Alexander Wilson Drake

Who was Alexander Wilson Drake?

Alexander Wilson Drake was an American artist, collector and critic, born near Westfield, New Jersey. He studied wood engraving under John W. Orr of New York city, as well as oil and water-color painting. He was in the wood engraving business on his own account in New York city from 1865 to 1870. From 1870 to 1881 he was director of the art department of Scribner's Magazine, and thereafter he held a similar position on the Century and St. Nicholas. In this capacity he did much to aid the development of the new school of wood engraving in America. He organized the Bartholdi loan association which raised the money to build the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor. He was also identified with other important art movements in the United States. He was one of the nine men who founded the Grolier Club in New York City, and was elected a member of the Century association, the Players Club, the Architectural league, the Municipal art league of New York, and the Caxton club of Chicago, Ill.

Drake died at New York City in 1916.