FLVC logo

Joy Postle papers, 1910-2015

 

Summary

Creator:
Postle, Joy
Abstract:
Joy Postle papers, 1910-2015 contains books, manuscript material, and fine art by and about Joy Postle documents her work and her legacy as an artist, muralist, naturalist, poet, writer, and entertainer. These papers contain correspondence, news clippings, drawings, paintings, a scrapbook and many photographs documenting Joy Postle's life and work, providing insight into her personal life and creative process. Most of the collection is devoted to her art in all its forms and images that she used for inspiration. Katherine Joy Postle was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1896. She studied music and art at the Art Institute of Chicago. Upon graduation in the 1920s, Postle moved to the Snake River Canyon area of Idaho establishing herself as an artist and interior decorator. In Idaho, she met her husband, journalist Robert Blackstone. The couple traveled throughout the West, Southwest, and South living. Arriving in Florida in 1934, the couple continued their nomadic lifestyle until purchasing a small home on Lake Rose, near Orlando, in 1942. In addition to painting and drawing, Postle wrote poetry and worked for the WPA Florida Art Project. Around 1937, Postle and Blackstone conceived "Glamour Birds," a unique entertainment show combining recorded bird songs and music with Postle singing, painting birds, and teaching her audience about wildlife and conservation.
Extent:
9.25 Linear Feet 11 Boxes, 96 Art Pieces, 13 Murals, 1 Easel
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item],Joy Postle papers, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Background

Scope and content:

Joy Postle papers, 1910-2015 contains books, manuscript material, and fine art by and about Joy Postle documents her work and her legacy as an artist, muralist, naturalist, poet, writer, and entertainer. These papers contain correspondence, news clippings, drawings, paintings, a scrapbook and many photographs documenting Joy Postle's life and work, providing insight into her personal life and creative process. Most of the collection is devoted to her art in all its forms and images that she used for inspiration.

Series I: Art, 1921-1988, Undated, contains examples of her work in a variety of media. Includes her pencil sketches, pen and ink illustrations, watercolors, color pencil, oil paintings, mixed media, watercolors with acrylic, block prints, offset prints, and murals.

Series II: Writing and Composition, 1944-1976, Undated, holds materials including her manuscripts "Glamour Birds", "Tar and Snow", "Haunted Trails of Great Smoky Mountains", "A Lamb Named Emmeline", "Secrets of the Everglades", and "Let's Paint Glamour Birds". Series also includes Joy's "Poetry and Prose" and Sheet Music.

Series III: Photographs, 1912-1988, Undated, divided into subseries, People, Places, Art Work, Animals, Murals, slides, and Negatives.

Series IV: Personal Files, 1910-2015, Undated, artworks created by others, biographical documents, correspondence, exhibits and performances, memorabilia, memorial, miscellaneous items, news clippings, publications, and sound recordings.

Biographical / historical:

Katherine Joy Postle was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1896. She studied music and art at the Art Institute of Chicago. Upon graduation in the 1920s, Postle moved to the Snake River Canyon area of Idaho establishing herself as an artist and interior decorator. In Idaho, she met her husband, journalist Robert Blackstone. The couple traveled throughout the West, Southwest, and South living in a modified Model-T Ford truck nicknamed Brownie House. Postle painted the surrounding landscapes selling her work as they traveled. Hotels, restaurants, banks, and private clients also commissioned her to design and paint murals, a popular decorating technique at the time. Blackstone served as her publicist and manager. Arriving in Florida in 1934, the couple continued their nomadic lifestyle until purchasing a small home on Lake Rose, near Orlando, in 1942.

Postle painted her subjects in their natural environment. Waiting patiently, often days, despite insects, reptiles, and weather extremes, she captured her subject using a variety of media including watercolor, gouache, and pen and ink. In addition to painting and drawing, Postle wrote poetry; authored several books including Fine Feathers (1941), Glamour Birds of the Americas (1944), Drawing Animals (1953), and Drawing Birds (1963); and worked for the WPA Florida Art Project. Around 1937, Postle and Blackstone conceived "Glamour Birds," a unique entertainment show combining recorded bird songs and music with Postle singing, painting birds, and teaching her audience about wildlife and conservation. "Glamour Birds" was performed for local civic and women's organizations and private groups. Notable personalities who saw her perform included members of the DuPont family, Carl Sandburg, Albín Polasek, Guy Beatty, and Andre Smith.

Blackstone died in 1968 in a fire that destroyed their Lake Rose home. It took Postle two years to recover from the burns she suffered trying to save Blackstone. Of her husband, Postle said, "he rowed the boat," allowing her to be a fulltime artist. After her recovery, Postle continued to paint, perform, and teach. She died in 1989. Her ashes were spread on Lake Rose.

Acquisition information:

Gifted by Denise Hall in 2005, Judy Johnson in 2013 (CFM2013_03), Pam Bennett in 2015 (CFM2015_10), and Douglas Wesson in 2016 (CFM2016_04), 2017 (CFM2017_04), and 2021 (CFM2021_02).

Purchased from Mike Caruso in 2006 (CFM2006_07), John Goodlin and Gloria Ellis in 2008 (CFM2008_04), and Judy Johnson in 2011 (CFM2011_04).

Processing information:

Collection processed by Nadeen Kiwan and finding aid prepared by Suphi Burak Ogreten in 2016.The materials were placed in pH neutral folders and boxes, and photographs were weeded to reduce the number of insignificant snapshots in the collection. Finding aid revised for consistency by Chloe Lanham in 2025.

Arrangement:

Materials are arranged by format. Titles in quotation marks are quoted from the art piece and are not an indication of a formal title.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

The entire collection is open for research, although framed paintings are in storage so may only be seen in photographs.

Terms of access:

Unpublished records are protected by copyright. Permission to publish quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of Item],Joy Postle papers, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida.

Location of this collection:
John C. Hitt Library
12701 Pegasus Drive, Building 2
Orlando
FL
32816-8030
USA