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Inventory

Caroline Peddle Ball Collection
Dates: 1887-1998
Accession Number:  980415A
Donor:  Helene Steppe
Description:  Ten file folders in a document case; includes 37 photographs

 

RESTRICTIONS:  The 37 photographs in this collection are copy prints of the original photographs loaned to the library by Helene Steppe, Terre Haute.  The photographs are for research purposes only and cannot be reproduced without the written permission of Caroline Peddle Ball's niece and nephew (Barbara Peckham Hayes and John F. Peckham).  

BIOGRAPHY 

            Caroline Cheever Peddle was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, on November 11, 1869, the daughter of Mary Elizabeth Ball Peddle and Charles Rugan Peddle.  She attended the Normal Training School for her primary education where she received her first drawing lessons, and later attended a private art class at the Rose Polytechnic Institute under the instruction of Professor William L. Ames.  She graduated from the Terre Haute High School on June 17, 1887.  Caroline Peddle Ball was a childhood friend and classmate of sculptor Janet Scudder and is mentioned in Scudder's autobiography, Modeling My Life. 

            After high school, Caroline Peddle Ball continued her art training at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (for a few months), then entered the Art Students' League in New York where she studied under Kenyon Cox and Augustus Saint-Gaudens. In 1893, Ball's "Head of the Virgin" was included in the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company exhibit at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago.  She was apparently commissioned by Tiffany to do other pieces, such as her figure of the Christ of the Sacred Heart.  In 1894, Ball created a memorial fountain in Flushing, New York, which commemorated the life and charitable work of Mary Lawrence Eliman.  She also designed the corbels at Grace Church in Brooklyn.     

            During the latter part of the 1890s, Caroline Peddle Ball travelled to Europe at least twice.  She lived and studied art in Florence, Italy, from September 1895-March 1896.  She returned to Terre Haute in May 1896 and spent five months here being with family and friends and working in her own studio.  By May 1897, Caroline Peddle Ball returned to Paris, France, where she lived and worked for approximately three years.  One of her Paris studios was located at No. 17 Rue Campagne-Premiere.  With a recommendation by Saint-Gaudens, Caroline Peddle Ball was awarded the contract for the figure "Victory" on the United States building at the Paris Exposition in 1900.  This sculpture won her Honorable Mention.  

            Returning to the United States, Caroline Peddle Ball married her cousin Bertrand E. Ball on October 16, 1902.  At first, they lived in Mt. Kisco, New York, where they had one daughter, Mary Asenath Ball, born September 30, 1903.  In October 1904, the Ball family moved to Westfield, New Jersey, and although the couple eventually separated (and Bertrand remarried) Caroline had her home and studio at Westfield until 1927.  She died October 1, 1938 at her home in Harwinton, Connecticut. 

            Caroline Peddle Ball spent her life as a working artist.  Although she had created larger public sculptures, much of her work was varied, from bronze statuettes and bas-relief to decorative pieces and figures of children.  The Swope Art Museum has several of her pieces and the headstone she designed in 1899 for her nephew John Elliott Peddle is in Highland Lawn Cemetery, Terre Haute.

CONTENT AND SCOPE OF COLLECTION 

            This collection contains photocopied material on the life and work of Caroline Peddle Ball which was gathered for the library's Women's History Month celebration in March 1998.  A large portion of the collection includes 5 in. x 7 in. black and white copy prints of Caroline Peddle Ball, her family and friends, and examples of her art work.  These were reproduced from originals loaned by Helene Steppe and cannot be reproduced again without written permission. 

            The material obtained from the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library in Delaware includes information about Caroline Peddle Ball's commission to do the Queen Isabella commemorative coin for the 1893 World's Fair and how that arrangement fell through. 

 

Document Case

 

 

 

 

 

Folder 1

Genealogy of the Peddle family

n.d.

