Charles Mason CROWSON^[1]

1916 - 1973  (56 years)

• Name	Charles Mason CROWSON  [2, 3]
  Birth	19 Apr 1916  [2, 4]
  Gender	Male
  Education	finished Sumter HIgh School for boys, Sumter, South Carolina  [2]
  HIST	Following studies at the University of South Carolina, he studied at the Art Students League in New York, where he became the protege of one of the world’s great illustrators, Howard Chandler Christy (1873-1952). He painted his first portrait in 1938, eventually painting more than 450 portraits of people from all walks of life. They can be found in government buildings, banks, universities and hospitals, as well as private homes and galleries. E. W. Moise of Sumter, father of L.C. Moise of the Edmunds High School faculty. The self-portrait of Mr. Crowson and a portrait of his wife were also to be Description: charles mason crowson had 3 children . all are still living. my mother was named after her grandmother eleanor mason whom died shortly after giving birth to charles m. crowson sr.. . charles jr. beth, and eleanor. i am the great - great grandson of CT.Mason JR. i do have much more info. buddy whittington buddyWhitt@aol.com Eleanor mason was CT. Mason JRS.  daughter. she married William J. Crowson.They had a son Charles mason Crowson. Eleanor mason died within days of giving birth to Charles . WJ. Crowson remarried and had a son WJ. JR. 1/2 brother to Charles.   Charles mason Crowson had 3 children .one is  My mother " Eleanor Mason Crowson  '' , [name sake]  for her grandmother. thus CT mason is my great, great, grandfather. I think that I can get my mother to send you more info. but i will need a little time to get it done.  Buddy Whittington Reflections by Sammy Way: Charles Mason Crowson: Renowned Sumter artist An oil painting of the late Dr. S.H. Edmunds, superintendent of the Sumter schools for many years, was presented to the schools in September 1940 by the artist, Charles M. Crowson. Crowson, a native of Sumter whose work attracted enthusiastic comments wherever shown, is pictured above at left. At right is Hugh T. Stoddard, principal of Edmunds High School, who accepted the painting for the schools. SUMTER ITEM FILE PHOTO Posted Saturday, December 3, 2022 6:00 am By SAMMY WAY Sumter Item archivist and historian Reflections recalls one of Sumter's most creative artisans and his impact on the world of art. He was noted for his prolific career as a painter, which garnered him both local and national acclaim. The Sumter Item archives, the writings of Portia Myers, Dr. Anne King Gregorie and Cassie Nichols contributed to this piece. Charles Mason Crowson was the only child of J. W. (Billy) Crowson and Eleanor Mason Crowson. He was born on April 29, 1916; his maternal grandfather was Charles T. Mason Jr., the famous inventor. When he was 10 days old, his mother died, and Fannie Mason, his aunt, reared him in the old Mason home. According to Nicholes, "The home was owned by his aunt and Mrs. Jessie Moon Myers, who with her husband, Girard J. Myers Sr., and two children, lived in another part of the home. Therefore, Charles was very close to his two cousins - Girard Jr. and Jessie Mason Myers." Charles graduated from the Sumter Boys High School in 1933 and enrolled at the University of South Carolina. After graduation, he moved to New York and continued his studies at the Art Students League under the guidance of George Bridgeman and Frank Dumond. According to Nicholes, "He became the protйgй and close friend of Howard Chandler Christy, 'one of the world's most famous illustrators.' Research reveals that in 1938 and 1939, he painted his first commissioned portraits while in New York. This work marked the beginning of his professional career." He later moved to Roanoke, Virginia, where he reputedly painted 20 portraits before returning to Columbia, South Carolina, where he lived for several years. He also moved to Atlanta, Myrtle Beach,and for a year to Montego Bay. Regardless of his location, he continued to paint. According to Myers, his subjects varied, " from mischievous children, airy teenagers, handsome matrons, businessmen, fishermen, sportsmen, teachers, lawyers and doctors." Myers also notes that he painted more than 450 commissioned portraits of people from 20 states, the District of Columbia and Jamaica. In the Statehouse in Columbia hang his portraits of George Washington, John Rutledge, Sol Blatt, Mendel Rivers and Chief Justice Eugene Blease." Myers also notes that his works featuring great educators are hanging in "the University of South Carolina, Columbia College, The Citadel, Clemson University, the University of Virginia, the National Guard Institute of Washington, Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. His works have been exhibited at famous New York galleries, the art centers of Miami and Palm Beach, Florida, and the Charleston Museum of Art; individual shows were held at the Columbia Museum of Art, private galleries in Columbia, and also Roanoke, Greensboro and Sumter. Another of his beautiful paintings hangs in the Williams Brice Museum/Archives. According to an article which appeared in The Item on May 8, 1950, Crowson completed a full-length portrait of Gen. Thomas Sumter measuring 84 inches by 48 inches. This imposing work continues to hang permanently in the Sumter County Courthouse as a part of the Sesquicentennial celebration. It depicts the general striking a pose with a drawn sword wearing the uniform ordered by Gen. George Washington for his general officers. To complete the portrait, Crowson spent two months doing research in order to accurately record every detail of Gen. Sumter. The Item reported in October 1940 that Crowson would " exhibit 25 of his portraits in the Edmunds High School Art Gallery to include his painting of the late Dr. S. H. Edmunds, superintendent of Sumter city schools for 40 years; Mrs. Charles Thomas Mason of Sumter; Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Crowson, grandparents of the artist; Charles Thomas Mason, Mr. Crowson's grandfather; Howard Chandler Christy of New York City, with whom Mr. Crowson studied; General E. W. Moise of Sumter, father of L.C. Moise of the Edmunds High School faculty. The self-portrait of Mr. Crowson and a portrait of his wife were also to be included in the exhibit. Many people from out of town came to visit the gallery." Crowson, according to Myers, was indeed a "renowned artist of outstanding ability whose brilliant talents brought much to the world of art."  [1, 2, 3, 5]
  _UID	47AFDB3C9C2746DF907E540D87725CD18A6D
  Death	Feb 1973  [4]
  Person ID	I2615	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	3 Dec 2022

