Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America
Archives related to: Mellon, Andrew W. (Andrew William), 1855-1937
| title | Duveen Brothers Records, 1876-1981, bulk 1909-1964 | repository | The Getty Research Institute |
| description | The records provide an detailed view of the Duveen Brothers business activities in London, Paris, and New York. Although the archive extends from 1876-1981, the bulk of the material dates from Joseph Duveen's tenure as president of the firm, 1909-1939, and the period from 1939 to 1964 when Edward Fowles directed the firm (with Armand Lowengard until 1943). The mass of documents, such as cables and letters, invoices, and ledger and stock books, give a day-by-day account of art dealing, business strategy, and the individuals involved NOTE Series I (ca. 112 linear feet) contains the firm's business records. Stock books indicate where objects were sent for repair, to whom objects were sent on approbation along with the date of sale and the price realized. Invoices include receipts, sales invoices sent to clients, lists of cablegrams and shipment of stock from each branch of the business Series II (ca. 155 linear feet) consists of papers and correspondence which broadly cover the interaction between the Duveen Brothers firm and its clients, business associates, and the public. The correspondence describes art collecting trends among museums and individuals, the availability and purchase of art, art research and authentication, and the firm's general business practices. Eleven boxes of correspondence with Bernard Berenson detail his business relationship with the firm. Also included are records of lawsuits, correspondence between branches (some written in code), correspondence with museums, papers regarding galleries, Edward Fowles' papers, papers concerning exhibitions and loans, and papers regarding major art collectors and consultants. Some records of Kleinberger Galleries (apparently the papers of Harry G. Sperling, president) form a subseries within this series, and contain correspondence Series III (c. 127 linear feet) includes some photographs, indices, negatives, and x-rays. This series represents the Duveen Brother's stock of images. Indices are available for the majority of the negatives in cold storage ("X Book" (Berenson transaction) is the only unique Duveen document not transferred to the GRI. It has not yet been photocopied. The "X Book" details, for a limited number (about 250) of Italian paintings in which Berenson had a financial interest, precise dates of purchase and sale, primarily in the years 1910-27. There is no index.) AAM LOCATION Watson Library Reference CALL NUMBER Microfilm Cabinet |
| extent | Ca. 394 linear ft. 584 boxes, glass negative cabinets, and 18 flat file folders. 422 microfilm reels : positive ; 35mm |
| formats | Photographs X rays Correspondence Financial Records Inventories |
| access | Microfilm of the archive is available for use by qualified researchers. The archive is restricted because of extreme fragility |
| record link | http://archives2.getty.edu:8082/xtf/view?docId=ead/960015/960015.xml;query=;brand=default |
| record source | http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cat386523 |
| finding aid | Unpublished finding aid available in the repository and on the repository's Web site: folder level control. See the following web page digitization information: http://www.getty.edu/research/institute/development_partnerships/2011_kress.html |
| acquisition information | Edward Fowles donated the Duveen Brothers records to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1968. The Metropolitan gave the records to the Getty Research Library in 1996. |
| updated | 03/16/2023 10:29:53 |
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| title | David E. (David Edward) Finley Papers, 1915-1977. | repository | National Gallery of Art, Gallery Archives |
| description | The personal papers of David Finley, lawyer, first director of the National Gallery of Art and close associate of Andrew W. Mellon in the planning of the National Gallery, span the period from about 1915, when Finley began to practice law, to the months shortly before his death. They consist of correspondence, speeches, articles, diaries, photographs, recordings, medals, certificates and related materials. Of particular interest are records relating to the construction of the West Building of the National Gallery of Art and files concerning Andrew W. Mellon. Bio/History: Museum director and lawyer. aBorn 1890, York, South Carolina; 1922-27, Member, War Loan Staff, U.S. Dept. of the Treasury; 1927-32, Special assistant to Secretary of the Treasury, Andrew W. Mellon; 1931, Married Margaret Morton Eustis; 1932-33, Honorary counselor to the American Embassy at the Court of St. James; 1938-56, Director, National Gallery of Art; 1950-62, Chairman, National Trust for Historic Preservation; 1950-63, Chairman, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts; 1977, February 1, died, Washington, D.C. |
| extent | 73 linear ft. |
| formats | Personal Papers Research Files Printed Materials Photographs Ephemera |
| access | Contact repository for restrictions and policies. |
| record source | http://www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/ |
| finding aid | Series descriptions and folder title lists compiled in 1986. Available in Gallery Archives office. |
| updated | 02/14/2017 17:46:27 |
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| title | Oral history interview with Agnes Mongan, 1989 June 21. | repository | National Gallery of Art |
| description | Agnes Mongan, a Kress professor at the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts(CASVA) at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., was a long-time observerand associate of the Gallery. Mongan described her education in Paul Sachs's museum course and recalled seeing Andrew Mellon's collection in his Washington apartment and the Widener collection at Lynnewood Hall in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. She described friendships with John Walker and Kenneth Clark and recalled their intellectual and cultural interests and friendships. She especially noted her association with American Defense/Harvard Group, and the impact of the U.S. Army's Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Section and its officers during World War II. She described various National Gallery personalities and her experiences as Kress professor |
| extent | Transcript : 78 p. 2 sound cassettes (ca. 120 minutes) |
| formats | Interview Sound Recording Transcript |
| access | Contact repository for restrictions and policies. |
