Permission to use the collection must approved by the Cotsen staff.
Summary note
This collection consists primarily of photographs taken by Rupert Potter (1832-1914), father of children’s book author Beatrix Potter (1866-1944). It includes many portraits of Beatrix, of family members, and of friends. In addition, the collection includes studio portraits of Potter family members taken by various commercial photographers; a few photographs taken by Beatrix as aids for illustration; and photographs of animals and farmsteads in the Lake District related to Beatrix Potter Heelis’ career as sheep farmer and land preservationist from the 1910s to 1940s.
The Lloyd E. Cotsen collection of Potter Family photographs consists primarily of photographs taken by Rupert Potter (1832-1914), father of children’s book author Beatrix Potter (1866-1944). Rupert Potter was a prolific amateur photographer who made many portraits of Beatrix, of family members, and of friends. He also photographed the landscape of the Lake District, Cumbria, England, where the family spent their summers. In addition to Rupert Potter’s photographs, the collection includes studio portraits of Potter family members taken by various commercial photographers; a few photographs taken by Beatrix as aids for illustration; and photographs of animals and farmsteads in the Lake District related to Beatrix Potter Heelis’ career as sheep farmer and land preservationist from the 1910s to 1940s. The Cotsen Children’s Library also houses a wide array of drawings, manuscripts, correspondence, printed works, merchandise, and ephemera related to the life and career of Beatrix Potter. Some of these materials, along with the photographs, are described in Margit Sperling Cotsen, The Beatrix Potter Collection of Lloyd Cotsen (Cotsen Occasional Press, 2004). The collection comprises approximately 1300 items. Almost all are photographic prints, including albumen prints; platinum prints; gelatin or collodion printing out prints; and silver gelatin developing out prints. Also included are a group of photographs of Bertram Potter’s landscape paintings, and several envelopes originally used to store groups of photos.
Publications about
The Beatrix Potter Collection of Lloyd Cotsen. Cotsen Occasional Press: 2004.
Statement on responsible collection description
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