Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America

Archives related to: Bliss, Cornelius Newton, 1833-1911

titleLizzie P. Bliss Scrapbook, ca. 1930-31
repositoryThe Museum of Modern Art
descriptionThe scrapbook contains newspaper clippings and ephemera about Miss Bliss's death, bequest, and the memorial exhibition of her collection held at The Museum of Modern Art and subsequently shown at other institutions; photographs of works in the Bliss collection; correspondence to Miss Bliss and condolence letters to her brother, Cornelius N. Bliss; and 8 (8x10") photographs of the Bliss collection installed at her home on Park Avenue.

Biographical/historical note
Lillie P. Bliss (1864-1931) was a founder and vice-president of The Museum of Modern Art. She bequeathed a large portion of her art collection to the Museum which became the basis for the Museum's permanent collection. The scrapbook was assembled after her death by her brother, Cornelius N. Bliss.

Location
MoMA Museum Archives
extent1 v.; 45 x 35 cm.
formatsCorrespondence Clippings Ephemera
accessOpen to qualified users by appointment.
record sourcehttps://library.nyarc.org/permalink/01NYA_INST/ai54l4/alma991006070099707141
acquisition informationGift of Mrs. Henry Ives Cobb, September 1992.
updated03/16/2023 10:29:55
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titleA Conger Goodyear Scrapbooks, 1929-1939.
repositoryThe Museum of Modern Art
descriptionScrapbooks documenting the activities and development of the Museum during its first decade. Volumes focusing on exhibitions include announcements, catalogs, invitations, press releases as well as representative press coverage. Other volumes document the Museum's founding, the Film Library, the 1939 building, the 10th anniversary celebration, and the Washington Gallery of Modern Art. One volume contains official reports from the director and president, and annual reports, 1930-1936.
extent6 linear ft.
formatsScrapbooks
accessScrapbooks to be used only after other resources have been exhausted.
record linkhttp://www.moma.org/research/archives/EAD/GoodyearScrapbooksf.html
record sourcehttps://library.nyarc.org/permalink/01NYA_INST/ai54l4/alma991009768939707141
finding aidOnline and in repository
acquisition informationMoMA: Scrapbooks, exhibition catalogs, press releases, reports
updated11/29/2022 15:49:50
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titleCommunity Service Society Archives 1842-1995.
repositoryColumbia University Libraries
descriptionCorrespondence, reports, memoranda, case records, photographs and printed material. The archive include central and district administrative records; cammittee correspondence and minutes; and files on the various programs--such as sheltered workshops, tuberculosis sanitariums and health centers, public baths and employment bureaus--run by the two organizations. The archive also contains hundreds of photographs, including works by Lewis Hine and Jessie Tarbox Beals; extensive casework files from the beginning of social work (originally referred to as "friendly visiting among the poor"); and copies of masters and doctoral theses from the New York School of Sociel Work and other schools. Much of the research for these theses was based on the CSS files.

Among the major correspondence are: Jane Addams; Cornelius N. Bliss; Robert W. DeForest; Edward T. Devine; Irving Fisher; Homer Folks; Harry L. Hopkins; Florence Kelley; Paul U. Kellogg; Fiorello La Guardia; Josephine Shaw Lowell; Frances Perkins; Lawson Purdy; Jacob Riis; Beardsley Ruml; Alfred E. Smith; Lawrence Veiller; Lilliam Wald; and Alfred T. White.

Series II continues the files from the time of the merger in 1939 until 1960, and contains the same types of materials as the original gift; similarly, Series III covers primarily the period from 1960-1970. Series IV contains the additions to the files for the years 1970-1984, but there are also files for the period ca.1935-1969. Series V contains additions primarily for the period 1970-1986, but also contains some files for ca.1945-1969. Series VI contains legal and financial additions primarily for the period 1970 & following, and the files of H. Dogue.

Biographical Note
The Community Service Society, a large, private, New York City social service agency. The society was established in 1939 from a merger of the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor and the Charity Organization Society, whose separate files make up most of the collection.

extent280 linear ft. ( 570 boxes; 123 bound volumes; 9 packages; 1 crate; 4 framed items (shelved at end of original collection and end of series II).
formatsAdministrative Records Correspondence Ephemera Photographs Printed Materials
accessMaterial is open to use by qualified scholars, but CSS strictly forbids the citing or quoting of the real names or addresses of family and individual cases, which appear in the casework files and throughout the entire collection. Community Service Society photographs are restricted. Readers must use photocopies available at the Reference Desk. For the originals, consult the Curator of Manuscripts.
record sourcehttp://clio.cul.columbia.edu
finding aidRegister, 2 vols.
acquisition informationGift of the Society, 1979, 1981, 1986, & 1988.
updated11/12/2014 11:29:55
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titleCornelius N. Bliss [residence]: The Samuel H. (Samuel Herman) Gottscho (1875-1971) Collection
repositoryMuseum of the City of New York
description-Cornelius N. Bliss [residence], 4 East 66th Street, NYC. Entrance hall.
-Acetate negative
-March 24, 1933
-88.1.1.2773

