Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2009.64 |
Object Name |
Painting |
Title |
Portrait of Whitfield J. Bell, Jr. |
Artist |
Friedman, Jon R. |
Date |
2005 |
Description |
Three-quarters length portrait of seated figure with his body turned to his right with his left hand on a cane and his right hand raised. His mouth is partly open, as if in speech and he has a ruddy complexion and a bald head with short white hair on sides. He wears glasses, a tan plaid jacket and tan pants, a white shirt, and a dark tie with gold stripes and round seals at the ends. The setting is most likely the Boardroom of the APS Library. The background shows books bound in red leather with gilded embossing in a glass-fronted cabinet with wood painted green. |
Label |
This portrait by Jon Friedman depicts Whitfield J. Bell Jr., former Librarian and Executive Officer of the APS. A 1935 graduate of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Bell received a Ph.D. in history from the University of Pennsylvania in 1947. He returned to Dickinson to teach American history, and became the youngest full professor in the college's history in 1950. Dr. Bell authored more than 200 articles and several books, including "Patriot-Improvers," a multi-volume collection of biographies of early APS members. He also did groundbreaking work in historical editing, particularly as an editor for the Papers of Benjamin Franklin at Yale University, an enormous project that still continues today. After joining the staff of the APS Library in 1961, Dr. Bell contributed greatly to the Society over the following decades, particularly as Librarian from 1966 to 1980 and as Executive Officer from 1977 through 1983. Elected to the APS in 1964, Dr. Bell passed away on 2 January 2009 at the age of 94. |
Medium |
Oil on canvas |
Credit line |
American Philosophical Society. Gift of the friends of the library, 2006. |
Search Terms |
20th century twentieth century painting academia APS Librarian |