The Phippen Museum, located at 4701 Highway 89 North in Prescott, identifies itself as "the most beautifully located Museum in the State of Arizona." This regional art museum has as its mission "to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret the visual art of the American West." It provides exhibits, educational programs and makes its collection available to the public. The museum, which charges a nominal admission, is open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM, on Sunday from 1-4 PM and is closed on Tuesdays.
History of the Phippen Museum
The museum is operated by the George Phippen Memorial Foundation, which was established in 1974. A group of citizens concerned with preserving and promoting western art asked Louise Phippen for permission to use George Phippen's name for their proposed museum. Their first fundraiser was held on the Courthouse Plaza that year.
The museum did not have a permanent home until 1984 when, with the aid of numerous donors, the help of scores of volunteers, and the beneficence of Harold and Mitzi James, who donated the land, they opened the museum on Highway 89.
The museum is governed by a 15-member Board of Trustees, who act as advocates for the museum, raise funds, and in addition to "overseeing fiscal well being of the Museum . . . serve as stewards for the total responsibility of the institution." The museum is neither supported by the Phippen family nor does it receive funds from the City of Prescott or Yavapai County.
Over the years, the museum has presented numerous one-person shows, featuring both living artists and deceased masters like Nicolai Fechin. It also regularly mounts shows based on historical and ethnic themes and has exhibitions connected with associations such as the Cowboy Artists of America.
Many exhibits have focused on local artists, such as that held 1993. The Yavapai Five show featured well-known Yavapai County artists Joe Beeler, Pat Haptonstall, Bill Nebeker, Bill Owen and Frank Polk.
Annual events include a Christmas show and sale, an exhibit concentrating on History through Art, activities related to the Cowboy Poetry festival, and the Memorial Day Western Art Show held in the Courthouse Square in Prescott.
In addition to presenting art, the museum operates a small gift shop, holds a regular lecture series, and presents numerous learning opportunities for children in area schools.
A small staff of paid professionals runs the museum, but in order to operate more effectively, the professionals rely heavily on the involvement of volunteers.
ARTIFACTS
III. Personal artifacts
Clothing
Chaps, belonged to Harold James
Footwear
Boots, cowboy boots belonged to Gail Gardner
Boots, cowboy boots belonged to Billy Simon
Personal Gear
Lariat, belonged to Harold James
Personal Symbol
Medal, George III peace medal, materials and date not listed
Tag, Hudson Bay metal tag
IV. Tools and Equipment for Science and Technology
Armament T&E
Firearm
Gun, belonged to Harold James
VII. Distribution and Transportation Artifacts
Land Transportation
Accessories
Collar, Horse, wood, leather, chain
Horseshoes (16)
Saddle, belonged to Harold James
Saddle, English riding saddle with case, tooled leather
Animal powered
Buggy, wood and metal
Freight wagon, wood and metal
VIII. Communication Artifacts
Art
Batik, Bea Gioles, "A Bygone Era,"
Bowl, wood, Bill Meyers
Cartoon, original, J.R. Williams, various titles (4)
Carving, wood, Frank Polk, various titles (9)
Collection of works, Maurice Ehrlich, various titles and media (27)
Drawing, Howard Terpning, "Look of Many Years,"
Drawing, charcoal, Fred Bia, various titles, (3)
Drawing, charcoal, Moline Tucson, "Shoo Bull,"
Drawing, colored pencil and pencil, Sandy Truett, various titles (3)
Drawing, pastel and charcoal, Richard Lietz, "Time Out,"
Drawing, pen and charcoal, Susan Huntington-Terpning, various titles (2)
Drawing, pen and ink, James E. Bramlett, "Range Bull,"
Drawing, pen and ink, Dave Powell
Drawing, pen an dink, Olaf Wieghorst, "Head of a Horse,"
Drawing, pencil with colored pencil remarque, Steve Deveyns, "Buffalo Calf,"
Drawing, pencil, J. Antolik, "Pair of Rams," 14" x 21"
Drawing, pencil, Bill Anton, "Watchful Repose," 10" x 12"
Drawing, pencil, Fred Bia, "Old Indian Man,"
Drawing, pencil, Paul Calle, "Chief High Pipe," 30" x 40"
Drawing, pencil, Julia & Ted Chelson, "No Brakes, No ëBritchers!'"