 

 

 

Folder 2

Biographical material on the life and work of
   Caroline Peddle Ball (from books,
   magazines, newspaper articles)

1908-1998

 

 

 

 

Folder 3

Photocopied material on Caroline Peddle Ball
  from the Winterthur Museum, Garden, and
  Library in Delaware

1900-1998

 

 

 

Folder 4

Photographs:  Portraits of Caroline
  Peddle Ball:

1887-1920

 

 

 

 

Portrait of Caroline Peddle Ball (profile)
  from black and white copy print 3 1/2 in. x 5 in.  Two prints:  Neg 30:1; Neg 30:0                

 

 

 

 

 

Photo of young Caroline Peddle Ball looking  sideways (circa 1887); from black and white  copy print 3 1/2 in.  x 5 in.; Neg 30:2

 

 

 

 

 

Full shot of Caroline Peddle Ball sitting on  stoop with one of the twins (either Barbara or John Peckham); probably Westfield, NJ
   circa 1920; from original photo 6 1/2 x  9 1/4
   Neg 30:26   

 

 

 

 

 

Cropped shot of Photo Neg #30:26 with a
   close-up of Caroline Peddle Ball smiling
   Neg 30:25

 

 

 

 

Folder 5

Photographs:  Caroline Peddle Ball with
  husband and daughter:

1903-1920s

 

 

 

 

Caroline Peddle Ball laying in bed with infant daughter Mary Asenath Ball; probably Mt. Kisco, New York, 1903; from original photo 5 in.  x 7 in. Neg 30:15

 

 

 

 

 

Caroline Peddle Ball with infant daughter Mary Asenath Ball wrapped in blanket against her chest; probably Mt. Kisco, New York, 1903; from original photo 4 in. x 5 in.    Neg 30:14

 

 

 

 

 

Caroline Peddle Ball with infant daughter Mary Asenath Ball on her lap; probably Mt. Kisco, New York, 1903; from original hoto 4 in. x 5 in.   
Neg 30:13

 

 

 

 

Folder 5

Photographs:  Caroline Peddle Ball with
  husband and daughter:
Caroline Peddle Ball holding daughter Mary Asenath Ball, large vase of flowers in foreground; probably Westfield, New Jersey, 1904-05; from original photo
    8 in. x 10 in.    Neg 30:27

 

 

 

 

 

Caroline Peddle Ball with daughter Mary Asenath
   Ball sitting on footstool; circa 1905-06; from   
   original photo 3 3/4 in. x 5 1/2 in. , written on
   back:  Caroline Peddle Ball and daughter Mary
   A. Ball  Neg 30:11

 

 

 

 

 

Bertrand E. Ball with daughter Mary Asenath Ball
    sitting on his lap; circa 1905-06; from original
   photo 3 3/4 in. x 5 1/2 in.    Neg 30:12

 

 

 

 

 

Caroline Peddle Ball in kitchen with grown-up
   daughter Mary Asenath Ball; probably
   Westfield, New Jersey, circa 1920s; from
   black and white copy print 3 1/2 in. x 5 in.           
   Neg 30:9

 

 

 

 

Folder 6

Photographs:  Family and friends    

ca. 1896-1916

 

 

 

 

Family and friends posed on Aunt Lizzie’s porch in Terre Haute, Indiana; includes: John Peddle, Margaret Peddle Bodde,  Mary Peddle Peckham, Professor Wickersham, Sarah Peddle Burton, Mrs. Wickersham, Charles Rugan Peddle, Mary Elizabeth Ball Peddle, Caroline Peddle Ball, Elizabeth Rugan Peddle Ames, William Ames (and possibly Paul and Robert Wickersham); (see enclosed sheets for further identification; probably taken August 30, 1896 (information from Caroline Peddle Ball’s personal diary); from black and white copy print 3 1/2 in. x 5 in.  Neg 30:4

 

 

 

 

 

