“Cora S. Brooks was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Annie M. and Edward F. Brooks. By 1902, the year she entered the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, her parents had moved to Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, where she lived most of her adult life, returning to the Delaware County suburban community just west of Philadelphia time and again after travels to faraway places such as Morocco, Spain, Portugal and Italy.” (1)
“Her father Edward F. Brooks was the General Superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad.” (2)
“She attended the Philadelphia School of Design, studying under Elliott Daingerfield, and Henry B. Snell.” (3)
“Snell, in particular, would be not only her teacher, but also a lifelong mentor and friend.” (1)
“She became a member of the National Arts Club and National Association of Women Artists in New York; the Plastic Club, the Art Alliance, the Ten Philadelphia Painters, and the Delaware County Art Association, all in Philadelphia; and the American Federation of the Arts. Brooks exhibited with the Plastic Club, the Ten Philadelphia Painters, and the National Association of Women Artists.” (4)
“After completing her studies Brooks set up a studio in Philadelphia. At various times she shared this studio space with fellow Philadelphia Ten artists Eleanor Abrams, Edith Lucile Howard, and Constance Cochrane” (3)
“The Ten Philadelphia Painters was organized in 1919 by women artists in the area to exhibit their work. The members all received their training in Philadelphia and held an annual exhibition in the same city. Other members of the Ten Philadelphia Painters included Fern I. Coppedge (1888-1934), Theresa Bernstein (1896-living), Isabel Cartwright (1855-1934, Constance Cochrane (working 1915-45), Edith Lucille Howard (1885-), Elizabeth Price (n.d.), Mary Russell Ferrell Colton (1889-1971), and Helen K. McCarthy (1884-1927).” (4)
“In January of 1931 the Philadelphia 10 held a memorial exhibition at the Plastic Club where it is said that an amazing 64 out of 88 paintings sold.” (2)
“Cora Brooks' work included landscapes and occasional portraits, but she was best known for - as well as most awarded for - her vibrant, colorful and textured floral still-lifes. For these works she received critical acclaim at her solo exhibition held at the Arts Club of Washington, DC, in 1929.” (1)
“She won prizes from the Plastic Club (1920); National Association of Women Artists (or sometimes called the National Academy of Women Painters and Sculptors) (1922). She was a member of the National Arts Club; National Association of Women Artists; Plastic Club; Art Alliance of Philadelphia; American Federation of Arts; Director of the Delaware County Art Association at the time of her death.” (2)
“She died suddenly of pneumonia on March 26, 1930.” (2)
Reference
1.
Gratz Gallery & Conservation Studio Staff. Cora Smalley Brooks [internet]. 2019 [cited 2019 Aug 8]. Available from: http://www.gratzgallery.com/inventory/index.php?page=out&id=419
2.
Askart Staff. Biography from the Archives of askART [internet]. [cited 2019 Aug 8]. Available from: http://www.askart.com/artist_bio/Cora_Smalley_Brooks/26836/Cora_Smalley_Brooks.aspx
3.
Everything Explained Staff. Croa S. Brooks Explained [internet]. 2018 [cited 2019 Aug 8]. Available from: https://everything.explained.today/Cora_S._Brooks/
4.
Schwarz Gallery Staff. Cora Smalley Brooks [internet]. 1806 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 [cited 2019 Aug 8]. Available from: http://www.schwarzgallery.com/artist/499/Cora-Smalley-Brooks