Kress, Samuel H. (Samuel Henry), 1863-1955

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role

Collector

dates

1863-1955

city

New York City

state

NY

other cities

Nanticoke, PA;

sex

M

historical notes

Kress was born in the village of Cherryville, near Allentown, Pennsylvania. He worked as a schoolteacher before going into business. In 1887 he opened a "stationery and notions" store in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania. As the business prospered he used his profits to open additional stores, naming the chain S. H. Kress & Co.

Kress was a lover of art, especially that of the Italian Renaissance. In 1929 he established the Kress Foundation to promote understanding and appreciation of European art in the United States. Kress was a major early donor to the U.S. National Gallery of Art. He also donated art to more than 40 other U.S. museums. Samuel H. Kress died in New York City.

decades
of activity

1920-1930
1930-1940
1940-1950
1950-1960

website

http://www.kressfoundation.org

updated

10/31/2024 13:33:16

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Archives/Repository	Collection Title	Collection Details
National Gallery of Art, Library 2000B South Club Drive	The collection of French and Venetian drawings of Mr. Samuel H. Kress, New York.	see details...
Vanderbilt University Special Collections and University Archives	Contini-Volterra Photographic Archive	see details...
Library of Congress Manuscript Division	Papers of David E. Finley, 1921-1977.	see details...
The Getty Research Institute Research Libraries, Archives and Special Collections	Duveen Brothers Records, 1876-1981, bulk 1909-1964	see details...
Samuel H Kress Foundation 174 East 80th Street	The Samuel H. Kress Foundation Archive	see details...
National Gallery of Art, Image Collection 2000B South Club Drive	Photo Archives: Samuel H. Kress Collection	see details...
The Getty Research Institute Research Libraries, Archives and Special Collections	M. Knoedler & Co. records, approximately 1848-1971	see details...
The National Gallery of Art, Archives	The Kress Collection Digital Archive	see details...