Name/Title
An IntroductionScope and Content
Robert Darr Wert & Country Prints-- “From Yesterday, For Today”.
Welcome to the only online resource dedicated to the work of mid-20th century silkscreen artist Robert Darr Wert and his company Country Prints of Gill, Massachusetts.
The website includes a biography of Robert Darr Wert followed by headings dedicated to the major categories of products developed by Country Prints from 1948-1970. Each entry includes photos and a description of the product followed by manufacturing dates, dimensions, signatures, colors, and matching products.
Every effort has been made to determine the original names and product numbers of the items. However, many are as yet unidentified. Any entry name with "(TK)" indicates that the product name, number and/or color has yet to be verified.
Documenting the work of a company that ceased operations over fifty years ago requires drawing from dozens of physical and online resources. Images of products have been borrowed from numerous sources, and credit has been given for each source. The website is updated whenever previously undocumented facts or products come to light.
A video slide presentation of the full history of Robert Darr Wert & Country Prints is available at the web link below. This presentation was given in Robert Darr Wert’s hometown of Gill, Massachusetts, in May of 2022. It was an honor that Wert family members and former Country Prints employees came out to support the event.
If you have questions for us, or if you own Country Prints products that are not documented here and would like to contribute, please contact us at RobertDarrWert@outlook.com.
Special Thanks:
This website would not be possible without the input, advice and encouragement of Robert Darr Wert's family, Sara Darr Wert Leeper, Jerry Leach, Pamela Dean, and close family friend, Peter Kaufhold, son of Bob's business partner, Fritz Kaufhold.
The Gill Historical Commission in the Wert's and Kaufhold's hometown of Gill, Massachusetts, was extremely helpful and supportive in providing access to their collections, knowledge, and connections to the current owners of the former Country Prints studio complex. Special thanks to Kit Carpenter, Pam Shoemaker, and the Historical Commission for answering many questions and supporting our presentation for the town's residents. Many thanks to Maryanne Gallagher, Al Wallace, Barb Watson and Jim and Darlene Cerillo for opening their homes to us and sharing their knowledge. Kathie Ferguson, a Wert family friend and former Country Prints employee has also been generous with her collection and memories.
Kathy Albright offered invaluable insights into to the life of her aunt, Ruth Gauss Flynn, Country Prints' west coast sales representative throughout the 1950’s.
Thanks also to Cindy Funk for her interest and encouragement, and for sharing photos of the Country Prints products she's sold over the years through her thriving online vintage business NeatoKeen on Etsy.com.
Thanks to textile historians Susan Ward and Lynne Zacek Bassett for offering their insights and sharing their Country Prints collections.
Special thanks to my husband Mike Dawson and my family for supporting me throughout the process of collecting and documenting this work.
Robert Darr Wert & Country Prints-- “From Yesterday, For Today”.