Frank Ashford Collection
(September 15 - November 10, 2010)

Frank Ashford was raised on a homestead on the James River near Stratford, attended prestigious art schools in Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York and painted portraits of Governors, Supreme Court Justices and a President. Frank C. Ashford is one of the treasurers of Brown County. The Dacotah Prairie Museum proudly presented a collection of original oil paintings, many of which were on loan from the Alexander Mitchell Library.

Ashford was born in Iowa, but grew up on the Dakota prairie and his teachers noticed his artistic abilities early. They urged him to attend art school and at the age of 17, he left the family farm to attend the Chicago Institute of Art. From there, he spent a year at the Philadelphia Art Institute and a year at the New York School of Art, both years studying under renowned artist William Merritt Chase.

In 1907, Frank Ashford traveled to France and established a studio in Paris, where he painted and exhibited works. In 1914, at the urging of friends, he returned to the U.S. because of the outbreak of World War I. He moved continually during his long career, establishing studios in New York; Minneapolis; Los Angeles; Salem, Oregon; Sioux Falls and Aberdeen. Wherever he started a studio, he would paint with vigor and enthusiasm, producing numerous works.

During his career, he painted a number or portraits of officials in South Dakota and other states including: at least four Governor’s and two Supreme Court Justices. Ashford received perhaps his most notable commission in 1927 to paint portraits of President Calvin Coolidge and his First Lady, Grace, which are hanging in the South Dakota State Game Lodge near Custer.

Many of Ashford’s portraits were included in this exhibit including young Abe Lincoln; World War II hero and later SD Governor, Joe Foss; and local businessman and politician, Ole Swanson. Several outstanding paintings are of individuals that have been left unidentified, such as the “Girl by the Sea” or the “Woman with a Shawl”. It was a typical habit of the mysterious painter that he would paint anyone who caught his attention when he was between commissions and never record who that person was. Ashford spent his final years in Aberdeen, and painted until his death in 1960.

For information on past exhibits in the Lamont Gallery, please click here