Drawing, pencil, Gerald Farm, "Old Cowboy,"
Drawing, pencil, Clair Goldrick, "Building a Loop,"
Drawing, pencil, Bill Golllings, various, (2)
Drawing, pencil, Jack Graham, "Trackers,"
Drawing, pencil, Olaf Wieghorst, various titles (2)
Drawing, pencil sketch, Paul Wylie, "Saddling Up,"
Drawings and sketches, various mediums, George Phippen (12)
Etching, George E. Burr, various (2)
Etching, M. Lehman, "Appaloosa & Colt,"
Etching, Ace Powell, "Cowboy lighting cigarette with branding iron,"
Etching, Olaf Wieghorst, various titles (17)
Gouache, J. W. Laney, "Santana,"
Lithograph, Austin Duel, "Heading for the Remuda,"
Medium not listed, James Trigg, "Grand Canyon Scene,"
Mixed media, Mary Morez, Mary, "Laughing Sunflowers,"
Mixed media, Gary Morton, "The Wagon Cook,"
Mixed media, Donald Putman, "The Squaw Man,"
Mixed media, Olaf Wieghorst, "Cowboy on Horse Roping a Steer,"
Painting, acrylic and no medium listed, Carl Koontz, various titles (2)
Painting, acrylic, Scott Johnson, "Each Day Gone By,"
Painting, no medium listed, Rod Goebel, "Spring Evening,"
Painting, oil, Robert Angelogh, "Sawmill in Winter,"
Painting, oil, Bill Anton, "Father & Son Bringing in the Tree,"
Painting, oil, Cliff Barnes, "Jake,"
Painting, oil, Tony Begay, "The Chief,"
Painting, oil, George Bickerstaff, "After the Storm,"
Painting, oil, Jim Bramlett, various titles (3)
Painting, oil, Reynold Brown, various titles (2) PM
Painting, oil, Wes Campbell, "The Fatal Grade," 18 x 24
Painting, oil, David Canton, various titles (2)
Painting, oil, Bonnie Casey, various titles, (2)
Painting, oil, Ernest Chiriacka, various titles (2)
Painting, oil, Manuel Cia, "Palomino," 24" x 20"
Painting, oil, Benton Clark, "The Stampede," 29" x 38"
Painting, oil, John Anthony Conner, "Desert Near Palm Springs,"
Painting, oil, Leslie Cope, "October in Amish Country," 24" x 30"
Painting, oil, E. M. Crook, "Beginning a Tradition,"
Painting oil, Charles Damerow, various titles, (3)
Painting, oil, Austin Deuel, various titles, (2)
Painting, oil, Dixon, "Conchos," 16" x 20"
Painting, oil, Jane Dobrott, "Punchin' for the Diamond A," 24" x 30"
Painting, oil, Vic Donahue, various titles, (8)
Painting, oil Claire Dooner-Phillips, "Pines in the Snow,"
Painting, oil, W. Herbert Dunton, "Stampede,"
Painting, oil, Valloy Eaton, "Last Night's Snow,"
Painting, oil, Stan Eckman, "Courage,"
Painting, oil, E. Farrington Elwell, various titles (2)
Painting, oil, Edna Engelhardt, "Tranquil Winter," 27" x 36"
Painting, oil, Fred Fellows, "The First Taste of Ranch Life,"
Painting, oil, Bill Freeman, various titles (3)
Painting, oil, Ken Gunall, various titles (2)
Painting, oil, Susan Huntington-Terpning, "Returning Warriors,"
Painting, oil, James (first name not listed) "The Mighty Bull Moose,"
Painting, oil, William Keith, various titles (3)
Painting, oil, Gerald McCann, "Trail herd,"
Painting, oil, Doug Oliver, various (4)
Painting, oil, Penny Onstott, "Many Blankets,"
Painting, oil, Ken Payne, "The Red Blanket,"
Painting, oil, George Phippen, various titles (5)
Painting, oil, Ace Powell, "Indian Portrait,"
Painting, oil, Running Bear, "Indian Head,"
Painting, oil, Don Ray, "Hail is Hell Froze Over,"
Painting, oil, Marjorie Reed, various titles (3)
Painting, oil, Hans Ressdorf, "After the Round Up,"
Painting, oil, Ken Riley, various titles (2)
Painting, oil, Paul Salisbury, "Coffee Break,"
Painting, oil, Sam Savitt, "Tops,"
Painting, oil, R. Scott, "Spring Babies,"
Painting, oil, Drake Seaman, "Jay Wilkinson Branding,"
Painting, oil, Bill Shaddix, "Mountain Majesty,"
Painting, oil, Carl J. Smith, "Nightfires and Moonlight
Painting, oil, Quick-to-See Smith, "Walnut Canyon,"
Painting, oil, Ross Stefan, "Starting Song-Ute,"
Painting, oil, Shannon Sternweis, "Proud Lady,"
