Skip to main content

Margaret Shepherd visual arts materials

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.VIS516

Scope and Contents

The bulk of this collection contains images of ballet dancers wearing costumes and costume design sketches by Margaret Shepherd. There are also drawings and greeting cards of Atlanta scenes designed by Shepherd. Also included are images of Jack Ramsey, the set designer for the Atlanta Civic Ballet, and Christmas cards designed by her husband, Judson O'Donald Shepherd. Of special note is a bookplate created for Margaret Foster, designed prior to her marriage.

Dates

  • 1918-1992, undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

This material is protected by copyright law. (Title 17, U.S. Code) Permission for use must be cleared through the Kenan Research Center at the Atlanta History Center. Licensing agreement may be required.

Biographical / Historical

Margaret Foster Shepherd (1905-1996) was born in Atlanta, Georgia, to Joseph Perry Foster (1848-1929) and Hattie Thompson Foster (1870-1959). She worked at the Carnegie Library in Atlanta, Georgia. She married Judson O'Donald Shepherd (1901-1957) in 1937. After their marriage, the couple rented an apartment in the home of Dorothy Alexander (1904-1986). Alexander was the founder and director of the Atlanta Civic Ballet (later Atlanta Ballet). Shortly after, Alexander hired Shepherd to design costumes for the Ballet. With no formal training in sewing and costume design, she created costumes for at least 18 ballets such as Jacob's Pillow, Design for Love, Sylphide, and Flight of Fancy.

Extent

263 item(s) (78 greeting cards, 65 drawings, 58 Christmas cards, 31 color slides, 23 black and white photographic prints, two architectural renderings, two color drawings, two sepia-toned photographic prints, one postcard, and one color print)

Language

English

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically by titles supplied by staff.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, 1991, with subsequent additions

Related Materials

Margaret Shepherd papers, MSS 709, Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center

Bias in Description

As archivists, we acknowledge our role as stewards of information. We choose how individuals and organizations are represented and described in our archives. We are not neutral, and bias is reflected in our descriptions, which may not accurately convey the racist or offensive aspects of collection materials. Archivists make mistakes and might use poor judgment. In working with this collection, we often re-use language used by the former owners of the material. This language provides context but often includes bias and prejudices reflective of the time in which it was created. The Kenan Research Center’s work is ongoing to implement reparative language where Library of Congress subject terms are inaccurate and obsolete.

Kenan Research Center welcomes feedback and questions regarding our archival descriptions. If you encounter harmful, offensive, or insensitive terminology or descriptions, please let us know by emailing reference@atlantahistorycenter.com. Your comments are essential to our work to create inclusive and thoughtful description.

General

This collection was previously catalogued as MFS.

Processing Information

This collection was processed in 2025.

Title
Margaret F. Shepherd visual arts materials
Subtitle
ahc.VIS516
Author
Kyah Harris
Date
February 2025
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

Contact:
130 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30305
404-814-4040