Oliver J. Corbett

1886 -1969
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BORN
July 21, 1886
Meridian, Iowa
DIED
May 22, 1969
Springfield, Missouri
EDUCATION
Pennsylvania Museum and the School of Industrial Art
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
GENDER
Male
RACE / ETHNICITY
White
OCCUPATION
Designer

Oliver J. Corbett, a painter and muralist best known for painting Ozarks landscapes, was born on July 21, 1886, in Meridian, Iowa. He attended The Art Institute of Chicago and the Pennsylvania School of Industrial Art. He also studied under John Eliot Jenkins. 

Corbett moved to Springfield, Missouri, in 1921, where most of his artistic career was spent. He exhibited frequently at the local and state level, and held several solo exhibitions, some at the Springfield Art Museum. Corbett had a major influence on the local art community, tutoring, mentoring and teaching area artists, and was one of the founding members of the Ozarks Artists Association. In 1952, when President Harry S. Truman visited Springfield, one of Corbett's paintings was presented to him. 

Corbett was the owner of the Corbett Painting and Decorating Company. His best-known commission was decorative paintings for the Electric Theatre in Springfield. He also made twelve murals for the St. Louis-San Francisco Railroad Company. Other murals and paintings he was commissioned to do can be found at local businesses and churches such as the St. Agnes Cathedral and Seminole Baptist Temple in Springfield. 

Oliver J. Corbett died on May 22, 1969.

ACTIVE IN
MISSOURI
1921-1969 / Springfield
MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATIONS
Southern States Art League
Ozark Artists Association
ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATIONS
Corbett Painting and Decorating Company
STUDIO

Corbett's studio was at 907 East Loren St., Springfield, Missouri.

Awards & Exhibitions 11

1929
Pinebrook Inn Exhibition

Organized by Pinebrook Inn

1938
Rolla Saturday Club Exhibition

Organized by Rolla Saturday Club

1938
William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art and the Mary Atkins Museum of Art exhibition

Organized by William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art and the Mary Atkins Museum of Fine Arts

1939
Ozark Artists Association Exhibition, Soldiers and Sailors Museum

Organized by Missouri State Capitol, Ozark Artists Association

1940
Springfield Art Museum Exhibition

Organized by Springfield Art Museum

1951
Springfield Art Museum Exhibition

Organized by Springfield Art Museum

1954
Robertson Gallery Exhibition

Organized by Robertson Gallery

1969
Drury College Exhibition

Organized by Drury College

n.d.
Ozark Beach Hotel Exhibition

Organized by Ozark Beach Hotel

n.d.
Governor’s Mansion Exhibition
n.d.
Ozark Empire District Fair
1938
Award, Rolla Saturday Club Exhibition
1938
Award, William Rockhill Nelson Gallery of Art and the Mary Atkins Museum of Art Exhibition
n.d.
Award, Governor’s Mansion Exhibition, Missouri
n.d.
Award, Ozark Empire District Fair

References

Artist clippings file is available at:

Bibliography

Select Sources

“Corbett, Oliver J.,” in Dorothy B. Gilbert, ed., Who’s Who in American Art (New York: R.R. Bowker Company, 1959), 118.

“Corbett, Oliver J.,” in Dorothy B. Gilbert, ed., Who’s Who in American Art (New York: R.R. Bowker Company, 1947), 114.

“Capturing the Ozarks with a Palette and Brush: Artist Oliver J. Corbett,” Robertson English Antiques blog, August 9, 2013, accessed December 3, 2021, https://robertsongallery.wordpress.com/tag/oliver-j-corbett/.

“O.J. Corbett, Artist, Dies,” Springfield Leader and Press, May 24, 1969, 3.

“Art Exhibit at Siloam Springs,” The West Plains Journal, August 8, 1929, 1.

“Water Colors of Ozark Artists on Display,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 8, 1940, 19.

“Ozarks Artists Exhibit Works in State Capitol,” Henry County Democrat (Clinton, Missouri) June 8, 1939, 8.

“Corbett Paintings Win Double Honors at Rolla Display,” Springfield New Leader, December 4, 1938, 6C.

“Fine Arts Department Wins State Prize,” Rolla Herald, December 1, 1938, 1.

“Oliver J. Corbett in the 1930 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry, accessed December 1, 2021.

“Oliver J. Corbett,” Missouri Digital Heritage, Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1970, Certificate No: 19767, https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1969/1969_00019767.PDF.

“Oliver James Corbett,” Find A Grave, accessed December 3, 2021, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34205845/oliver-james-corbett.


Core Reference Sources

Peter H. Falk, et. al, Who was Who in American Art, 1564-1975: 400 Years of Artists in America (Madison: Sound View Press, 1999).

Anita Jacobsen, Jacobsen's Biographical Index of American Artists (Carrollton: A.J. Publications, 2002).

askART (database), askART, https://www.askart.com/.

Contributors

Roberta Wagener, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Artist Record Published

Published on December 13, 2021

Learn more

References

Artist clippings file is available at:

Bibliography

Select Sources

“Corbett, Oliver J.,” in Dorothy B. Gilbert, ed., Who’s Who in American Art (New York: R.R. Bowker Company, 1959), 118.

“Corbett, Oliver J.,” in Dorothy B. Gilbert, ed., Who’s Who in American Art (New York: R.R. Bowker Company, 1947), 114.

“Capturing the Ozarks with a Palette and Brush: Artist Oliver J. Corbett,” Robertson English Antiques blog, August 9, 2013, accessed December 3, 2021, https://robertsongallery.wordpress.com/tag/oliver-j-corbett/.

“O.J. Corbett, Artist, Dies,” Springfield Leader and Press, May 24, 1969, 3.

“Art Exhibit at Siloam Springs,” The West Plains Journal, August 8, 1929, 1.

“Water Colors of Ozark Artists on Display,” St. Louis Globe-Democrat, November 8, 1940, 19.

“Ozarks Artists Exhibit Works in State Capitol,” Henry County Democrat (Clinton, Missouri) June 8, 1939, 8.

“Corbett Paintings Win Double Honors at Rolla Display,” Springfield New Leader, December 4, 1938, 6C.

“Fine Arts Department Wins State Prize,” Rolla Herald, December 1, 1938, 1.

“Oliver J. Corbett in the 1930 United States Federal Census,” Ancestry, accessed December 1, 2021.

“Oliver J. Corbett,” Missouri Digital Heritage, Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1970, Certificate No: 19767, https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1969/1969_00019767.PDF.

“Oliver James Corbett,” Find A Grave, accessed December 3, 2021, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34205845/oliver-james-corbett.


Core Reference Sources

Peter H. Falk, et. al, Who was Who in American Art, 1564-1975: 400 Years of Artists in America (Madison: Sound View Press, 1999).

Anita Jacobsen, Jacobsen's Biographical Index of American Artists (Carrollton: A.J. Publications, 2002).

askART (database), askART, https://www.askart.com/.

Contributors

Roberta Wagener, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Artist Record Published

Published on December 13, 2021

Updated on None

Citation

Wagener, Roberta. "Oliver J. Corbett." In Missouri Remembers: Artists in Missouri through 1951. Kansas City: The Kansas City Art Institute and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art; St. Louis: The St. Louis Public Library, 2021,https://doi.org/10.37764/5776.