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Archives related to: Severance, John L. (John Long), 1863-1936

titleRecords of the Director's Office: Frederic Allen Whiting, 1913-1930
repositoryThe Cleveland Museum of Art
descriptionThe records of the Director's Office are the primary source for understanding the decisions made and actions taken at the highest level of the museum's administration.

In addition, the records constitute one of the most valuable, unified resources for researching the early history of the museum and its art collection; initial construction and expansion of the museum building;

changes in the museum's administrative hierarchy; personalities and activities of individual staff members; artistic and social movements of the first half of the twentieth century; and the museum's relationship with civic, cultural, and educational institutions throughout the country and the world.

The records from Frederic Allen Whiting's tenure as director are divided into four main series: I. Numbered Administrative Correspondence, II. Unnumbered Administrative Correspondence, III. Biographical Materials, and IV. Index to Numbered Administrative Correspondence.

Citation:
The Cleveland Museum of Art Archives, Records of the Director's Office: Frederic Allen Whiting, date and short description of document [e.g., letter from Whiting to Kent, 6 June 1916].
extent22.6 cubic feet, 72 boxes
formatsAdministrative Records Writings Correspondence Notes
accessAt the end of the restricted period, the records will still be subject to the review of the archivist before access is granted.
record linkhttp://library.clevelandart.org/museum_archives/finding_aids/whiting/index.php
record sourcehttp://library.clevelandart.org/museum_archives/finding_aids/
updated03/16/2023 10:29:55
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titleSeverance family papers, 1827-1892.
repositoryWestern Reserve Historical Society
descriptionFive autograph albums belonging to members of the Severance family, a book of autographs and poems of Mary Long Severance, 1827-1843, and a notebook of Solon L. Severance, 1840s.

Historical Note:
Members of the Severance family were prominent bankers and industrialists in Cleveland, Ohio. Solon L. Severance was the son of Solomon Lewis and Mary Long Severance and the grandson of Dr. David Long, Cleveland's first physician.

Severance organized the Euclid Ave. Natl. Bank, which later became the First Natl. Bank. One of the most notable members of the Severance family was John Long Severance (1863-1936) who worked for the Standard Oil Co. and the Cleveland Linseed Oil Co., a pioneer paint and varnish industry.

Severance was president of the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Musical Arts Assoc., and in 1929 gave Cleveland the funds to build Severance Hall, home of the Cleveland Orchestra. Severance Center (Cleveland Heights), Ohio's first indoor shopping mall, was built on the site of John Long Severance's 161-acre estate "Longwood".

Location
WRHS Archives Library

Collection
Manuscripts

Call Number
MS. 805
extent0.4 linear ft. (7 v.)
formatsManuscript Notebooks Writings
accessContact repository for restrictions and policies.
record sourcehttp://ipac.wrhs.org:8080/ipac20/ipac.jsp?forcelogout=true&profile=wrhsl&lang=eng#focus
updated11/12/2014 11:30:11
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titleSeverance family papers, series II, 1826-1989.
repositoryWestern Reserve Historical Society
descriptionConsists of historical and biographical data on various family members; diaries and travel journals, especially of Julia Severance Millikin and her mother, Emily Allen Severance; correspondence, especially between Julia and her mother,

Emily Severance; wills, genealogical notes, deeds, notices of events, and newspaper clippings. Among the correspondence are numerous letters from Julia's friends from Wells College.

The collection also includes a certificate appointing John Walworth collector for the district of Erie, 1806, and a journal kept by Dudley Allen detailing early medical practice in the area.

There is also material on author Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain) and his voyage around the world, which included Solon and Emily Severance, and became the basis of hs novel "The Innocents Abroad".

Historical Note:
The Severance family was a prominent Cleveland, Ohio family known for its philanthropic activities. Solon Severance, a Cleveland banker, was the son of Solomon Severance and Mary Helen Long, and a brother of Louis Severance.

He was also a descendent of John Walworth, an early settler of Cleveland who was a civil engineer and was appointed in 1806 as the Custom Collector for the District of Erie. Solon's wife, Emily Allen, was the daughter of Dr. Dudley Allen, and the sister of prominent surgeon Dudley P. Allen. Solon and Emily's daughter, Julia Severance Millikin, was the wife of Benjamin Millikin, a noted Cleveland opthalmologist.

Julia's children included Helen Millikin Nash and Severance, Marianne, Dudley, and Louise Millikin.

Has supplement:
Severance family. Severance family photographs

Location
WRHS Archives Library

Collection
Manuscripts

Call NumberMS. 4558
extent4 linear ft.
formatsFinancial Records Legal Papers Correspondence Diaries Journals
accessContact repository for restrictions and policies.
record sourcehttp://ipac.wrhs.org:8080/ipac20/ipac.jsp?forcelogout=true&profile=wrhsl&lang=eng#focus
finding aidRegister available in the library. Includes family pedigree charts.
updated11/12/2014 11:30:11
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titleSeverance family photographs, 1846-1950 [graphic].
repositoryWestern Reserve Historical Society
descriptionConsist of individual and group portraits of Severance family members; allied families including the Allen, Hadden, Long, Millikin, Nash, Prentiss, Robbins, and Tryon families; and unrelated individuals, including Jacob D. Cox, Charles Gleason, and Rutherford B. Hayes. Also included are views of various family residences and trips.

Historical Note:
Members of the Severance family were prominent bankers and industrialists in Cleveland, Ohio. The Severance family was also known for its philanthropic activities.

Solon Severance, a Cleveland banker, was the son of Solomon Severance and Mary Helen Long, and a brother of Louis Severance. He was also a descendent of John Walworth, an early settler of Cleveland who was a civil engineer and was appointed in 1806 as the Custom Collector for the District of Erie.

Solon's wife, Emily Allen, was the daughter of Dr. Dudley Allen, and the sister of prominent surgeon Dudley P. Allen. Solon and Emily's daughter, Julia Severance Millikin, was the wife of Benjamin Millikin, a noted Cleveland ophthalmologist. Julia's children included Helen Millikin Nash and Severance, Marianne, Dudley, and Louise Millikin.

Supplement to:
Severance family. Severance family papers,
Severance family. Severance family papers, series II,

Location
WRHS Archives Library

Collection
Photograph Collections

Call Number
PG. 440
extent2.2 linear ft.
formatsPhotographs
accessContact repository for restrictions and policies.
record sourcehttp://ipac.wrhs.org:8080/ipac20/ipac.jsp?forcelogout=true&profile=wrhsl&lang=eng#focus
updated11/12/2014 11:30:11
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titlePapers of William J. Collins, 1902-1958.
repositorySterling and Francine Clark Art Institute
descriptionWilliam 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.
formatsPhotographs Correspondence Ephemera Inventories Financial Records
accessContact the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute Library for further details.
record sourcehttp://cdm16245.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/
finding aidAvailable online and at the repository (Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. Library).
acquisition informationThe 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.
updated11/12/2014 11:30:11
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