Family members in a row:  Paul Peckham,
  Caroline Peddle Ball, Mary Peddle Peckham,
   Mary Asenath Ball, Bertrand E. Ball, Derk
   Bodde; Westfield, New Jersey, circa 1916;
   from black and white copy print 3 1/2 in. x 5 in.
   Neg 30:5

 

 

 

 

Folder 7

Photographs:  Caroline Peddle Ball—Art
  Students’ League classes, working in Paris
  studio, working in Westfield studio with
  daughter Mary        

ca. 1890-1905

 

 

 

 

 

Group of seven art students standing in a row—
  Caroline Peddle Ball is second from the left;
   probably the Art Students’ League in New York,
   circa 1890; from original albumen print mounted
   on card 5 in.  x 8 1/2 in., written on back:
   “Modelling Class”  “Ball” Neg 30:30

 

 

 

 

 

Large group of art students sitting and

   standing in class, classical busts and statues in
   background (Caroline Peddle Ball may be in
   center of photo seated, looking upward in profile
    with hand to mouth);  probably the Art
   Students’ League in New York, circa 1890; from
    original albumen print mounted on card
   5 in. x 8 1/2 in., written on back: “Antique
   Class”  “Ball” Neg 30:29

 

 

 

 

 

Caroline Peddle Ball working in Paris studio;
  circa 1899; from original photo 5 in.  x 7 in. ,

  written on back: “In Paris Studio” Neg 30:16

 

 

 

 

 

Caroline Peddle Ball in studio with daughter Mary
    Asenath Ball in “baby tender” probably
   Westfield, New Jersey, circa 1904-05; from
   black and white copy print 3 1/2 in.  x 5 in.
    Neg 30:3

 

 

 

 

Folder 8

Photographs:  Sculptures by Caroline
  Peddle Ball  

ca. 1893-1920s

 

 

 

 

 

“Head from the figure of the Virgin Owned by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Co., New York” (written under figure)  by Caroline Peddle Ball,
  1893; from black and white copy print
   3 1/2 in. x 5 in.  Neg 30:10

 

 

 

 

 

Victory, on United States building, Paris Exposition, by Caroline Peddle Ball, 1900; from original photograph 4 3/4 in.  x 6 3/4 in., written on back: “Victory--on United States building. Paris Exposition.”  Neg 30:17

 

 

 

 

 

Interior of Westfield, New Jersey, studio showing various free and relief sculptures by Caroline Peddle Ball; from black and white copy print 5 in.  x 8 in.   Neg 30:18

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial fountain by Caroline Peddle Ball   commemorating the life of Mary Lawrence Eliman, Flushing, New York, 1894.  From original blue-tone published print, 4 1/2 in. x 6 1/2 in.,  taped to cardboard matte; written on back: “(sketch) panel on Flushing memorial”  Neg 30:31

 

 

 

 

 

Bronze Statuette “Sylvan Dance”
   Height 6 1/4 in. Caroline Peddle Ball, Sc.The Gorham Co., Founders

    (This description is on the photo with the    statuette.  Judy Stoffel of Terre Haute owns this piece; drumstick is now broken off the original statuette.) Neg 30:23

 

 

 

 

 

Relief sculpture: Child with cat by Caroline Peddle
  Ball; from black and white copy print
   5 in. x 8 in.,  written on back: “Not finished or
   cast”   Neg 30:20

 

 

 

 

 

Relief sculpture: “Gravitation” (child in high
   chair) by Caroline Peddle Ball; from black and
   white copy print 5 in.  x 8 in., written on back:
   “This is not the finished,  cast work—but too
   precious to leave out”  (Peggy Cobb of Terre
   Haute owns this piece) Neg 30:19

 

 

 

 

 

Sculpture: Mermaid and turtle by Caroline Peddle
   Ball; from black and white copy print
   5 in. x 8 in., written on back: “Unfinished pond,
   or garden figures”  Neg 30:21

 

 

 

 

