Daily AncestorArtist
Artist in an old record usually means a person who made paintings, drawings or sculpture as an occupation, or taught art.
Wiktionary defines an artist as a person who creates art as an occupation, and especially one who makes visual art, as opposed to literature or music.
The 1900 census instructions list artist or teacher of art among the professions enumerators were to specify exactly, next to actor, designer, draftsman and engraver. Later entries often add the kind of work or place, which helps tell a portrait painter from a commercial artist.
As seen in a recordOccupation and industry columns of the 1910 to 1940 census
Ada Merriwell, 33, Artist, Own studio
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Artist." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/occupations/artist. Last checked 2026-10-12.