| record source | http://www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/ |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:29:58 |
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| title | Oral history interview with David Finley, 1942 October and December. | repository | National Gallery of Art |
| description | David Finley became assistant to Andrew Mellon in 1927 when Mellon was secretary of the treasury and was associated with him until Mellon's death in 1937. He was director of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. from 1938 until his retirement in 1956. The interview was conducted in preparation for a biography of Andrew Mellon, and is supplemented by a number of personal notes written by Finley before and shortly after Mellon's death. The interview and notes form the basis for Finley's book A Standard of Excellence: Andrew W. Mellon Founds the National Gallery of Art. |
| extent | Transcript : 101 p. |
| formats | Interview Transcript |
| access | Contact repository for restrictions and policies. |
| record source | http://www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/ |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:29:58 |
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| title | David E. (David Edward) Finley Papers, 1915-1977. | repository | National Gallery of Art, Gallery Archives |
| description | The personal papers of David Finley, lawyer, first director of the National Gallery of Art and close associate of Andrew W. Mellon in the planning of the National Gallery, span the period from about 1915, when Finley began to practice law, to the months shortly before his death. They consist of correspondence, speeches, articles, diaries, photographs, recordings, medals, certificates and related materials. Of particular interest are records relating to the construction of the West Building of the National Gallery of Art and files concerning Andrew W. Mellon. Bio/History: Museum director and lawyer. Born 1890, York, South Carolina; 1922-27, Member, War Loan Staff, U.S. Dept. of the Treasury; 1927-32, Special assistant to Secretary of the Treasury, Andrew W. Mellon; 1931, Married Margaret Morton Eustis; 1932-33, Honorary counselor to the American Embassy at the Court of St. James; 1938-56, Director, National Gallery of Art; 1950-62, Chairman, National Trust for Historic Preservation; 1950-63, Chairman, U.S. Commission of Fine Arts; 1977, February 1, died, Washington, D.C. |
| extent | 73 linear ft. |
| formats | Personal Papers Research Files Printed Materials Photographs Ephemera |
| access | Contact repository for restrictions and policies. |
| record source | http://www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/ |
| finding aid | Series descriptions and folder title lists compiled in 1986. Available in Gallery Archives office. |
| updated | 02/14/2017 17:46:54 |
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| title | Junta records 1882-1984 [manuscript] | repository | Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania |
| description | Archives Collection MSS 0039 |
| extent | 4.75 linear ft. |
| formats | |
| access | Contact repository for restrictions and policies. |
| record source | http://digital.library.pitt.edu/hswp/ |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:06 |
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| title | Papers of William J. Collins, 1902-1958. | repository | Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute |
| description | William J. Collins was brought on as the first curator of prints and drawings in 1958. He had been the head, since 1939, of the Department of Prints at Knoedler & Co. in New York City, where the Clarks purchased many of their artworks. Collins passed away unexpectedly in 1960. This collection consists of a number of different types of items. A three-ring binder documents sales of prints, drawings, and etchings to such major early-20th century collectors as Henry Clay Frick, Andrew W. Mellon, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Joseph Widener, and Blanche Adler. Sales date back as early as 1902, so the binder probably belonged to Collins's predecessor at Knoedler's, Norman F. Wells, or perhaps even Wells's predecessor. Collins kept a number of loose letters and ephemera stored inside its covers. There is also a small bound leather book divided into alphabetically tabbed sections. Most of the pages are blank, but some contain more lists in the same handwriting as the binder. They may also be prints and drawings bought or sold by Knoedler, but the annotations use abbreviations and numbers that are indecipherable. An A-Z accordion file contained items relating to both the life and work of Collins, including a letter to his father composed after his brother was killed in battle during World War I; a letter from RSC, along with Collins's responses, regarding some prints RSC was hoping to buy; photographs of works Collins was buying or selling; ephemera relating to art shows; and other correspondence. A black spring binder contains notebook pages with writing in pencil. There are passages that relate to the Bible and to art history. There is some translation from German. There is nothing conclusively identifying this object with Collins and its purpose remains unclear. The remaining items were found in Collins's room at the Williams Inn after he died. These include catalogs and other publications; several small oil paintings perhaps done by Collins; ephemera such as his credit card and Catholic holy cards; and additional correspondence and documents. One folder of materials is labeled James F. Drake, Inc. and contains correspondence between Collins and the rare book dealer regarding obtaining a number of art books for the Clark. |
| extent | .8 linear ft. |
| formats | Photographs Correspondence Ephemera Inventories Financial Records |
| access | Contact the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute Library for further details. |
| record source | http://cdm16245.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ |
| finding aid | Available online and at the repository (Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. Library). |
| acquisition information | The binder and the book were acquisitioned in early 2007 after being removed from a collection of items that eventually made up the Realia and the Personal series of the Sterling and Francine Clark Papers. The A to Z file and personal items were accessioned in October 2007, along with records pertaining to the Prints and Drawings Collection. |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:10 |
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