Burt Harwood

Charles City Photographer & Artist

Many people may not be aware of who Burt Harwood is, or was. But, Burt Harwood was born right here in Charles City, Iowa. His full name was actually Elihu Burritt Harwood.

Burt was for a time a photographer in Charles City, but later studied art in France before moving, along with his wife, Lucy Elizabeth Case Harwood, to Taos, New Mexico, in the early 1900's.

He became fairly famous in Taos, and there is a museum named in his honor there. In 1998, his ashes were discovered at a metal recycling center and saved from destruction. The ashes, in a small brass box, are now at the Harwood Museum in Taos. (The Taos News, Aug. 6, 1998, page 1)

On the left is a 1920 passport photo of Burt Harwood.

BURT HARWOOD

Elihu Burritt Harwood was born in Charles City, Floyd county, Iowa, in 1855. According to a document called "Certificate of Registration of American Citizen" created by the Consul General of the United States of America, in Paris France, Burt Harwood is an American Citizen who was born 26 November 1855 in Charles City, Iowa. It further states that Burt arrived in France April 24, 1908 for the purpose of "study." It said he was married to Elizabeth Case who was born in "Charles City, Ia." They lived at 65 Boulevard Arago in Paris.

In the 1890's, according to one source, Burt and his wife, Elizabeth, moved to France in order to further his artist career. They remained there for about 20 years, coming back to the United States in 1916, and settling to Taos. Actually, from Charles City, Iowa, Burt moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota for a time, before moving to France, and apparently later moved to Taos, New Mexico and then for a time back in Minneapolis before returning to Taos, where he died.

Burt died from what was probably tuberculosis, in 1922, at the age of only 67. Within about a year after his death, his wife converted their residence into the Harwood museum. The home/museum is located at 238 Ledoux Street, on the corner of Ledoux and Ranchitos Road. The Harwoods had bought the house shortly after coming to Taos. It had been owned by Smith H. Simpson's heirs; Simpson, who had been an aide to Kit Carson, and Taosena Josepha Valdez had build the house in the 1860's. It was long known as El Pueblito, because it looks a lot like the Taos Pueblo.

Burt married Elizabeth "Lucy" Case, also of Iowa, in 1896. While they were living in France, Lucy served in World War I, administrating a French hospital. (Tempo, Nov. 11 1993, B5)

On the right is a signed photo of Burt Harwood.
Click here
for a much larger version of the photo.

According to David Witt, the curator of the Harwood museum, soon after Burt came to Taos, he began painting "the typical subjects of that time in Taos: Indians standing in front of fireplaces, Indians seated on walls, Indian holding a drum, and so on."

The Minneapolis city directory for 1896, page 498 shows:
"Harwood, Burt, artist, 719 Hennepin Av., b802 2d av s."

Burt applied for a passport on 27 FEB 1908, while residing at Minneapolis, Minnesota. The application said he was born 26 NOV 1855 at Charles City, Iowa, and that his spouse was "Lucy Cass." It also said he was age 52 and male.

A Consular Registration Certificate dated 9 JUN 1909 said Burt Harwood was born 26 NOV 1865 in Charles City, Iowa, and that his residence was France.

A U.S. passport application dated 4 FEB 1915, said Burt harwood was born on 26 NOV 1855 in Charles City, Iowa, was age 59, and that his residence was Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A U.S. passport application dated 9 FEB 1920, said Burt harwood was age 64, born 26 NOV 1855 in Charles City, Iowa, and that his residence was Taos, New Mexico. It also said his father was Sanford Harwood (1818-1896), who was born at Saratoga Springs, New York.

His mother was Keziah Dryer Harwood (1825-1900).

LUCY CASE HARWOOD

According to a passport application dated February 1920, "Lucy Case Harwood" was born at Bradford, Chickasaw county, Iowa. There is also another unincorporated community called Bradford, in Franklin county, about 40 miles west of Bradford in Chickasaw county. The application also stated that she had lived in Paris from 1909 to 1915, and said that she was going back "to give up apartment -- left hurriedly during the war." It also said she was planning to going to Europe in April or May of 1920.

The 1880 Federal Census for "Lucy Case" shows her living at Charles City, Floyd county, Iowa, white, female, daughter of head of house, single; father: Almon G. Case who was born in New York; mother: Elizabeth L. Case who was born in New York. Lucy was "at school." Furthermore, the census record shows the following household members: Almon G. Case, 48, Elizabeth L. Case, 37, Mary E. Case, daughter, 20, Lucy Case, daughter, 17, James Case, son, 8, and Maggie B. Keller, (servant), 21. The census record said Almon was a banker. Almon's wife was sick with consumption. All three children were born in Iowa. The parents were born in New York. Almon's father was born in new York, and his mother was born in Pennsylvania. Elizabeth's parents were both born in New York.

On the left is a 1915 photo of Lucy Harwood.

At the time when she applied for the passport, she was living in Taos, New Mexico. In addition, the application said she planned to visit Holland as well as France, and "visit art galleries."

The application gave her birth date as "on or about the 15th day of October, 1862." It said her husband was Burt Harwood, who was born in Charles City, Iowa, and was now living at Taos, New Mexico. No children were listed, even though there were blanks for their names.

Elizabeth Harwood died in 1938.

CENSUSES

The 1895 Minnesota State Census showed Burt Harwood, age 38, living in Minneapolis Ward 4, Hennepin county. It said he was are 38, white, born in Iowa. (Roll V290_65, line 19)

The 1920 Federal Census showed Burt Harwood, 63, born in Iowa, White, male, head of house, living at Taos, New Mexico, married to Elizabeth Harwood, age 56. It also said his mother and father were born in New York.

ALMON CASE

According to a family tree on Ancestry.com, Almon Case was born on 2 MAR 1832, and died in Iowa on 19 OCT 1904. His wife was Elizabeth Squier, and his parents were James Case and Mary Van Auken.

The 1860 Federal Census said Almon was 28 years old, a male, born in New York. He was living at Bradford, Chickasaw county, Iowa. Household members were: Almon G. Case, age 28, Elizabeth Case, age 19, Mary E. Case, age 3/12, and Edith Squier, age 56. Additionally, the census said Almon was a Lawyer, and was born in New York, as was his wife; Mary was born in Iowa; and Edith in New York.

The two paintings of Indians, above and below, are samples of some of Burt's work.

The 1870 Federal Census said he was age 38, born about 1832 in New York, and living at Nashua, Chickasaw county, Iowa. He was a white male, and his occupation was attorney. Furthmore, it said his wife was Elizabeth Case, age 30, and other household members were: Mary case, age 10, Lucy Case, age 7, and Edith Squiers, age 69. Both Almon and Elizabeth were born in New York, as was Edith. It said Mary and Lucy were born in Iowa.

The 1900 Federal Census said "Almond" G. Case was 68 years old, and was born in March 1832 in New York -- he was a banker in 1900, and was living at Charles City, Floyd county, Iowa. It said he was married, in 1897, to Anna L. Case, and they had been married for three years. Household members included: Almond G. Case, age 68, Anna L. Case, age 40, and Mary Wolff, age 26. Additionally, the census record indicated that Almond was head of house, born March 1832; his wife, Anna L. was born in November 1860, in Illinois; and Mary Wolff was age 26 and was a servant. Anna's parents were both born in New York. Mary, the servant, was born in Iowa in 1873, and her parents were born in Germany.