Canton Public Library
Sidney Lawton Smith Sketching Prints
This collection contains the sketching prints used to make book plates for Daniel T.V. Huntoon's book History of the Town of Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. The prints range in date from 1889 and 1890 and cover various places and symbols associated with the town of Canton, Massachusetts. The sketching prints are arranged according to where they appear in Huntoon's book. The page number for each image is provided.
Historical Note(s): Sidney Lawton Smith, a noted etcher, engraver, and book plate artist, was born on June 15, 1845 to Lawton and Lucy B. (Thompson) Smith in Foxborough, Massachusetts. He moved with his family to Canton, Massachusetts, in 1847, where he was educated in the Canton Public School System and later studied steel engraving with Rueben Carpenter. By 1867, he was working with Joseph Andrews creating artwork and engravings for commercial purposes. In that same year, he married Sarah Jane Groves on October 13 with whom he had several children after establishing his own business in Canton. Starting in the 1870s, Smith began a business relationship with John LaFarge and worked on several decorative projects for houses of worship. In the 1880s and 1890s, he worked on illustrations for Daniel T.V. Huntoon's book History of the Town of Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. In 1893, Smith moved his business and family to Boston, Massachusetts, where he focused primarily on etchings, engravings, and bookplates. He died on August 31, 1929 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Historical Note(s): Sidney Lawton Smith, a noted etcher, engraver, and book plate artist, was born on June 15, 1845 to Lawton and Lucy B. (Thompson) Smith in Foxborough, Massachusetts. He moved with his family to Canton, Massachusetts, in 1847, where he was educated in the Canton Public School System and later studied steel engraving with Rueben Carpenter. By 1867, he was working with Joseph Andrews creating artwork and engravings for commercial purposes. In that same year, he married Sarah Jane Groves on October 13 with whom he had several children after establishing his own business in Canton. Starting in the 1870s, Smith began a business relationship with John LaFarge and worked on several decorative projects for houses of worship. In the 1880s and 1890s, he worked on illustrations for Daniel T.V. Huntoon's book History of the Town of Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. In 1893, Smith moved his business and family to Boston, Massachusetts, where he focused primarily on etchings, engravings, and bookplates. He died on August 31, 1929 in Boston, Massachusetts.