Folder 9

Photographs:  Live models;  sculptures by
  Caroline Peddle Ball (includes Helen
   Ivanowski and actress Alla Nazimova)

ca. 1904-1914

 

 

 

 

Caroline Peddle Ball holding daughter Mary    Asenath Ball (this photo used as model for a relief sculpture); probably Westfield, New Jersey, circa 1904-05; from black and white copy print
3 1/2 in.  x 5 in.    Neg 30:6

 

 

 

 

 

Relief sculpture of Caroline Peddle Ball holding
   daughter Mary Asenath Ball, by Caroline Peddle
   Ball; from black and white copy print
   3 1/2 in. x 5  in.    Neg 30:7

 

 

 

 

 

Helen Ivanowski, friend of Caroline Peddle
   Ball and model for a relief sculpture, 1908;
   from black and white copy print 5 in. x 8 in.,    written on back: “Helen Ivanowski”    Neg 30:22

 

 

 

 

 

Relief sculpture of Helen Ivanowski, 1908;
   Written on sculpture: “To Helen De Ivanowski   This portrait of herself done in the year nineteen hundred and eight by her friend Caroline Peddle Ball”; from an original print mounted on board
7 3/4 in. x 10 in.  Neg 30:32

 

 

 

 

Folder 9

Photographs:  Live Models (cont’d):
Actress Alla Nazimova posed with statue of her portraying the character Hedda Gabler, sculpture by Caroline Peddle Ball; circa 1914 (dated by letter from Alla Nazimova to Caroline Peddle Ball, April 13, 1914); fromblack and white copy print
3 1/2 in. x 5 in.    Neg 30:8

 

 

 

 

 

Hedda Gabler statuette by Caroline Peddle Ball, circa 1914; from black and white copy print  (8 in. x 10 in.) from original glass negative

   Neg 30:33

 

 

 

 

 

Hedda Gabler statuette (2 angles, side and back), circa 1914; from original photos mounted on cards with cardboard matte, written on back: “Nazymava as she appeared in Hedda Gabler modeled, at her request, by Caroline Ball” (The “Dolls House” was   crossed out and “Hedda Gabler” written above it on back of photo)   Neg 30:28

 

 

 

 

Folder 10

Photographs:  Peddle home in Terre Haute
                        (502 N. Center Street)         

n.d.

 

 

 

 

Caroline Peddle Ball’s home and studio in Westfield,  New Jersey         

ca. 1925

 

 

 

 

Peddle home in Terre Haute, Indiana,  502 N. Center Street, n.d.; from original photo 3 1/2 in. x 5 in. , written on back: “Peddle home in Terre Haute (Home of Charles Rugen, father of John, Caroline, Mary, and Margaret)”
   Neg 30:24

 

 

 

 

Folder 10

Photographs:  Peddle home in Terre Haute (continued) 

Home and studio of Caroline Peddle Ball,    Westfield, New Jersy, circa 1925; from an original real estate booklet created by Caroline Peddle Ball to sell the property, from page 1, front, original photo 5 in. x 7 in. , caption under photo:   “ ‘Cedar Crest’ Westfield New Jersey”; photo shows view of  home/studio from road approaching house  
Neg 30:36

 

 

 

 

 

Home and studio of Caroline Peddle Ball,   Westfield, New Jersey, circa 1925; from an original real estate booklet created by Caroline Peddle Ball to sell the property, from page 3, cropped from original photo  3 3/4 in. x 11 1/4 in. , caption under photo:
“A  Sweep of Lawn to the Northwest”
Neg 30:35

 

 

 

 

 

Home and studio of Caroline Peddle Ball,   Westfield, New Jersey, circa 1925; from an original real estate booklet created by Caroline Peddle Ball to sell the property; from page 4, cropped from original photo 3 1/2 in. x 10 in. , caption under photo:
   “Secluded  midst a profusion of flowers shrubery trees and fruit”; shows overview of home/studio and property taken from a hill  
   Neg 30:34