Philip Harris Giddens (MC 333)

Biographical Note

Philip Harris Giddens 1898-1974) was a noted American artist and etcher. He adapted a brilliant etching technique to portraiture. The director of the Columbus Museum saluted him as a "great gentleman, superb artist and architect".

Philip Harris Giddens was born in Cuthbert, Georgia on 15 October 1898 to James Milton Giddens and Haidee Asher Giddens. His father was born in Talbotton, Georgia. The family moved to Columbus in 1901. He graduated from Columbus High School in 1916 and in 1920 from the Georgia School of Technology with a degree in architecture. While at Georgia Tech he was a member of the Tech Marionettes, a drama theatre club as well as the glee club. He was known there as Dizzy.

Philip enlisted in World War I on 30 September 1918 at age 19 as a private. At the time of his enlistment, his Columbus address was 1300 2nd Avenue. He returned to Europe many times after the war. His 1921 passport application listed his occupation as architect, going to France to study architecture as a fellow of the American Field Service.

He reenlisted in World War II in the U.S. Engineers designing camouflage, becoming a major. His works have been exhibited at the Royal Academy in London, the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Chicago Art Institute, among others. He had studios in both New York and Palm Beach.

He died 19 March 1974 in Miami, Florida at age 75 and is buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Albany, Georgia.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of one scrapbook highlighting Giddens' social and artistic life. Items in the scrapbook include original photographs, newspaper clippings and drawings and invitations. It seems to have assembled by a family member.

The collection was numbered MC 035 at the public library.

1910s-1970s 1 box (.3 l.f.)

Permission to Publish

Permission to publish material from the Philip Harris Giddens Collection must be obtained from the Columbus State University Archives at Columbus State University. Use of the following credit line for publication or exhibit is required:

Philip Harris Giddens Collection (MC 333) Columbus State University Archives Columbus, Georgia

Provenance

This collection was donated to the CSU Archives in the fall of 2013 when the Columbus Public Library closed its archival collection.

Note to Researchers

See Also:

Bradley Memorial Library Collection II (MC 122)

Box and Item List

Box 1

• One scrapbook