Cornelius N. Bliss [residence]. Library book shelves.
-Located at 4 East 66th Street, NYC.
-Acetate negative
-March 24, 1933
-88.1.1.2775

Cornelius N. Bliss [residence], 4 East 66th Street, NYC. Dining room.
-Acetate negative
-March 28, 1933
-88.1.1.2784

Cornelius N. Bliss [residence]. General view of living room.
-Located at 4 East 66th Street, NYC.
-Acetate negative
-March 28, 1933
-88.1.1.2785

Cornelius N. Bliss [residence]. Table and painting.
-Located at 4 East 66th Street, NYC.
-Acetate negative
-March 28, 1933
-88.1.1.2788

Cornelius N. Bliss [residence]. Sharp view of library fireplace II.
-Located at 4 East 66th Street, NYC.
-Acetate negative
-March 28, 1933
-88.1.1.2789
extent6 items
formatsPhotographs Digital Collection
accessContact repository for restrictions and policies.
record sourcehttp://collections.mcny.org
acquisition informationThe Samuel H. Gottscho Collection
updated11/12/2014 11:30:14
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titleM. Knoedler & Co. records, approximately 1848-1971
repositoryThe Getty Research Institute
descriptionThe records of M. Knoedler & Co. document the business of the prominent American art dealer from the mid-19th century to 1971, when the Knoedler Gallery was acquired by Armand Hammer. The archive traces the development of the once provincial American art market into one of the world's leading art centers and the formation of the private art collections that would ultimately establish many of the nation's leading art museums, such as the Frick Collection and the National Gallery of Art.

It brings to the foreground the business side of dealing as artworks shuttled back and forth among Knoedler, fellow dealers, and collectors, documenting developments in art connoisseurship, shifting tastes, the changing role of art in American society, and the essential role of private collectors in the formation of public American art collections.

The records provide insight into broader economic, social and cultural histories and the nation's evolving sense of place in the world. The Knoedler Gallery became one of the main suppliers of old master and post-Impressionist paintings in the United States. Financial records of the firm provide crucial provenance information on the large number of artworks in American museums that were sold by the gallery. The archive includes stock books, sales books and commission books; correspondence with collectors, artists, art dealers and other associates; photographs of the artworks sold by the gallery; records from the firm's offices in London, Paris and other cities; exhibition files; framing and restoration records, and records of the firm's Print Department.

Selected portions of the archive have been digitized and made available online. Connect to selected digitized portions of the archive.

Arranged in 14 series:
Series I. Stock books;
Series II. Sales books;
Series III. Commission books;
Series IV. Inventory cards;
Series V. Receiving and shipping records;
Series VI. Correspondence;
Series VII. Photographs;
Series VIII. Exhibition files;
Series IX. American Department records;
Series X. Framing and restoration records;
Series XI. Print Department records;
Series XII. Other financial records;
Series XIII. Library cards, scrapbooks, and research materials;
Series XIV. Knoedler family papers


Biographical/Historical Note:
M. Knoedler & Co. was a successor to the New York branch of Goupil & Co., an extremely dynamic print-publishing house founded in Paris in 1827. Goupil's branches in London, Berlin, Brussels, and The Hague, as well as New York, expanded the firm's market in the sale of reproductive prints.

The firm's office in New York was established in 1848. In 1857, Michael Knoedler, an employee of Goupil and a manager for the firm, bought out the interests in the firm's New York branch, conducted the business under his own name, and diversified its activities to include the sale of paintings. Roland Knoedler, Michael's son, took over the firm in 1878 and with Charles Carstairs opened galleries in Paris and London.

In 1928, the management of the firm passed to Roland's nephew Charles Henschel, Carman Messmore, Charles Carstairs and Carstairs' son Carroll. In 1956 Henschel died, and E. Coe Kerr and Roland Balaÿ, Michael Knoedler's grandson, took over. In 1971 the firm was sold to businessman and collector Armand Hammer. The gallery closed in November 2011.

extent3042.6 linear feet (5550 boxes, 17 flat file folders).
formatsAuction Catalogs Business Records Correspondence Financial Records Ephemera
accessOpen for use by qualified researchers, with the following exceptions. Boxes 77, 262-264, 1308-1512, 1969-1974, 3592-3723 are restricted due to fragility. Box 4468 is restricted until 2075.
record linkhttp://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2012m54
record sourcehttp://primo.getty.edu/GRI:GETTY_ALMA21129976460001551
contact informationContact gallery's archivist
finding aidAt the Getty Research Institute and over their website.
acquisition informationAcquired in 2012.
updated05/29/2018 14:44:15
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