
Downtown Independence at the Bank Iowa corner
An artist rendering from at least 6 glass negatives.
ROBERT TABOR SHOW
October 1 – 28, 1972
Oelwein Public Library
Oelwein, Iowa
Sponsored by: Oelwein Public Library And Northeast Iowa Art Assn.

Robert Byron Tabor 1882-1972
Mr. Tabor was born in Independence, Iowa. He spent most of his life in the Independence and Oelwein area. He began to paint at the age of 52. One of his first oils, painted under the Public Works of Art Project and selected by Edward Bruce, director of the project as one of the 25 best pictures out of 15,000 works submitted, was chosen by President Roosevelt to hang in the White House in Washington, D.C. Other paintings in Public Buildings: The Independence Post Office, The Buchanan County Court House, The Physics Building in Iowa City, Lane Insurance Company, Independence, The Oelwein Daily Register Office: the Independence and Oelwein Public Libraries; and murals in the Boss Hotels in Des Moines and Estherville.

Mr. Tabor’s paintings have been exhibited in various art shows throughout the country; including one man shows in Wichita, Kansas City, Waterloo and Cedar Rapids. He was a member of the Ozark Artist’s Guild, the National Society of Mural Painters, and the Northeast Iowa Art Association.
Catalog – Tabor Show
- THE THREE BOYS - oil –NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- HARBOR – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Glenn Hamlin Olathe, Kansas
- WHITE SULPHER SPRINGS, MONTANA – watercolor NFS
Owned by Ed F. Tabor Independence, Iowa
- THE DISCUSSION – oil – NFS
Owned by Lew Warren Oelwein, Iowa
- SOUTH FORK OF THE MADISON – oil – NFS
Owned by Ed F. Tabor Independence, Iowa
- MACDONALD’S POINT – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Paul Doughty Oelwein, Iowa
- LILY PADS – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Dr. R.S. Jaggard Oelwein, Iowa
- WINTER – oil – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Glenn Hamlin Olathe, Kansas
- WORKING SKETCH OF VENDUE – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Glenn Hamlin Olathe, Kansas
- THE AMISHMAN – oil – NFS
Owned by Oelwein Public Library Oelwein, Iowa
- SELF PORTRAIT – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- WORKING SKETCH OF MURAL AT ESTHERVILLE – oil – NFS
Owned by James T. Hamlin Long Beach, California
- THE OLD MISSION AT TAOS – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Carol Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- JERRY – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Carol Wright De Norte, Colorado
- THE KING’S TIMBER – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- SEASCAPE – oil – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- GRANDFATHER – oil – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- BOATS – watercolor
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- TOM – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- THE OZARKS – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- THE MOUNTAIN – oil – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Doris Felix Oelwein, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Doris Felix Oelwein, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Doris Felix Oelwein, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Doris Felix Oelwein, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Bessie Hamlin Independence, Iowa
- PORTRAIT OF TIM – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Mary Harn Oelwein, Iowa
- WORKING SKETCH FOR PORTRAIT OF TIM – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Gene Adams Oelwein, Iowa
- WORKING SKETCH FOR POSTMAN MURAL IN THE INDEPENDENCE
POSTOFFICE – oil – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- MAN WITH A PIPE – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Wayne Plank Independence, Iowa
- CHARLES – oil – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Wayne Plank Independence, Iowa
- ED FISHING – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Lane Insurance Company Independence, Iowa
- GERANIUMS – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Kenneth Shannon Oelwein, Iowa
- PORTRAIT OF PETE – oil – NFS
Owned by E.F. Tabor II Independence, Iowa
- CORN SHOCKS – watercolor – NFS
Owned by E.F. Tabor II Independence, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by E.F. Tabor II Independence, Iowa
- THE LION – Watercolor and Pencil
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- GRUMBLING DAN - oil – NFS
This was painted for Mr. Tabor’s Grandchildren. Is now owned by them
- POKER PARTY – oil – NFS
Owned by E.F. Tabor II Independence, Iowa
This picture was exhibited in the Colorado Springs Art Center at the invitation show. “West of the Mississippi”. The figures are: Ted Bland, Harry Kemmerer, Brady Gates, Doc Whitney and Harold Tabor.
