William Paul Childers

William Paul Childers was an American illustrator and designer whose documented artistic activity spans the years 1935 to 1941. His oeuvre is defined entirely by his contributions to the Index of American Design (IAD), a seminal initiative established during the Great Depression to visually record the history of American decorative and folk arts predating 1900.

Childers created thirteen known Index of American Design renderings, documented works which emphasize precision and objective representation rather than subjective interpretation. These detailed drawings and illustrations serve as historical records of American material culture. The objects he documented include items of domestic life and Shaker craftsmanship, such as a Chair, a China Headed Doll, a Foot Warmer, and specific furniture pieces like the Shaker Cabinet and Shaker Sewing Table.

Today, William Paul Childers prints are preserved within the Index of American Design collection, which is held by the National Gallery of Art. Because the IAD was a federal endeavor, the documented artwork often resides in the public domain, making high-quality prints and downloadable artwork from this collection widely available for research and education.