Finding aid for the Ihna Thayer Frary Photographs

Biography of Ihna Thayer Frary

Ihna Thayer Frary (1873-1965) is perhaps best remembered as the Membership and Publicity Secretary of the Cleveland Museum of Art, a post he held from 1921 to 1946. This however, was only one facet of a very diversified career.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 13, 1873, I. T. Frary attended public school but did not graduate from high school. Instead, he enrolled in the Cleveland School of Art, where he studied interior decoration and furniture design. After completing his studies, Frary joined the Books Household Art Company of Cleveland, where his artistic skills earned him the position of Chief Designer, a post he held from 1894 to 1909. On June 10, 1904, Frary married Mabel Guild, also of Cleveland.

Leaving the Brooks Company in 1909, Frary worked for several years as a free-lance designer. During World War I, he was the Associate Education Director of the YMCA in San Antonio, Texas. The job involved the preparation of lectures and slide shows on the arts for men in army camps nearby. It provided Frary with valuable training in public speaking, a skill vital to his later career.

In 1921, Frary joined the Cleveland Museum of Art, as Membership and Publicity Secretary. He became well known to Clevelanders as he lectured before large and small audiences and on the radio. He also submitted articles to local newspapers on behalf of the museum.

During his years with the Cleveland Museum of Art, Frary involved himself with many activities in the community, including the Federal Arts Project and the Historic American Buildings Survey, both of which were part of the numerous arts projects instituted under the New Deal. Frary served these federal programs in a local advisory capacity. He also found time to teach courses at Western Reserve University from 1934-1945.

Perhaps Frary's most important activity during his years at the Cleveland Museum of Art was writing. Four of his works were published, the most famous of which was Thomas Jefferson, Architect and Builder (1931). Early Homes of Ohio (1936) was praised by many as a standard reference work. Early American Doorways (1937) and Ohio in Homespun and Calico (1942) were also well received. Frary contributed numerous magazine and newspaper articles on Jefferson, the museum, and the arts in general.

Retiring in 1946, Frary and his wife moved to Winter Park, Florida, where he continued to be quite active. He remained both secretary emeritus of the Cleveland Museum of Art and trustee emeritus of the Western Reserve Historical Society. In 1949 he became a member of the Winter Park Planning and Zoning Commission, served in the early 1950s as president of the Orlando Arts Association. In 1954 he was made a trustee of the Central Florida Cultural Center.

I. T. Frary died on March 18, 1965, at the age of 92. Shortly before his death he donated a large collection of Jeffersonia to Rollins College in Florida.

Scope and Content

The Ihna Thayer Frary Photographs, 1910-1920, consist of one photograph album and loose photographs of mostly architectural views, including several of Shandy Hall, Geneva, Ohio. The photograph album includes views of Frary's travels to the West, and many postcards. The photograph album contains 244 photographs and postcards. It includes black and white and color photographs. The 99 loose photographs are black and white and measure 8 x 4.5 inches and smaller.

This collection will be useful to researchers studying the architectural history of Cleveland, Ohio, and the Western Reserve.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Access

None.

The researcher should also consult MS 3144 Ihna Thayer Frary Papers.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] PG 158 Ihna Thayer Frary Photographs, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

These photographs were removed from MS 3144 Ihna Thayer Frary Papers. Donated to the Western Reserve Historical Society by I. T. Frary in 1943 and 1962; and by Mrs. Allan T. Frary in 1974.

Detailed Description of The Collection