- THE ELECTION BOARD – oil – NFS
Owned by Buchanan County
The figures are Andy Dunlap, Tom Bettle, Dan Maloney, Howard O’Brien and Mrs. Tom Burke.
- THE BASS – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Alvy Norton Independence, Iowa
- THE THREE TREES – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Earl Butler Oelwein, Iowa
- Watercolor
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- Watercolor
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- THE MARSH – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- RUTH – oil – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- Pen and Ink
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- Pen and Ink
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- OZARK GUIDE – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- COLORADO – Pen and Ink
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- WINTER SNOW – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- STUDY IN BROWN INKS – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- THE OLD SHED – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- IOWA WINTER – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- BACKWATER – Pen and Ink
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- IF INDEPENDENCE WAS BOMBED – Pen and Pencil
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- I’LL TRADE YOU MY SKUNK FOR YOUR PICTURE – watercolor
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- ART GALLERY – Watercolor
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- GOOSEBERRY FALLS – watercolor
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- PORTRAIT OF DWIGHT – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Dwight Schneider Oelwein, Iowa
- LANDSCAPE – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Dwight Schneider Oelwein, Iowa
- SAND DUNES – watercolor
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- Watercolor
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
- LANDSCAPE – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Philip Damage Stanley, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Cliff Holzer Oelwein, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Cliff Holzer Oelwein, Iowa
- MAIN STREET – oil – NFS
Owned by the City of Independence. This is the Farmers State Savings Bank corner as it was in the late 1930’s. This picture has been exhibited all over the United States.
- THE LIBRARY – oil – NFS
Owned by the Independence Public Library. The figures are Mrs. Ed Belgarde, Miss Gertrude Rigby and Miss Neva Tabor, librarian.
- LANDSCAPE – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Dr. Paul J. Leehey Independence, Iowa
- PORTRAIT OF DR. B.B. SELLS – oil – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Joe Bentley Independence, Iowa
- PORTRAIT OF BILL – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Ollie Scholz Oelwein, Iowa
- MORSE’S SLOUGH – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Zaida McLaury West Union, Iowa
- Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Zaida McLaury West Union, Iowa
- THE CREEK – watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Eve Swan Oelwein, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Andy Doll Oelwein, Iowa
- OSCAR – oil
Owned by Ruth Tabor Oelwein, Iowa
Oscar Finnuf was a policeman in Independence for years
- PORTRAIT OF PAUL – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Paul Doughty Oelwein, Iowa
- Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Paul Doughty Oelwein, Iowa
- Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Paul Doughty Oelwein, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Paul Doughty Oelwein, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Paul Doughty Oelwein, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Robert E. Tabor Waterloo, Iowa
- CAROL – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Glenn Hamlin Olathe, Kansas
- JEFF – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Glenn Hamlin Olathe, Kansas
- THE GUNNISON – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Glenn Hamlin Olathe, Kansas
- Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Wm. Flournoy Lenexia, Kansas
- Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Glenn Hamlin Olathe, Kansas
- ELLEN – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Richad Nichols Olathe, Kansas
- OZARK AUTUMN – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Wm. Flournoy Lenexia, Kansas
- RAINY MORNING – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Richard Nichols Olathe, Kansas
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by William Bopp Olathe, Kansas
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Jerry Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- HOME IN THE HILLS – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Jerry Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- OZARK HILLS – Watercolor
Owned by Mrs. Glenn Hamlin Olathe, Kansas
- ROOFS – oil – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- RAINY AFTERNOON – oil – NFS
Owned by Jerry Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- THE CRITIC – oil – NFS
Owned by Richard Nichols Olathe, Kansas
- Oil – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Glenn Hamlin Olathe, Kansas
Inscription on back of painting reads – “This is my first try in painting. 1933”
- Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Jerry Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- THE BIG BLACK BEAR – Pen and Ink - NFS
Owned by Jeffrey Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- Watercolor - NFS
Owned by Mrs. Jerry Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- PINE CREEK – Oil – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Gerald Beatty Des Moines, Iowa
This picture was painted in 1943 and was given to Mrs. Beatty as a wedding present. 1943
- Pen and Ink