  
  

  Father	William James CROWSON, Jr.,   b. 1890   d. 1974 (Age 84 years)
  Mother	Eleanor Stewart MASON   d. 9 May 1916
  _UID	1320A040A8964DB181D131A633B02837BA23
  _UID	1320A040A8964DB181D131A633B02837BA23
  Family ID	F928	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family
  _UID	3A173C8355E449B98842C33503BF151C0043
  _UID	3A173C8355E449B98842C33503BF151C0043
  Children	1. Charles Mason CROWSON, Jr.   2. Beth CROWSON   3. Eleanor Mason CROWSON
  Family ID	F929	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	2 Sep 2012

  
  

• Notes

  It was Crowson who installed in the East/West Galleries “The Face of American History” from the National Gallery, the exhibition that “featured the launching of Columbia’s Museum of Art. His mother died when he was only 10 days old. He was reared by an aunt, Miss Fannie Mason, and grew up in the old Mason home. The home was owned by his aunt, and another, Mrs. Jessie Moon Myers, who with her husband, Girard J. Myers, Sr., and two children, lived in on part of the home. Therefore, Charles was very close to his two cousins--Girard, Jr., and Jessie Mason Myers. [4]

  
  

• Sources

  [S30409] Charles Mason Crowson: Renowned Sumter artist. [S5581] Crowson’s rarely seen artworks exhibited at museum. [S18458] Buddy Whittington , Proposed Change: Charleston Mason Crowson. [S37] Cassie Nicholes Historical Sketches of Sumter County Vol. II, Page 592. [S18444] Buddy Whittington , Proposed Change: Charles Mason Crowson.