Catalog of American Portraits

The CAP maintains records of historically significant American portraits, i.e., portraits of notable American subjects or by notable American artists. New material is added regularly from various sources, including an ongoing survey of portraits held in public and private collections across the country. Generally, only one-of-a-kind likenesses are recorded, such as paintings, sculpture, drawings, miniatures, and silhouettes. Certain medals and images in the decorative arts are also included. Photographs, engravings, etchings, lithographs, and other graphic arts are generally not recorded by the CAP, with the exception of rare daguerreotypes. Information on portraits in these media, however, is often available from other departments within the National Portrait Gallery.

The CAP manual files contain, whenever possible, a photograph of the portrait, standard catalog data (medium, support, dimensions, condition), a description, current ownership, provenance, biographical sketches of subjects and artists, bibliographic references, and exhibition and conservation history. Often, archival correspondence and primary research material is included as well. A costume study comprised of more than 1,200 photographs of dated American portraits, from the eighteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries, is also available for examination and comparison.

National Portrait Survey

In 1971, the CAP initiated a national portrait survey involving professional on-site cataloging and photographing of portraits in public and private collections across the country. Funded in part by donations, including a generous grant from the Mellon Foundation, field surveyors traveled to participating collections to examine the portraits firsthand and to gather additional information on each work. The on-site survey continues today, though all regions of the United States have now been covered at least preliminarily. The CAP depends on the cooperation of portrait owners and on interns and volunteers to assist in incorporating survey material into the CAP research files. Those interested in including their collections in our national portrait survey, or in assisting the CAP in some other way, are encouraged to contact the office for further information.

The Portrait Database

The CAP's computer database provides retrieval capabilities on almost every field of data, including portrait descriptions (setting, objects depicted, sitter's dress), medium/support, execution dates, biographical information on subjects and artists, other attributions, related works, provenance (history of ownership), exhibition history, conservation history, and bibliographic references pertaining to each work. Using international data standards, subjects of portraits can be retrieved by principal historical distinctions, historical time periods, regions, related events and people, and certain ethnic affiliations (for example, Native American/Apache/Chiricahua).

Digitized images are currently being incorporated into the database, beginning with images of nationally significant Americans from the National Portrait Gallery's permanent collection. Prints and photographs from the National Portrait Gallery's collections are included on the database. Online access of unrestricted data and images is available via the Collections Search page, here on the Gallery's web site.

Service to Researchers

Since its establishment in 1966, the CAP has served many users. Collectors and curators have compared their own collections with similar portraits recorded here. Art historians and social historians have been aided in iconographic studies and in tracing the development of artists' careers. Writers and publishers have been led to sources for illustrations. Scholars and curators have located objects for exhibitions, and educators have developed programs for students of all ages. Finally, individual owners have a permanent physical and photographic description of their portraits on file in the CAP, useful in case of subsequent loss or damage.

The CAP is open to the public, preferably by appointment, on weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except for federal holidays. Manual files and photographs may be examined by researchers, and searches may be requested on the computer database. Images are for study purposes only, and any requests for reproductions must be directed to the owners. The CAP reserves the right to protect information provided by the cooperating owners, and information concerning private collections is restricted or kept confidential when requested. Researchers may also write, telephone, fax, or E-mail their inquiries. A nominal fee is charged for printing large reports and photocopying archival material. CAP personnel cannot undertake extensive research for either individuals or institutions. The staff is not permitted to provide certification of authenticity or to give appraisals.

Hours and Location

Located in the National Portrait Gallery offices at 750 9th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., the Catalog of American Portraits can be reached by taking the red, yellow, or green Metro line to Gallery Place, 9th and G Street exit.