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Nan Mason

1896 – 1982

American painter and photographer

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About Nan Mason

Lived 1896 – 1982 (aged 85–86). Nan Mason was a painter and artist.

Nan Mason (July 17, 1896 – March 2, 1982) was an American painter and photographer.

Early life Nan Mason was born in New York City on July 17, 1896.

During the Depression of the 1930s, Mason and Hervey opened their own shop, "Gaylite Candles", which gathered several stores in Manhattan, including Hammacher Schlemmer; the candles itself were hand-made by Mason.

Personal life Mason's first partner, Arthur Ryan, died of pneumonia before their wedding. At first they lived with Mason's father, in a home in Audubon, Pennsylvania,

They were part of the artists community in Woodstock, New York, and during the summers they moved to Carmel, California, and Manatee County, Florida.

They help raising their nephew, future Lt. Col. Bruce Campbell Cator, who lived with them in Bearsville for a period. He died on July 7, 1960.

In 1962, Hervey and Mason inherited the main share of Eugene Speicher's estate. Speicher was a noted Woodstock artist.

They are buried side by side at Artists Cemetery, Woodstock, New York.

Legacy In 2015, Joseph P. Eckhardt published Living Large: Wilna Hervey and Nan Mason, a biography retelling the love story of Hervey and Mason.

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Important facts

Born
1896, Woodstock
Birth century
Occupation
Also known as
Nannie Mason

People in Nan Mason's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Nan Mason's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Nan Mason?

American painter and photographer (1896–1982)

When was Nan Mason born?

Nan Mason was born in 1896 in Woodstock.

When did Nan Mason die?

Nan Mason died on 2 March 1982 in Manatee County.

What was Nan Mason's occupation?

Nan Mason was a painter and artist.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Nan Mason

· Wikidata: Q40998570

· DBpedia: Nan Mason

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Nan Mason. https://biography.guide/nan-mason/

MLA: "Nan Mason." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/nan-mason/.

Chicago: "Nan Mason." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/nan-mason/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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