Eleanor (Ellie) Schaul, Artist, Papers, 1950/2025

Access and use

Location of collection:
West Virginia and Regional History Center
West Virginia & Regional History Center
West Virginia University
P.O. Box 6069
1549 University Avenue
Morgantown, WV 26506
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Lori Hostuttler
Phone: (304) 293-3536
Restrictions:

No special access restriction applies.

Researchers may access born digital materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia & Regional History Center reference department.

Audiovisual materials must be digitized for research access; please contact the West Virginia & Regional History Center reference department in advance.

Audiovisual materials must be digitized for research access; please contact the West Virginia & Regional History Center reference department. in advance.

Researchers may access born digital materials by requesting to view the materials in person by appointment or remotely by contacting the West Virginia & Regional History Center reference department.

Terms of access:

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Eleanor (Ellie) Schaul, Artist, Papers, A&M 4638, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
4.4 Linear Feet 1 document case, 5 in.; 2 document cases, 2.5 in.; 2 record cartons, 15 in. each; 1 flat storage box, 4 in.; 1 clamshell box, 5 in.; 1 flat storage box, 3.5 in.; 3 oversize folders, 0.3 in. total
Creator:
Schaul, Eleanor (Ellie)
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Eleanor (Ellie) Schaul, Artist, Papers, A&M 4638, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Papers of Eleanor "Ellie" Schaul, a prominent West Virginia artist and arts advocate.

Series 1, Original Artwork, includes original artwork by Schaul such as sketches, paintings, and posters. Features materials from art shows Schaul attended or was featured in, like programs and correspondence with organizers. Also includes materials she created in the process of developing exhibitions, like correspondence with artists, documentation of items to be displayed, and thematic research.

Series 2, Art Show Material, features exhibition-related materials, including audiovisual content.

Series 3, Career Documentation, includes general documentation of Schaul's 60+ year career, like photo albums, newspaper clippings of stories about her work in the Charleston community, and correspondence with artists and arts supporters. This series includes digital content.

The addendum of 2025 August 13 includes posters, news clippings, brochures, and correspondence related to Schaul's art career.

    Series 1 materials are located in boxes 1, 2, and 6 and oversize folder 1.
    Series 2 materials are located in boxes 3 and 6 and oversize folder 2.
    Series 3 materials are located in boxes 4, 5, and 6 and oversize folder 3.
    The addendum of 2025 August 13 can be found in boxes 7 and 8.

Includes original and reprinted artworks created by Schaul. There are several original paintings, mostly watercolors; multiple bound sketchbooks; and a few posters designed by Schaul to promote art museums and other institutions in Charleston.

Includes materials related to art exhibitions Schaul attended, had her work featured in, or organized through The Art Store. The series includes multiple programs and promotional materials from art shows; correspondence with curators and fellow artists; and documentation of the process of creating an exhibit, like background research, correspondence with artists, and records about items to be exhibited. There is a small quantity of audiovisual material included in this series.

Includes a range of materials collected and created by Schaul throughout her career that document the many aspects of her life as an acclaimed painter, business owner, and active member of community arts groups. The series includes items like plaques and awards given to Schaul, photo albums documenting various periods in her life, newspaper articles written about her involvement in the Charleston community, and professional correspondence retained over the duration of her career. There is a small quantity of digital content in this series.

Biographical / historical:

Eleanor "Ellie" Schaul (born December 1, 1936) is a West Virginia-based painter. She served as the Gallery Director of The Art Store in Charleston, West Virginia from 1984 to 2009. Schaul was born in Massachusetts, began taking painting classes at 9 years old, and studied art at the Parsons School of Design in New York, New York. She moved to West Virginia in 1956 and has been an active part of the regional art community since. Schaul's work has been featured in institutions such as the Juliet Art Museum at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences and at shows like the biennial West Virginia Juried Exhibition. She is also a prominent arts advocate in West Virginia and has organized programming as a member of groups like the Mountain Artisans, Kanawha Arts Alliance, and Allied Artists of West Virginia.

Acquisition information:
Gifts from Schaul, Eleanor, 2022 June 30, 2023 April 25 and 2025 August 13.
Physical location:
West Virginia and Regional History Center / West Virginia University / 1549 University Avenue / P.O. Box 6069 / Morgantown, WV 26506-6069 / Phone: 304-293-3536 / URL: West Virginia & Regional History Center
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard