Interviewer
Dennis Kern
Files
Description
Clara Thomas talks about the life of the American Western artist Fra Broadwell Dana and their friendship. Thomas describes Dana as an intelligent, charming, and caring person who was an astute business woman, working on her husband’s ranch on Pass Creek, as well as an accomplished artist. Thomas recalls the difference between Dana’s relationships with her close friends and her relationships with her art professors, including Alfred Maurer and William Merritt Chase. Thomas also talks about how the Pass Creek ranching community appeared to be jealous of Dana’s success, and disapproved of her decision to study in Europe while her husband remained on the ranch. Thomas reminisces about Dana’s husband, Edwin Dana, whom she remembers as an extremely kind person and a talented poet. Thomas concludes by discussing Dana’s health and her struggle with cancer, which she succumbed to in 1948.
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Document Type
Oral History
Subjects
Modernist Art; Pass Creek, Montana; Great Falls; Montana Museum of Art and Culture, University of Montana; Thomas, Carla – Interviews; Dana, Fra Broadwell, 1874-1948 -- Friends and associates -- Interviews; Women painters -- Montana -- Biography.; Dana, E. L. (Edwin Lester), 1864-1946 -- Friends and associates -- Interviews.; Ranchers -- Montana -- Biography; Artists -- Montana -- Biography; Impressionist artists -- Montana -- Biography; Maurer, Alfred Henry, 1868-1932 -- Friends and associates; Chase, William Merritt, 1849-1916 -- Friends and associates; Sharp, Joseph Henry, 1859-1953 -- Friends and associates; Dana Ranch (Mont.)
Original Date
2-1984
Time Period
Twentieth century
Geographic Coverage
Montana
Language
eng
Original Collection
Montana Artists, Authors, and Journalists Oral History Collection, Archives and Special Collections, Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula
Digital Publisher
University of Montana--Missoula. Mansfield Library
Rights
Copyright to this collection is held by the interview participants and by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, University of Montana-Missoula. Permission may be required for use. For further information please contact Archives and Special Collections: (406) 243-2053 / library.archives@umontana.edu
Oral History Number
OH 115-001
Media Type
Sound; Text
Original Format
1 sound cassette (01:00:00 min.) analog + 1 transcript (20 p.: 28 cm.)
Digital Format
audio/mp3; application/pdf
Run Time
01:01:44 minutes
Local Filename
OH_115_001.mp3; OH_115_001.pdf
Citation
Thomas, Clara, "Clara Thomas Interview, February 1984" (1984). Montana Artists, Authors, and Journalists Oral History Collection. 2.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mtartistsjournalistsauthors_oralhistory/2