a renderer or draftsman within this project, producing detailed, objective documentation rather than purely creative work. Their documented contributions account for fifteen designs within the IAD archive. These renderings, characterized by their precision and attention to material detail, often serve as museum-quality records of otherwise fragile or lost artifacts.

Works by William P. Shearwood represented in museum collections include designs for decorative objects and textiles. Specific examples documented in the archive include the Brooch, Hair Brooch and Earrings, Printed Quilt Patterns, and multiple depictions of Silver Spoon designs. These renderings are preserved in the collections of the National Gallery of Art. Due to their status as government records, many of Shearwood's documentary works are considered public domain, supporting the availability of high-quality prints and downloadable artwork for historical and educational purposes.