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Nan Mason

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Nan Mason

Birth
New York, USA
Death
2 Mar 1982 (aged 85)
Manatee County, Florida, USA
Burial
Woodstock, Ulster County, New York, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
Nan rests beside her partner of 59 years, Wilna Hervey.

Nan Mason was born in New York City on July 17, 1896.[1]

As a painter, Nan Mason was part of the Woodstock Artist Colony and also that of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California and Anna Marie Island, Florida. Mason specialized in enamel painting, adopting "semi abstract urban motifs and bolder colors", with a cubist movement influence.[2]

Mason was on the Board of Trustees of the Woodstock Guild of Craftsmen.[3]

During the Depression of the 1930s, Mason and Hervey opened their own shop, "Gaylite Candles", which gathered several stores in Manhattan, including Hammacher Schlemmer; the candles itself were hand-made by Mason.[2]

In 2015, the James Cox Gallery at Woodstock displayed the exhibition Wilna Hervey & Nan Mason: Two Woodstock Originals.[2]

Nans first partner, Arthur Ryan, died of pneumonia before their wedding.[2]

In the 1920s she became the long-time partner of actress Wilna Hervey. They met on the set in Pennsylvania, Mason was the daughter of Hervey's co-star Dan Mason.[4] At first they lived with Mason's father, in an home in Audubon, Pennsylvania,[2] and later moved together in a studio home in Bearsville, New York, their principal home until Hervey's death in 1979.[1]

They were part of the artists community in Woodstock, New York, and during the summers they moved to Carmel, California, and Manatee County, Florida.[1] Every year they hosted an annual costume party during which they auctioned art works to raise money for charity.[5]

They helped raise their nephew, future Lt. Col. Bruce Campbell Cator, who lived with them in Bearsville for a period. He died on July 7, 1960.[6]

In 1962, Hervey and Mason inherited the main share of Eugene Speicher's estate. Speicher was a noted Woodstock artist.[7]

They are buried side by side at Artists Cemetery, Woodstock, New York.[8]

In 2015 Joseph P. Eckhardt published Living Large: Wilna Hervey and Nan Mason, a biography retelling the love story of Hervey and Mason.[9]

Sources:
"A Finding Aid to the Wilna Hervey and Nan Mason Papers, 1883-1985". Archives of American Art. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
"Wilna Hervey & Nan Mason: Two Woodstock Originals – Opens July 10, 2015". Retrieved 25 September 2017.
"Isabel Doughty Re-Elected President Woodstock Guild - 01 Oct 1959, Thu • Page 14". The Kingston Daily Freeman: 14. 1959. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
Eckhardt, Joseph P. "The Biggest Girl: Wilna Hervey, Actress and Artist". The Betzwood Film Archive. Pottstown, PA: Montgomery County Community College Library. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
"Colorful Costume Party Is Enjoyed - 05 Aug 1952, Tue • Page 8". The Kingston Daily Freeman: 8. 1952. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
"Military Rites for Col. Cator Scheduled Today - 12 Jul 1960, Tue • Page 2". The Kingston Daily Freeman: 2. 1960. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
"Eugene Speicher Collection Bequeathed to Arts Academy; Area Residents Share in Will - 29 Jun 1962, Fri • Page 10". The Kingston Daily Freeman: 10. 1962. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Location 21153). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Eckhardt, Joseph P. "Living Large: Wilna Hervey and Nan Mason". Retrieved 25 September 2017.
Contributor: Elisa Rolle (48982101)
Nan rests beside her partner of 59 years, Wilna Hervey.

Nan Mason was born in New York City on July 17, 1896.[1]

As a painter, Nan Mason was part of the Woodstock Artist Colony and also that of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California and Anna Marie Island, Florida. Mason specialized in enamel painting, adopting "semi abstract urban motifs and bolder colors", with a cubist movement influence.[2]

Mason was on the Board of Trustees of the Woodstock Guild of Craftsmen.[3]

During the Depression of the 1930s, Mason and Hervey opened their own shop, "Gaylite Candles", which gathered several stores in Manhattan, including Hammacher Schlemmer; the candles itself were hand-made by Mason.[2]

In 2015, the James Cox Gallery at Woodstock displayed the exhibition Wilna Hervey & Nan Mason: Two Woodstock Originals.[2]

Nans first partner, Arthur Ryan, died of pneumonia before their wedding.[2]

In the 1920s she became the long-time partner of actress Wilna Hervey. They met on the set in Pennsylvania, Mason was the daughter of Hervey's co-star Dan Mason.[4] At first they lived with Mason's father, in an home in Audubon, Pennsylvania,[2] and later moved together in a studio home in Bearsville, New York, their principal home until Hervey's death in 1979.[1]

They were part of the artists community in Woodstock, New York, and during the summers they moved to Carmel, California, and Manatee County, Florida.[1] Every year they hosted an annual costume party during which they auctioned art works to raise money for charity.[5]

They helped raise their nephew, future Lt. Col. Bruce Campbell Cator, who lived with them in Bearsville for a period. He died on July 7, 1960.[6]

In 1962, Hervey and Mason inherited the main share of Eugene Speicher's estate. Speicher was a noted Woodstock artist.[7]

They are buried side by side at Artists Cemetery, Woodstock, New York.[8]

In 2015 Joseph P. Eckhardt published Living Large: Wilna Hervey and Nan Mason, a biography retelling the love story of Hervey and Mason.[9]

Sources:
"A Finding Aid to the Wilna Hervey and Nan Mason Papers, 1883-1985". Archives of American Art. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
"Wilna Hervey & Nan Mason: Two Woodstock Originals – Opens July 10, 2015". Retrieved 25 September 2017.
"Isabel Doughty Re-Elected President Woodstock Guild - 01 Oct 1959, Thu • Page 14". The Kingston Daily Freeman: 14. 1959. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
Eckhardt, Joseph P. "The Biggest Girl: Wilna Hervey, Actress and Artist". The Betzwood Film Archive. Pottstown, PA: Montgomery County Community College Library. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
"Colorful Costume Party Is Enjoyed - 05 Aug 1952, Tue • Page 8". The Kingston Daily Freeman: 8. 1952. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
"Military Rites for Col. Cator Scheduled Today - 12 Jul 1960, Tue • Page 2". The Kingston Daily Freeman: 2. 1960. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
"Eugene Speicher Collection Bequeathed to Arts Academy; Area Residents Share in Will - 29 Jun 1962, Fri • Page 10". The Kingston Daily Freeman: 10. 1962. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Location 21153). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.
Eckhardt, Joseph P. "Living Large: Wilna Hervey and Nan Mason". Retrieved 25 September 2017.
Contributor: Elisa Rolle (48982101)

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  • Created by: Cris
  • Added: Mar 11, 2015
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/143629972/nan-mason: accessed ), memorial page for Nan Mason (17 Jul 1896–2 Mar 1982), Find a Grave Memorial ID 143629972, citing Artists Cemetery, Woodstock, Ulster County, New York, USA; Maintained by Cris (contributor 46780434).