Photograph of Carolyn Wyeth, Helga Testorf, and “Betty” [unidentified] in “the Big Room”, February 1994

The Carolyn Wyeth Collection is an artificially curated assemblage, with materials sourced from various locations, including items that Brandywine staff found within the Wyeth family home and items donated by Betsy Wyeth and Frank Delle Donne over various years. Spanning Carolyn Wyeth’s life, the collection includes everything from her early childhood drawings to her more mature works, offering a comprehensive view of her artistic growth and personal journey. It shows her development as an artist, her achievements in the public sphere, and her identity within the broader Wyeth family legacy. The collection highlights her professional accomplishments, such as exhibition catalogues and newspaper articles detailing her success as both an artist and a teacher. Correspondence with influential figures—including President Richard Nixon and his wife Patricia, writers, filmmakers, and her family—demonstrates her respected position in the art world and beyond. At the same time, medical records and Frank Delle Donne’s memoir reveal a more personal side of her life, shedding light on the challenges she faced, hinting at the emotional and health struggles that shaped her career.