Completed Continental European after 1800, London: Artists and Subjects, Portraits: British 20th C 19 What more could be found out about the artist Joseph H. Rogozen?

An artist of that name is listed at 3608 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, in:

"Public Works of Art Project: Report of the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury to Federal Emergency Relief Administrator, December 8, 1933-June 30, 1934"

https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Public_Works_of_Art_Project/CbufAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Joseph+H.+Rogozen&pg=PA63&printsec=frontcover

I think there may be a small mistake on the Ancestry tree with regards to his birth. it has been read as Vilua but having had a quick look, I think it’s meant to be read as Vilna. This is why he is listed on numerous documents as being born in Poland, as it was in the north-east of poland, but at various historical points it has been claimed by Poland, Lithania, Russia.

His d.o.b was 10th Aug 1901.
He was also advertising as a Commercial artist in 1923 in Cleveland Ohio.

Good evening. Some texts published in 1926 (the american hebrew ) state that he was awarded the "Gottwald traveling scholarship" to Europe and that he had been - in the 41 years of life of the institution - the most talented scholar ever. In 1932 he was reported with Joseph J Gervin as an associate of the "advertising selling company " of Cleveland (advertising and selling; the printers' ink). He has made in 1933 a successful bust - a model / reproduction which U. S .copyright was entered the 10/10/1933; https://books.google.it/books?id=Ew5hAAAAIAAJ&pg=RA1-PA166&dq=Joseph+H+Rogozen+Roosevelt&hl=it&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjR-Zj5k7rvAhXCM-wKHcF4A1gQ6AEwAHoECAMQAg#v=onepage&q=Joseph H Rogozen Roosevelt&f=false) of Franklin Delano Roosvelt *. He has been among those artists to be aided by the "public arts project" ( The public works of arts project. Report , 1934 ; https://books.google.it/books?id=CbufAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA63&dq=Joseph+Rogozen&hl=it&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjM7K_cjLrvAhXDyaQKHeRXDcYQ6AEwAnoECAkQAg#v=onepage&q=Joseph Rogozen&f=false ) for the Ohio, concerning that he was mentioned into the lists for the artists resident in region N. 9 ( Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan ) . He was mentioned in 1947 also as a painting restorer. Between 1952 and 1954 and 1974 he was cited as an artist of the Arkansas Phoenix Arizona School of arts ( a school giving classes of illustrations, lettering, painting and graphic arts ) established in 1948 , becoming ,at last, its director. Here probably there was (or there's ) his necrology : https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/118067632/ .
* Now is available on ebay a photography of this bust (a print made for the press : https://www.ebay.ca/itm/1933-Press-Photo-Bust-of-Franklin-Roosevelt-made-by-Joseph-H-Rogozen/373117555108?hash=item56df8a11a4:g:SDYAAOSwIexfELgu )

It would be good to know from relevant group leaders if they feel there is enough information here now to see a biographical outline written, so this discussion can be concluded.

I’ve done a great deal of background work on this artist and will post my summary shortly.

The U.S. WWII draft card (attached) of February 14, 1942, for Joseph Rogozen shows he was born in Vilna, Poland, on August 10, 1901, as Elin stated.

The 1910 U.S. Federal Census (attached) shows that Joseph Rogozen lived with his parents Barney [sic] and Esther Rogozen and siblings (Ette (“Ethel”), Abraham, Alex and Hyman) in Cleveland, Ohio. His father was a “cigar maker”, working in a factory. This document shows that his father immigrated to the United States of America in 1904 and that the rest of the family followed in 1906 (or were born in the United States of America).

Joseph Rogozen was married (record attached) in Cleveland on August 23, 1926, by Rabbi Boroch Botwin, to Cecilia Horwitz (daughter of Jacob Horwitz and Yetta (née Levine)). They both listed their profession as “artist”. His parents were Barnet Rogozen and his wife Esther (née Gershen) according to this record.

