Bartlett, Paul Alexander

Artist and author (1909-1990). Graduate of Oberlin College, he taught at Georgia State College (1955) and served as editor of publications at the University of California Santa Barbara (1964-70). Published books include the photographic work, The Haciendas of Mexico: an artist's record , and the novels, Adios, mi México, and When the Owl Cries.

From the guide to the Paul Alexander Bartlett Letter, 1969-001., 1933, (Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries)

Artist and author Paul Bartlett was born July 13, 1909 in Moberly, Missouri. He was a graduate of Oberlin College and studied art at the University of Arizona, the Academia de San Carlos in Mexico City, and the Universidad de Guadalajara. Bartlett's lifework focused on the haciendas of Mexico. Over a period of several decades he visited hundreds of haciendas throughout Mexico, photographing and drawing their buildings and decorative objects. Bartlett's published works include The haciendas of Mexico: an artist's record, the novels When the owl cries and Adiós mi México, and many short stories. Bartlett died on April 19, 1990.

From the guide to the Paul Bartlett Drawings and Photographs of Mexican Haciendas BENSON-MS BARTLETT. 31795814., 1940-1973, (Benson Latin American Collection, The University of Texas at Austin)

Biography

Bartlett was born on June 13, 1909 in Moberly, Missouri, and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan; BA, Oberlin College, 1932; also attended University of Arizona, and later studied art at the National University of Mexico and in Guadalajara; instructor in creative writing, Georgia State College, 1955; editor of publications, University of California Santa Barbara, 1964-70; contributed short stories and poetry to magazines and anthologies; published books include Adios, mi México, and When the Owl Cries .

From the guide to the Paul Alexander Bartlett Papers, 1923-1990, (University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.)

Paul Alexander Bartlett was born in Moberly, Missouri in 1909. His parents were the Rev. Robert Alexander and Minnie Lou (Dobson) Bartlett. He graduated from Oberlin College in 1931 and attended graduate school at the U. of Arizona until 1934. A few years later, he attended the Academia San Carlos in Mexico City and the Escuela de Belles Artes, Guadalajara, Jalisco from 1940 until 1942. He married the poet and artist Elizabeth Roberta Winters in 1943. They had one son, Steven.

Paul Bartlett was an independent artist and writer for most of his career, except when he was editor of publications at the U. of California, Santa Barbara from 1965 to 1970. His artistic career was distinguished because he made the first artistic record of the haciendas of Mexico. His photographs and pen and ink illustrations were made on site from 1943 to 1985. Bartlett’s career as a writer led to the publication of many poems and short stories. He also published a novel, When the Owl Cries (Macmillan, 1960), and a novelette, Adios Mi Mexico (1983). In 1990, The Haciendas of Mexico: An Artist’s Record was published.

Paul Bartlett’s short stories, serials, and poetry appeared in many literary magazines, such as Southwest Review, Crosscurrents, Antenna, Etc, Greyledge Review, Prospice, and Queen’s Quarterly . He had showings of his hacienda art work at the Los Angeles County Museum, the New York City Public Library, the University of Virginia, the University of Texas, the Instituto Mexicano-Norteamericano (Mexico City), the Bancroft Library, and more. He received fellowships from The New School for Social Research, The Huntington Hartford Foundation, The Montalvo Association, The Dorland Colony, and The Yaddo Foundation. He died shortly after an automobile accident in 1990.

From the guide to the Paul Alexander Bartlett papers, 1912-1993, (University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.)