McCrary & Branson, Lloyd Branson, and Adelia Armstrong Lutz archive, c. 1860s-1910s. Includes early Knoxville photographs (primarily albumen prints), postcards and stereo cards, documents, and 1910-11 Appalachian Exposition material, plus one T.H. Smiley's, Knoxville, photograph dated 1866 and one McCrary & Branson, Memphis photograph. Documents include a letter on Appalachian Exposition stationery addressed to Adelia Lutz and written and signed by Lloyd Branson in his capacity as Art Committee Chairman. The letter notifies Lutz of her “First Honor, Silver Medal” Jury Award for a still life painting and includes a list of Art Committee members that features prominent Knoxville artists Catherine and Eleanor Wiley along with Lutz and Branson. With original Appalachian Exposition photograph envelope. Also includes an 1885 McCrary & Branson purchase receipt made out to “Miss Delia Armstrong” (Later Adelia Lutz) that lists the artist’s purchase of two frames and three tubes of paint. Photographs include 18 McCrary & Branson portrait cartes-de-visite, one produced by McCrary & Branson, Memphis, and one  T.H. Smiley’s Photographic Gallery, Gay Street, Knoxville (“3 Doors South of the Lamar House”) portrait of a girl dated 1866 to stamp affixed to backing. Two with inscribed sitter identifications, Howard H. Knauz and John McCraw Hardwicke (brother of George Hardwicke), and several with various inscriptions en verso. Also includes 1899 McCrary & Branson “She Was Bred in Old Kentucky” Green River Whiskey advertisement print and a hand-colored print of a Branson photograph of bathing women related to his painting “After the Bath,” which won a bronze medal at the 1895 Cotton States Exposition in Atlanta. The photographic image includes figures in poses that Branson would incorporate into his painting. Postcards include one Appalachian Exposition postcard written and signed by Lloyd Branson and addressed to Miss Bessie Roach, Yonkers, NY, one postcard written by A.L. Barrett and addressed to Lucy Barrett, Winchester, VA, and three Knoxville Engraving Co. confederate monument, Bethel Cemetery, postcards, one with pricing and printing information and one addressed to Vera Perry, Fountain City. The monument was designed by Branson in 1891. Stereo cards include Roan Mountain, Gay Street, French Broad, Samuel Cowan mansion, Old Customs House, and the old National Academy of Design, Manhattan, attended by Branson from 1873-75, among others. Lot also includes the book HISTORY OF THE CONFEDERATED MEMORIAL ASSOCIATIONS OF THE SOUTH (New Orleans: Confederated Southern Memorial Association/Graham Press, 1904), with information about the Bethel Cemetery monument, and 1895 Harper’s Weekly with information about that year’s Cotton States Exposition in Atlanta. Housed in protective slips in a three-ring binder aside from Green River Whiskey print, hand-colored print, Harper's Weekly, and book. Binder: 11 5/8 in. H x 10 3/4 in. W x 1 3/4 in. D. Green River Whiskey print: 11 in. H x 13 3/4 in. W. Hand-colored print sheet: 10 in. hx 12 1/4 in. W. Hand-colored print mount: 11 1/2 in. H x 14 in. W. Harper's Weekly: 16 1/8 in. H x 11 5/16 in. W. Book: 9 1/4 in. H x 6 1/4 in. W x 1 1/2 in. D.  

All items in overall very good condition, some items with spotting, discoloration, or grime plus minor abrasions, losses, and wear to edges. Hand-colored print is laid to card. Green River Whiskey print with losses to upper left.