Painting, oil, Don Stivers, various titles (4)
Painting, oil, Rosemary Stubbs, "Children of the Plains,"
Painting, oil, Greg Summan, "Scarecrow,"
Painting, oil, Gary Swanson, "First Snow on the Peaks,"
Painting, oil, Mark Swanson, "Herding ëem in,"
Painting, oil, Ray Swanson, "Navajo Riders,"
Painting, oil, Tom Talbot, various titles (2)
Painting, oil, Archie Teater, "Malade Canyon,"
Painting, oil, Robert Tsosie, "Navajo Weavers,"
Painting, oil, Russ Vickers, various titles (2)
Painting, oil, Couce Vidal, "Port Au Prince,"
Painting, oil, W. J. Wagoner, "Round Up,"
Painting, oil, William Wendt, untitled
Painting, oil, Gustave Wiegand, "Untitled Landscape,"
Painting, oil, Olaf Wieghorst, various titles (2)
Painting, oil, C. Wisby, "Happy Bull,"
Painting, oil, Robert Wogrin, "Mt Bierstadt,"
Painting, oil, Robert Woodcock, "Perkinsville Station,"
Painting, oil, Alex Yazzie, "Eagle Dancer,"
Painting, oil, Wanda Zolman, "Save the Forest #21,"
Painting, tempera, George Phippen, "Untitled,"
Painting, watercolor, and reproduction with remarque, Shirley Johnson, "High Country Fisherman,"
Painting, watercolor, Joe Beeler, "Indian Dancer,"
Painting, watercolor, Gerald C. Delano, various titles (2)
Painting, watercolor, Robert Draper, "Monument Valley,"
Painting, watercolor, Stan Eckman, "The Quiet Years,"
Painting, watercolor, Nick Eggenhoffer, various titles (2)
Painting, watercolor, C. Frizell, "Home,"
Painting, watercolor, Pat Hammack, "Standing Cowboy,"
Painting, watercolor, Bruce Lubo, Sr., "Indian Summer scene 1973,"
Painting, watercolor, Jeffrey Lunge, "Snow Kachinas Leaving the Kiva,"
Painting, watercolor, Carol McWilliams, "Anasazi Hunter #1,"
Painting, watercolor, Ace Powell, untitled
Painting, watercolor, Cynthia Rigden, "Burro,"
Painting, watercolor, Bert Seabourn, "Night Whispers,"
Painting, watercolor, Wesley Segner, "Chuck Wagon,"
Painting, watercolor, Frank Serratoni, "Untitled,"
Painting, watercolor, Lowell E. Smith, "Doorway,"
Painting, watercolor, Ray Swanson, "After a Storm,"
Painting, watercolor, Olaf Wieghorst, "Scouting,"
Pastel, Joe Beeler, "Pawnee Warrior,"
Pastel, Phyllis Jacobson, "Homestead,"
Pastel, Nancy McLaughlin, various titles (2)
Pastel, Teddy Shank, "Old Woman,"
Pastel, Paul Wylie, "Last Minute Pointers,"
Photo reproduction, important Yavapai County historical physical structures, places and people, mostly dating from the late 19th and early 20th century, photographers generally not known (67)
Photo transparency, George Phippen (2)
Photograph, Matt Culley, various titles, (40)
Photograph, Barry Goldwater, various titles (2)
Photograph, Doc Hollar, various titles (4)
Photograph, L. A. Huffman, "Street Scene (prop),"
Photograph, "Tom Mix," artist not listed (6)
Photographic reproductions, various, historic scenes (approximately 115)
Print, duck stamp and print, Hardy, Carole, related to MISS Duck Stamp, print #193/500, 1979
Print and stamp, Rockne Knuth, WISC Duck stamp and print 1235/1700
Print and stamps, Paul B. Johnson, various (7 prints and 7 stamps)
Print, duck stamp and print, E. Staffeldt, 1978 IL
Print, duck stamp and print, Tom Taylor, Maryland 1979
Print, duck stamp, David Maass, (two pints and two stamps)
Print, duck stamp and print, John C. A. Remers, 1978 MISS duck stamp
Print, duck stamp and print, Walter Wolfe, 1979 CA duck stamp and print
Print, John F. Eggert, 979 IL Duck Stamp Print #149/500, signed
Print, John Hilton, "Joshuas in the Moonlight,"
Print, Charles M. Russell, various titles (2)
Relief, A. Edaakie, Kachina Relief, mixed media
Sculpture, bronze, Ernest Berke, "Indian War Drums, bronze
Sculpture, bronze, Sid Burns, "The Wild One,"
Sculpture, bronze, Dale Burr, "Peter Seskin Given Hudson Bay Trapper,"
Sculpture, bronze, Juan Dell, "The Imposter,"
Sculpture, bronze, Lonnie Joe Edwards, "Coyote & Rabbit,"
