Brook Corners

I recently noticed a sparsely cataloged etching in AMUM’s collection that stated simply, “Earl Horter, Untitled etching.” Upon investigation, I discovered an inscription and fell down a fascinating research rabbit hole! It read, “The seasons greetings from Brook Corners / Roslyn, Long Island / 1922-1923 / Arthur Williams.” Earl Horter’s reputation as a skilled draftsman, painter, printmaker, and commercial artist for advertising firms earned him commissions both nationally and internationally. One such commission came from the New York Edison Company, which hired Horter in 1911 to create illustrations for “Glimpses of New York: An Illustrated Handbook of the City.” He must have impressed Arthur Williams, an employee of the Edison Company who later became Vice President, because Horter made custom etchings for Williams’ annual Christmas cards for several years to come. The cards, like the one in AMUM’s collection, often featured Williams’ Long Island estate, Brook Corners.

Learn more about these two historically significant gentlemen:

Earl Horter - https://art.famsf.org/earl-horter

Arthur Williams - https://archive.org/.../storyofelectri.../page/n651/mode/2up

-Kristy Griffin, Assistant Director