Katharine Lamb Tait Explained

Katharine Lamb Tait
Birth Date:June 3, 1895
Birth Place:Alpine, New Jersey
Death Place:Cresskill, New Jersey
Nationality:American
Education:Art Students League of New York, Columbia College, National Academy Museum and School, Cooper Union
Field:Stained Glass

Katharine Lamb Tait (3 June 1895 – 11 August 1981) was an American stained glass and mosaics designer, painter, muralist, and illustrator. She was the head designer at J&R Lamb Studios for more than four decades, and created notable commissions for the Tuskegee Institute Chapel and for chapels at the United States Marine Corps’ Camp Lejeune, among others.

Early life

Katharine Lamb was born on June 3, 1895, to Charles Rollinson Lamb and Ella Condie Lamb in Alpine, New Jersey. Charles was an architect and designer, and was president of J&R Lamb Studios and the Stained Glass Association of America. Ella was an award-winning artist and stained glass designer. From a young age, Katharine was influenced by her artistic parents.

Tait attended the Friends Seminary in New York City, graduating in 1912. She studied at a number of art and design schools, including the Art Students League of New York, Columbia College, the National Academy Museum and School, and Cooper Union. She taught at the latter from 1922 until 1926.[1] Her first commercial work as an artist was for the Fleishman Company in New York City, where she was employed in the advertising department.[2]

Career

In 1921, Tait joined her family's company, J&R Lamb Studios. She designed stained glass windows, mosaics, and other ecclesiastical art, including altar crosses, candlesticks, stone lettering, and woodwork for choir stalls and pulpits. Her work was influenced by trips to France, England, and Italy, and the medieval stained glass she saw in cathedrals there.

Tait married Trevor S. Tait in November 1925. Together they had four children: Barrie, Robin, Colin, and Kevin. During this time, Tait continued occasionally designing from home. One of her major commissions from this period was for the Singing Window in the Tuskegee Institute Chapel in Alabama. The window, completed in 1932, illustrated eleven spirituals, including "Go Down Moses," "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," and "Deep River."

Tait became the head designer at J&R Lamb Studios in 1936, and soon returned to working full-time. In 1945, her award-winning designs led to the firm receiving a commission from the United States Marine Corps. Lamb Studios was to create a number of windows for the Protestant and Catholic Chapels at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Although Tait's work won them the commission, the company did not reveal that a woman would be designing the windows until after details were finalized.[3] Tait designed both sets of windows over the course of almost two years. Her work was praised by the Marine Corps, and she received letters of thanks from then-Commandant Robert H. Barrow and Major General David B. Barker (Commanding General, Camp Lejeune).

During her career, Tait was a member of a number of professional organizations, including the Stained Glass Association of America, the National Society of Mural Painters, and the National Arts Club.[4]

She continued to work full-time as the head designer until 1979, and was the last member of the Lamb family to work at the firm.[5] She designed more than 1,000 commissions over the course of her career.

On August 11, 1981, Tait died at the age of 86 in Cresskill, New Jersey.[6]

Selected works

External links

Notes and References

  1. Adams. David. The Last Stained Glass Lamb: Katharine Lamb Tait 1895-1981. Stained Glass Quarterly. Spring 1982. 77. 1. Stained Glass Association of America.
  2. Web site: McNeal. Alaina. A window into the life of Katharine Lamb Tait. Behind the Glass. Corning Museum of Glass. 30 March 2018. 6 March 2018.
  3. Collins. Barrie Tait. The Archangels of Lejeune. Stained Glass Quarterly. Fall 2008. 103. 3. Stained Glass Association of America.
  4. Web site: Katharine Lamb Tait - Artist Biography. askART. 30 March 2018.
  5. Adams. David. Samick. Donald. The J. and R. Lamb Studios: The Second 75 Years: 1932-2007. Stained Glass Quarterly. Fall 2007. 102. 3. Stained Glass Association of America.
  6. News: Katharine Lamb Tait, Designed Stained Glass. 29 March 2018. New York Times. 13 August 1981 . en.
  7. Web site: Design drawing for stained glass window called Arts Education, Froelich Memorial Window. Prints & Photographs Online Catalog (PPOC). Library of Congress. 29 March 2018.
  8. Web site: History of the Chapel. Tuskegee University. 29 March 2018.
  9. News: Staples. Cynthia. The Singing Window of Tuskegee. 29 March 2018. Deep South Magazine. Deep South Media, LLC. 1 February 2016.
  10. Book: Louis Berger Group, Inc.. Semper Fidelis, A Brief History of Onslow County, North Carolina, and Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune. 51. 29 March 2018. The Post-War Period and the Beginning of the Korean War.
  11. News: Slipek. Edwin. Stained glass treasures: Richmond churches' most beautiful religious narratives. 29 March 2018. Style Weekly. Style Weekly. 28 November 2017.
  12. Book: Pike. Josephine L.. A History of the First Presbyterian Church of Lapeer. 1985. 29 March 2018.
  13. Book: Palmer. Nola Huse Tutag with Lucy Hamilton. Discovering stained glass in Detroit. 1987. Wayne State University Press. Detroit. 9780814318751. 77. Great Lakes books. 29 March 2018.
  14. Web site: STJ Windows. St. James’s Episcopal Church. 29 March 2018.
  15. News: Adamson. Glenn. Critical Thinking: Confederate Flags and Monuments - The Magazine Antiques. 29 March 2018. The Magazine Antiques. 26 July 2016.
  16. Web site: South Clerestory Windows - St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral. Buffalo as an Architectural Museum. 29 March 2018.
  17. Web site: [Design drawing for stained glass window for Calvary Methodist Church in Dumont, New Jersey...]]. Library of Congress. 29 March 2018. en.
  18. Web site: [Design drawing for stained glass Crucifixion window showing Eucharist and Calvary for Church of the Advent in Kenmore, New York ]]. The Library of Congress. 29 March 2018. en.
  19. Web site: Aschenbrenner. Evelyn. St. Andrew's Memorial Episcopal Church — Historic Detroit. historicdetroit.org. 29 March 2018.
  20. Web site: [Design drawing for stained glass window...]]. Library of Congress. 29 March 2018. en.
  21. Web site: Chatterjee. Nive. Historical Perspectives: Katharine Lamb Tait, 1895–1981. All About Glass. Corning Museum of Glass. 29 March 2018. en. 2013.
  22. Web site: [Design drawing for stained glass window for All Saints Episcopal Church in Detroit, Michigan...]]. The Library of Congress. 29 March 2018. en.
  23. Web site: [Design drawing for stained glass...]]. Library of Congress. 29 March 2018. en.

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