This biography from the Archives of AskART:
|  Born in Alton, New York, Cyrus Baldridge became a noted illustrator, set designer, and painter of Southwestern desert and mountain landscapes.
During his childhood, his family moved frequently, but he received art training from age ten, first studying with famous newspaper illustrator Frank Holme. He earned a degree in English Literature from the University of Chicago in 1911, and then took a number of jobs including cow puncher. During World War I, he was a field artist. Following that, he sketched in China, doing commissions for "Scribner's Magazine."
In the 1920s, he and his wife traveled widely including to the Far East, Afghanistan, Persia, and Africa, and these cultures became the subjects of many of his illustrations. In 1926, he first visited New Mexico and stayed at the San Juan Pueblo because of the arrangements made by a friend. From that time, he frequently returned to the Southwest
After 1932, he lived in the United States and continued to illustrate books, and also designed stage sets and wrote his autobiography. During the 1920s, 30s, and 40s, he incorporated Southwestern subjects as themes, and in 1952 settled permanently in Santa Fe, where he worked for two decades painting the landscape in oil and watercolor. "Baldridge was a familiar sight on the nearby desert and mountain landscape." (Dawdy 16).
HIs autobiography, "Time and Chance", was published in 1947 by John Day Company.
Source:
Peggy and Harold Samuels, "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Artists of the American West"
Doris Dawdy, "Artists of the American West", Volume II
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is from Charles E. Schermerhorn
At least in 1917, Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge was a private in the AEF (American Expeditionary Force) in the Great War. And in 1919, also as a private, he was at the Peace Conference where, on February 14, he sketched "President Woodrow Wilson reading the Draft Covenant of the League of Nations," in which sketch he identifies General Bliss, Colonel House, Secretary Lansing, the President, M. Clemceau and Mr. Balfour.
That sketch was drawn for "The Stars and Stripes", and appears in a booklet titled, "I was there! with the Yanks in France - Sketches made on the Western Front, 1917 - 1919", by Pvt. Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge, A.E.F., Verse by Pvt. Hilmar R. Baukahage, A.E.F. which was published by the Lafayette Co, 94 Boulevard Flandrin, Paris, 16.
Sometime in the early 1930's, Baldridge was granted special permission to "be in all parts of the Imperial Domain" of Iran, by the Shah's Commissioner of Police, to do studies in preparation for a new edition of "The Adventures of Hajji Baba of Isphahan", by James Morier, which was published in 1937. "Translations from the Chinese", by Arthur Waley, was illustrated by Baldridge in an edition published by Knopf, in 1941.
"Time and Chance", published by Longmans, Green & Co., Toronto, in 1947, was Baldridge's autobiographical account of his trip around the world, in which he illustrated dozens of scenes and incidents.
The following are copied directly from the Library of Congress index.
Baldridge, Cyrus Leroy, 1889- "Time and Chance". 1947
Fahs, Sophia Blanche Lyon, 1876-
"From Long Ago and Many Lands: Stories for Children Told Anew / by Sophia Lyon Fahs; illustrated by Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge: with teacher's guide by Patricia Hoertdoerfer.
2nd ed.
Baldridge, Cyrus LeRoy, 1889- "I Was There" with the Yanks on the Western Front, 1917-1919, by C. Leroy Baldridge. Together with verses by Hilmar R. Baukhage. With a new introd. for the Garland ed. by Charles Chatfield. 1972
Baldridge, Cyrus Leroy, 1889- Time and Chance. 1947
Baldridge, Cyrus Leroy, 1889- Americanism: What is it? By LeRoy Baldridge. 1936
Bontemps, Arna Wendell, 1902-1973. "Chariot in the Sky : A story of the Jubilee Singers / by Arna Bontemps; illustrations by Cyrus Leroy Baldridge. 1951
Cooper, James Fenimore, 1789-1851. Spy / by James Fenimore Cooper; illustrated by C. LeRoy Baldridge. 1942
Crump, Irving. "Birdsong Boys" / Irving Crump; with ill. by Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge. 1955
Gates, Arthur Irving, 1890- "Beginning Days [by] Gates [and] Minor. 1939
Horner, Esther Daniels. Jungles Ahead! With drawings by Cyrus Le Roy Baldridge. 1959
Lao, She, 1899-1966. "Rickshaw Boy, by Lau Shaw [pseud.] Tr. from the Chinese by Evan King [pseud.] Sketches by Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge. 1945
Singer, Caroline, 1888- "Half the World is Isfahan", by Caroline Singer and Cyrus Leroy Baldridge. 1936
Singer, Caroline, 1888-1963. "Boomba lives in Africa", by Caroline Singer and Cyrus LeRoy Baldridge. 1935
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Note August, 2004 from Jay F. Mulberry
"Baldridge died in 1977, not 1975 (as many references list). I knew Baldridge well and am a collector of his work. His death took place just months before the birth of my son and I am certain of the date."
|
| ** If you discover credit omissions or have additional information to add, please let us know at registrar@AskART.com. |
|
|
|
|
|
|