A unified approach: considerations in documenting Barbara Tyrrell's field-sketches into the Campbell Collections

Abstract

The Campbell Collections of the University of KwaZulu-Natal had some 250 original watercolours by well-known artist-recorder Barbara Tyrrell. These were acquired by the collection's founder, Dr Killie Campbell, who was the artist's main patron between 1944 and 1965. Tyrrell is in her 90s and is still producing artwork. In 2000 Tyrrell offered 1200 original field-sketches for sale, naturally preferring the buyer to be Campbell Collections. This paper considers the background to the acquisition of 700 of these original works; the on-going process in regard to the choice of works; and the importance of researching the works in order to document them with their intended accessibility as a research source in mind.

Innovation Vol. 30 2005: 62-81