The "Historical Artist Extraordinaire - Charles X. Carlson" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading "Notes from the antiques market" which are published weekly in our local newspaper; LNP - Lancaster, PA.  Some weeks they are interesting while other weeks not so.  The note today told of artist Charles X. Carlson and his life as a Lancastrian.  As soon as I saw his name I remembered the exact book where I had seen his work.  Book titled "Old Lancaster - Historic Pennsylvania Community" which was written by Frederic S. Klein and contained the artwork of Charles X. Carlson.  

Book by Klein with illustrations from Carlson.

I bought the book a few years ago at an antique market near Adamstown, PA known as Shupp's Grove.  Made a few great buys one Sunday and "Old Lancaster" with the book part of my find.  The author, Mr. Klein was a professor of History at our local Franklin & Marshall College, beginning his career in 1928.  He previously had authored a number of books as well as being a guest lecturer and frequent commentator on radio and television programs.  But, it was Mr. Carlson that I was more interested in since his artwork in "Old Lancaster" is what made Mr. Klein's history book come alive.  

Mr. Charles X. Carlson

His pen and ink drawings and watercolors brought a new dimension to Lancaster's history.  Mr. Carlson was born in 1902 in Minnesota, left school in the seventh grade at the age of 12 and became a baker's apprentice.  He later worked in iron mines, lumber camps and was a seaman for three years.  His talent for art caused led to his studies at the Crane Technical College as well as the Chicago Art Institute, both in Chicago.  He then attended the National Academy of Design in New York as well as the Art Students League in New York.  He traveled to Antwerp and Munich where he studied under master artists.  He painted murals in New Zealand's building at the New York's World Fair as well as creating Elsie, the Borden Company's famous cow.  

One of his many books he wrote and illustrated.

He also worked for both Ford and General Motors.  During WWII he was an artist and cartoonist for "On War Times," a publication of the Pentagon and the Bureau of Public Relations.  He then worked for the U.S. State Department.  He somehow ended up in southern Lancaster County in 1947; landed in Kirk's Mill near Quarryville.  He turned to historical painting and eventually was commissioned to do paintings and drawings for Mr. Klein's book in 1964.  He died in 1991.  What drew my attention in the newspaper article was the fact that two of his original works will be auctioned in the near future.  Would love to have a print from Charles X. Carlson, especially one from Lancaster County, but I'm sure my bid would never win a print.  I grabbed my copy of "Old Lancaster" and leafed through it.  Picked some of the artwork by Mr. Carlson to share with you.  The copyrights are now past so I am able to post his work here for you to see.  Hope you enjoy a few of them.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - Remember to click on images to enlarge them.

The Bake House at Ephrata Cloisters. 

The Paxtang Settlers Massacre the Conestoga Indians.

Benjamin Franklin comes to buy Conestoga Wagons.

Patriots are called to arms at the Grape Hotel in downtown Lancaster, PA.

The small town of Lititz, PA becomes a hospital town for the wounded during the Revolutionary War.

The George Ross House in Lancaster, PA.  Mr. Ross was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. 

City life centers about Lancaster's new Court House in 1787,

The Strasburg Railroad is a stop on the Road to Paradise. 

The Fulton Hall in downtown Lancaster.  It would soon become Fulton Opera House.

James Buchanan was elected our nation's 15th President.  This is his home in Lancaster known as Wheatland.

The Funeral Train of President Abraham Lincoln passes through Lancaster, PA.