Sculpture, bronze, C. Engle, "Coyote Unique,"
Sculpture, bronze, Allan Houser, "Navajo," #6/24
Sculpture, bronze, Grant Kinzer, "Apache Gold Comes High,"
Sculpture, bronze, Nancy McLaughlin, "Blood Man," #5/15
Sculpture, bronze, Bill Nebeker, "Makin' Friends,"
Sculpture, bronze, Jack Osmer, various saddle representations (11)
Sculpture, bronze, Bill Owen, "Calf,"
Sculpture, bronze, C. A. Pardell, various (4)
Sculpture, bronze, Rusty Phelps "Indians Fighting,"
Sculpture, bronze, George Phippen, various (5)
Sculpture, bronze, Frank Polk, (2)
Sculpture, bronze, Don Polland, "Counting Coup"
Sculpture, bronze, Ace Powell, "Quarter Horse,"
Sculpture, bronze, Mikael Redman, "Hemis Kachina,"
Sculpture, bronze, Frederick Remington, various titles (2)
Sculpture, bronze, Steve Schneider, "The Vaquero,"
Sculpture, bronze, Grant Speed, "Leading the Remuda,"
Sculpture, bronze, Ray Swanson, various titles (4)
Sculpture, bronze, Jim Willoughby, "Sharlot Hall,"
Sculpture, metal, Gary Morton, "Roadrunner,"
Sculpture, pewter, Joe Beeler, Indian Heads, pewter medallions on wood plaque
Sculpture, plaster cast, Jim Cline, Calf
Sculpture, plaster, Willie Rubottom, "Ernie Phippen,"
Sculpture, welded metal, John Dobberteen, Starburst Metal sculpture, (3)
Sculpture, white marble, "Broken Circle,"
Sculpture, wood, Hazel Brown, various titles (2)
Sketch, James Borne, "Welcome to Museum,"
Sketch, Gary Carter, "Welcome to Museum,"
Sketch, Fred Fellows, "Welcome to Museum,"
Sketch, David Halbach, "Welcome to Museum,"
Sketch, Bud Helbig, "Welcome to Museum,"
Sketch, Mehl Lawson, "Welcome to Museum,"
Sketch, Herb Mignery, "Welcome to Museum,"
Sketch, Bill Nebeker, "Welcome to Museum,"
Sketch, Gary Niblett, "Welcome to Museum,"
Sketch, Bill Owen, "Welcome to Museum,"
Sketch, Robert Pummill, "Welcome to Museum,"
Sketch, Gordon Snidow, "Welcome to Museum,"
Sketch, Grant Speed, "Welcome to Museum,"
Sketch, Ray Swanson, "Welcome to Museum,"
Sketch, Fritz White, "Welcome to Museum,"
Textile, Sarah Begay, Tec Nos Pos Navajo Blanket, 33 x 49
Textile, Minnie Hoskie, Two Grey Hills Navajo Blanket
Textile, Mary C. Nez, Wide Ruins Navajo Blanket
Textile, Nellie Roan, "Wide Ruins Navajo Blanket,"
Work, no medium listed, W. William Gollings, "Two Horses Heads,"
Work, no medium listed, Mary Morez, "Multi Color Face,"
Native American Artifacts
Bedding
Blanket, Traditional Checkerboard Blanket, 1942
Blanket, Traditional Navajo Blanket, 1942
Blanket, Traditional Navajo Blanket, 1942
Floor Covering
Rug, Norwegian rug, Sara Begay, 1971, 33" x 49"
Rug, wool, Peruvian, 1960
Personal Artifacts
Accessories, Indian
Gloves, deerskin, attribution unknown
Adornment, Indian
Belt, concho belt, Navajo silver, date not listed
Hairpin, silver and turquoise, attribution not listed
Necklace, "Melon" beaded necklaces (2) attribution and date unknown
Necklace, Apache T-form
Necklace, beaded with eight medallions, no attribution listed
Necklace, silver dragonfly, attribution and date not listed
Necklace, turquoise, Heshi
Pendent, shell with turquoise, attribution not listed
Sash, Hopi (2)
Personal Gear, Indian
Basket, Jicarilla, date not listed
Basket, Pima, horsehair, date and artist unknown
Basket, Seri
Basket, Navajo wedding basket, date not listed
Case, beaded awl case, Sioux and Crow (2)
Pipe bag, authentic Cheyenne, late 19th century
IV. Tools and Equipment for materials, Indian
Armaments T&E, Indian
Arrowheads, bird points, attribution unknown
Food Service T&E, Indian
Pot, Navajo, date not listed
Multiuse T&E Indian
Pottery vessel, Navajo, no further information listed
Stone mace, attribution not listed
VIII. Communication Artifacts
Art, Indian
Bear Fetish, attribution unknown
Effigy jar, Mohave, clay
Quilled Indian Fetish, Yellow/Red, attribution unknown