Owned by Tabor Estate
- THE POND – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- FONTANA – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- Pen, Ink and Watercolor
Owned by Tabor Estate
- Pencil – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Elizabeth Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- Ink and Drybrush – NFS
Owned by Kelly Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- Pencil Sketch
Owned by Tabor Estate
- 112. Pen and Ink Sketch of Trees
Owned by Tabor Estate
- Colored Pencil and Ink – NFS
Owned by Elizabeth Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- Watercolor and pen and Ink
Owned by Tabor Estate
- Watercolor and Pen and Ink
Owned by Tabor Estate
- Watercolor and Pen and Ink
Owned by Tabor Estate
- ABANDONED – Pencil – NFS
Owned by Jerry Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- THE HUNTERS – Pen and Ink
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- THE FISHERMAN – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- SEASCAPE – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- Pen and Ink Landscape – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- THE TREE – Watercolor
Owned by Tabor Estate
- THE BACKYARD FENCE – watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- FITZGERALD OF THE ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- CHARLIE – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
This is a portrait of Charlie Jones who used to own the bakery in Independence, Iowa
- TULIPS – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Elizabeth Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- REFLECTIONS - pencil – NFS
Owned by Tabor Estate
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Carol Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- Pen and Ink Sketch – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- MISSISSIPPI – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- LANDSCAPE SKETCH – pencil – NFS
Owned by Elizabeth Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- Pen and Ink Landscape - NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- SELF PORTRAIT – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Carol Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- THE OLD MAN – Pen and Ink
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- THE LITTLE ANGEL – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- Pencil Sketch
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- ART GALLERY – pen and Ink
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- BOB’S CHRISTMAS CARD – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Glenn Hamlin Olathe, Kansas
- THE SMALL ROCK – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- FISHING – Pen and Ink
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- MOUNTAIN LANSDCAPE – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Carol Wright Del Norte, Colorado
This is one of Mr. Tabor’s early paintings.
- THE ROSE – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Kelly Wright De Norte, Colorado
- Pencil Sketch – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- Pencil Sketch – NFS
Owned by Elizabeth Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- LANDSCAPE IN FALL – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Kelly Wright De Norte, Colorado
- RIVER LANDSCAPE – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
This is one of Mr. Tabor’s early paintings.
- THE HUNTERS – Colored pencil
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- THE STORM – pencil
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- BOOKS – Pencil
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- COUNTRY LANDSCAPE – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- LANDSCAPE – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- BACKYARDS – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Jerry Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- A WORKING SKETCH OF ‘SPRING’ – one of the Four Seasons pictures – watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- RIDGEVIEW – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- THE CHAT PILE – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- LANDSCAPE – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- Pencil Sketch – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- THE QUAIL – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- THE SWAMP – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- IOWA FARMLAND – pencil
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- RIVER LANDSCAPE – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- PORTRAIT – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- 1st STREET S.W., OELWEIN, IOWA – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- LADY WITH PIPE – Charcoal
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- THE CREEK – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
This is one of Tabor’s early paintings.
- LANDSCAPE – Watercolor and Pencil
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- SEASCAPE – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- PINE CREEK – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- THE MOUNTAIN – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- DAWN AT TRACY’S – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- MEDICINE RIVER – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- CAPT. ELLIOTT – Watercolor portrait
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- 175. COUNTRY ROAD - Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- MOUNTAIN SUNSET – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- STREET SCENE – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- DUCK HUNTING – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
This was the working sketch of a large oil that Tabor painted and which is now owned by the Fitch Shampoo Company.
