In 1920, painter Randall Davey settled in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the encouragement of his teacher, mentor and friend, Robert Henri. Davey didn’t know it at the time, but he was an instrumental figure in the formation of the Santa Fe Art Colony.
Randall Davey (1887-1964), Derby Day, ca. 1963. Collection of the Randall Davey Audubon Center and Sanctuary. Gift of Amelia Jane Carson and Karen M. Kleenman. Photo: Cameron A. Gay.
Today the New York-trained artist is known for his elaborate outdoor scenes, both inside and out of the West, and his magnificent portraits and figurative works. Hoping to preserve his work and memory, volunteer docents at the Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary in Santa Fe are expanding and building out the center’s archives to further preserve Davey’s artistic legacy. They are also documenting the unique history of the Davey home and property before and after his ownership. The home, located on the grounds of the Randall Davey Audubon Center & Sanctuary, began as a sawmill built by the U.S. Army on the outskirts of Santa Fe in 1847 to cut lumber for the construction of Fort Marcy during the Mexican-American War. After his death, Davey’s sister-in-law, Kate Cullum, lived in the home until 1979. She created the Randall Davey Committee which gifted the property to the National Audubon Society in 1983.
Marsden Hartley, Randall Davey and John Sloan in the courtyard of the Palace of the Governors, 1919. Courtesy Palace of the Governors Photo Archives (NMHM/DCA), Neg. No. 14232.
Because Davey’s personal photographs of his art were all in black and white, volunteers are especially interested in obtaining color photos of paintings (snapshots with smartphones accepted) now held in public and private collections along with letters, remembrances, photos, newspaper clippings and other memorabilia. The archive will be available to scholars and others wishing to learn more about this important Santa Fe artist.
Anyone wishing to submit photos and other Davey memorabilia may contact the group at randalldaveyarchives@audubon.org or leave a message at (505) 983-4609. —
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