Clinton Arrowood papers

Collection

Identifier: PIMS-0003

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The collection contains Arrowood’s illustrations for musical events, children’s books, and other purposes, including original drawings and reproductions. It also includes clippings and other documents related to Arrowood’s career. Series V contains approximately 60 letters and postcards from Arrowood to Wilda Heiss, a classmate of his in flute performance at the Peabody Institute with whom he remained close friends.

Dates

Creation: 1961 - 1990

Creator

Arrowood, Clinton (Collector, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is available for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright. All requests for permission to publish or perform materials in this collection must be submitted in writing to the archivist of the Arthur Friedheim Library.

Biographical / Historical

Born in Price, Utah, Clinton Lee Arrowood (1939-1990) grew up in Baltimore and attended the Maryland Institute of Art and the Peabody Conservatory of Music, where he earned a bachelor of music degree in flute performance in 1965. He studied under Britton Johnson, then principal flutist for the Baltimore Symphony. Arrowood also attended the Vienna Academy of Music in Austria, Loyola College in Baltimore, Georgia State University, and Dartmouth College. Best known for his pen and ink drawings of animals, Arrowood created a magical world of the arts, where alligators were musicians, frogs performed in the corps de ballet, and lambs sang arias from the greatest operas ever written. He designed creative programs and posters for concerts at the Peabody Institute and other venues.

Widely known for illustrating Donald Elliott’s books Alligators and Music, Frogs and the Ballet, and Lambs’ Tales from Great Operas, Arrowood drew caricatures with humor and poignancy that encouraged readers to reconsider their impressions of the performing arts. He also illustrated Witch, Witch!, edited in 1975 by Richard Shaw, and Young Brer Rabbit, written with Jaqueline Weiss in 1985.

In addition to his performing and illustrating, for 21 years he taught art history, music appreciation, and flute at Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills, Maryland. He also taught for a year in the American School outside Turin, Italy.

(Adapted from Ellen Gaines, “Clinton Arrowood,” http://ellengaines.com/clinton-arrowood/. Accessed April 3, 2017.)

Extent

1.43 Cubic Feet (1 small flat box, 1 medium flat box, 1 oversize flat box, 1 large standing document box, 1 half-size document case, 4 oversize items)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Clinton Arrowood was a flautist and illustrator best known for his unique drawings of animals as musicians. The collection contains Arrowood's illustrations for musical events at the Peabody Institute and elsewhere, as well as drawings for children's books and other media. It includes original drawings, reproductions, clippings, and other documents related to Arrowood's career.