- THE BLUE DOOR – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Jerry Wright Del Norte, Colorado
- IOWA FARM – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- MAINE SEASCAPE – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- BALDHEAD – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- GOING HOME – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by James Hamlin Long Beach, California
- SPRING – oil – NFS
Owned by the Lane Insurance Company Independence, Iowa
- SUMMER – oil – NFS
Owned by the Lane Insurance Company Independence, Iowa
- FALL – oil – NFS
Owned by the Lane Insurance Company Independence, Iowa
- WINTER – oil – NFS
Owned by the Lane Insurance Company Independence, Iowa
The above 4 pictures are a series which is called THE FOUR SEASONS.
- Presketch of Spring of the Four Seasons – NFS
Owned by the Lane Insurance Company Independence, Iowa
- Presketch of Summer of the Four Seasons – NFS
Owned by the Lane Insurance Company Independence, Iowa
- Presketch of Summer of the Four Seasons – NFS
Owned by the Lane Insurance Company Independence, Iowa
- Presketch of Spring of the Four Seasons – NFS
Owned by the Lane Insurance Company Independence, Iowa
- Presketch of Summer of the Four Seasons – NFS
Owned by the Lane Insurance Company Independence, Iowa
- EDNA FISHING – Watercolor – NFS
Owned by the Lane Insurance Company Independence, Iowa
- THE OZARK FISHERMAN – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- MAN WITH JUG – Pencil – NFS
Owned by the Tabor Estate
This is the last drawing made by Tabor. He was 87 years old at the time.
- THE SMALL ROCK – Watercolor
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- AUTUMN – Watercolor– NFS
Owned by Robert Markee Iowa City, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Robert Markee Iowa City, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. C.W. Antes West Union, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. C.W. Antes West Union, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. C. W. Antes West Union, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by A.V. Arnold Waterloo, Iowa
- Watercolor – NFS
Owned by Mrs. Tony Ailleo Oelwein, Iowa
- Pen and Ink (study in Brown)
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- Pen and Ink Drawing
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- GIRL AT WORK – Pen and Ink
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- STILL LIFE IN BLACK AND WHITE – Pen and Ink
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- FULL MOON – pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- THE HUNTER’S THEORY – Pen and Ink – NFS
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- LANDSCAPE – pen and Ink
Owned by the Tabor Estate
- DISCOVERY OF VAN ALLEN BELT – oil – NFS
Owned by James Van Allen Iowa City, Iowa
- PORTRAIT OF JAMES VAN ALLEN – NFS
Owned by James Van Allen Iowa City, Iowa
- PORTRAIT OF ROBERT TABOR – by Cliff Holzer – NFS
Loaned by University of Iowa
Postscript: the Buchanan Co. Historical Society owns the glass negatives taken by Robert Tabor. Mr. Tabor combined as many as six photographs to do just one painting.
1968-5.1 negatives
1989-1.1 photos from glass negatives
1970-3 “Iowa Heritage” magazine Spring 2000 issue with Tabor articles
1961-6.55 newspaper article of Robert B. Tabor
copy of Robert Tabor Show/ Oelwein Public Library
2005:
#29 “Man with a Pipe” Klotzbach Estate
watercolor/unk creek Klotzbach Estate
#38 “Poker Party” E.F. Tabor II
#39 “The Election Board” Buchanan County Court House/2nd floor
#67 “Main Street” Independence Public Library
#68 “The Library” Independence Public Library
#70 “Portrait of Dr. B.B. Sells” given to grandson _____Sorg
#184 185 186 187
“The 4 Seasons”
owned by Edna Lane Gilliland Shain
displayed at Senior Center Independence, Iowa
#188 189 190 191 192
owned by Edna Lane Gilliland Shain
displayed at Senior Center Independence, Iowa
2006: Waterscape/possibly of Wapsipinicon River/1958
owned by Leanne/Jim Harrison, Independence, Ia
(unk. If it is any from the above ‘showing’ in 1972)
exhibited at Oelwein Public Library:
“Discussion” oil depicting Amish school
“The Amishman” oil portrait
“Chick” (a working man) oil
‘desertscape’ SW scene with cactus watercolor
4 drawings/postcard size in one frame
pen-ink drawings
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