Bertha Corson Day
American painter and illustrator, 1875–1968
Corson Day published decorative designs in Chap-Book in 1896 and 1897; in the latter year, her poster design advertising Cashmere Bouquet products won second prize in a contest sponsored by their manufacturer Colgate and Company. In 1899 she was commissioned to design a billboard announcing the Philadelphia's National Export Exposition.
Her historical illustrations appeared in several novels, including Bulwer Lytton's last Days of Pompeii (1898) and Paul Leicester Ford's Janice Meredith (1899). Her most important was a series of 22 illustrations for the book Where the Wind Blows (1902), a compilation of fairy tales from various countries written by Katharine Pyle (Howard Pyle's sister and student).
Corson Day married Daniel Moore Bates, an employee of Wilmington's Bancroft textile firm, in 1902 and thereafter did little commercial illustration, though she did design bookplates for friends and program covers for the Greenroom Club, a Wilmington theatrical group. She also occasionally painted landscapes.
In 1912 the family moved to Lewiston, Maine, until 1919 when they returned to the Wilmington area, where the artist was active in many cultural and civic associations.
Corson died at her home "Selborne" in 1968 at age 93.
Sources:
Delaware Art Museum publications and archives
Person TypeIndividual
Terms
American painter, illustrator, and author, 1863–1938
American painter and illustrator, 1874–1961
American illustrator, 1876–1936
American illustrator, 1877–1939
American painter, 1877–1950
American illustrator and author, 1867–1958
American painter and illustrator, 1871–1954
American illustrator and painter, 1877–1972
American painter, illustrator, and printmaker, 1858–1932