He and his wife Cecilia are shown on a passenger list arriving in London on September 6. 1926. He is an “artist” and she is a “housewife”. They arrived back in New York on December 8, 1928. According to the ship’s manifest (attached), their address in London had been “151 Camden Rd. N”.

On the 1930 US Federal Census (attached) Joseph Rogozen was divorced and lived with his parents and siblings (Abraham, Alex, Hyman, Emanuel and Ida) in Cleveland. His father was a “rabbi” in the “Religious work” industry and he was an “artist” in the “Portrait Painting” industry. I have only attached the page that shows Joseph Rogozen.

Joseph Rogozen was married (record attached) in Cleveland, on June 16, 1934, by Rabbi Israel Porath, to his second wife Esther F. Katz (daughter of Samuel Katz and Mary (née Shaw)). His profession was “artist” and she was a “secretary”.

Esther passed away in Cleveland on August 8, 1957 (see attached). Joseph passed away at his home (2504 E. Devonshire Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona) on April 16, 1975, and he was buried at the Beth Israel Cemetary in Phoenix (see attached).

Note that, according to a US WWI draft card (under the name “Barnett Rojozin”), his father was born on January 15, 1877, and was a “cigar maker” for the Ohio Stogie Co. According to an Ohio death record (under the name “Barnette Ragazen”), his father passed away on September 22, 1939.

According to the "Phil Gerson Family Tree" Ancestry tree, his mother Esther Gershon/Gerson was born in 1874. According to an Ohio death record, his mother passed away on June 30, 1942. I have attached the records.

Here, hopefully, are the attachments that failed to transmit.

It seems that Marcie has done an amazing amount of research into Rogozen. Is there anything else to add? I can see about his student records at UCL to see whether there is some info that can be added to the biography. I'm also curious whether Marcie has a sense of whether there is an Estate I can go to for copyright permission.

I will send a message through Ancestry to someone who has a Rogozen tree. Perhaps I will be provided with information that will be helpful.

Information gleaned from his student registry records at UCL: born August 10, 1901; previous place of education was Cleveland School of Art; scholarship tenable at Slade was the Gottwald Traveling Scholarship; he recorded his in-laws Mr and Mrs J Horwitz (10629 Greenlawn Ave) as parent or guardian responsible for the payment of college dues. His address while attending the Slade was 161 Camden Road, Camden Town, NW1. He entered the Slade in October 1926; remained the 1926/1927 and 1927/28 years. In his first year he won 2nd prize for Head Painting, in 1927/28 year he won first prize for Life Painting and first prize for Head Painting (the work considered here).

See attachment for what, thanks largely to Marcie's digging in US records, this discussion so far provides. The screen shot of Esther Rogozen's obituary (Marcie @ 29/03/2022 17:28) is unreadable but he was presumably buried with her and there are also presumably works in American collections.

Thanks for the great write-up, Pieter. I'm glad that this talented artist will be less obscure going forward.

I don’t have access to the newspapers.com website that is associated with Ancestry but found Esther's obituary in 'The Phoenix Jewish News' (see attached). Esther was buried in Cleveland, Ohio, near her family.

Thanks Marcie: the suggestion in that snippet is that Rogozen was more a founder of the Arizona School of Art than just an early staff member but its history seems elusive on the web. I assume its this, and now connected with Arizona University -

https://art.arizona.edu/visit/about-the-school/

rather than the Arizona School for the Arts (est. 1995).

I meant to include the link to Esther’s obituary. Here it is. https://tinyurl.com/3a4kvt8y

An ad for the Arizona School of Art from 1973 is on page 7 of this link.
https://tinyurl.com/

Joseph was known as “Jo” or “Joe”. Here is an article that mentions Jo Rogozen. https://apeekatthepeak.org/the-artists-loft-2/

Here is a photo of Jo Rogozen painting! https://tinyurl.com/yc5e7k56

While knowing what the 'H' in Joseph H. Rogozen stands for would add completeness, the attached is what we now have about this artist. Enough perhaps?

Pieter, thank you for the draft biography and to all contributors. Let's leave it over the coming weekend in case the 'H' in the name can be found too.