Edna W. Lawrence, born on Staten Island, NY, graduated from North Kingston (RI) High School, 1916, and Rhode Island School of Design, 1920, Department of Freehand Drawing and Painting, and the NY Art Students League. She joined the RISD staff as a Drawing Instructor in 1922. Lawrence created, organized and operated the Nature Lab, 1937-1975, in the Waterman St. Building, where she taught Freshman Foundation Nature Drawing. Lawrence traveled extensively across North America and took lengthy summer steamer cruises drawing and collecting specimens for the Nature Lab. Professor Emerita of Drawing, she received the RISD Alumni Association Medal, 1968, and the Providence Art Club Medal, 1975.
The Grade Books, 1934-1973, are closed for 75 years from date of creation. Please consult the Archives staff for further details.
Permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from archival materials must be obtained in writing from the Archives. The researcher assumes full responsibility for use of material and for conformity to all applicable laws, including copyright.
Edna W. Lawrence papers, Rhode Island School of Design Archives.
The Grade Books list students by course, their grades, and may include comments on their work, assignment lists, her class schedules, memos, or correspondence.
The Nature Lab Logs document specimen accessions, exhibits, loans, gifts and Lawrence's interactions with staff and student aides. The exhibit entries may include a brief description providing the type and number of objects, location of installation, and source of objects. There are very few comments on students or classes. A rare summer session may be covered by a one-page narrative. The last ten years are covered mostly by monthly entries.
The Reports describe the origins of the Lab, exhibits, accessions, finances, activities, and assistance provided by staff and students. The bulk of the reports cover the first ten years of the Lab. There is one report after 1950. In addition, Lawrence's handwritten reports to the Post-War Planning Committee, 1944-1945, are included. See the Royal Bailey Farnum Subject files.
Two hand drawn color maps of the Caribbean and the Mediterranean (42 x 56 cm.) document her summer voyages, presumably taken during the 1930s. One folder contains Christmas cards designed by Lawrence and sent to RISD Professor C. Warren Luther, circa 1960s-1970s.
The papers are arranged in five series:
The Edna W. Lawrence papers were received from the Fleet Library at RISD. RISD Professor C. Warren Luther donated the Christmas cards.
There are no further materials expected for this collection.
Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab records, 1996-2005