Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America
Archives related to: Nicholson, Grace, -1948.
| title | Grace Nicholson Papers, 1822-1951, bulk 1902-1948 | repository | The Huntington Library |
| description | This collection consists of two distinct sections: the Grace Nicholson papers (2,926 pieces) and addenda (1,444 pieces). The papers are primarily correspondence, while the addenda is primarily notes. Both relate to Grace Nicholson (d. 1948) and her work in the fields of Native American and Asian art There are many letters from Native Americans to Nicholson and extensive diaries and notes that Nicholson kept on her buying trips through Native American territory, especially of the Karok, Klamath, and Pomo Indians. Subject matter includes Native American legends, folklore, vocabulary, tribal festivals, basket making, business in art trade, and living conditions There is also a considerable amount of correspondence from China, Japan, and Korea between Nicholson and her buyers. Among the subjects covered are Chinese art and architecture, Japanese art, Koreans art, Javanese textiles, Siamese art, Philippine art, life and social conditions in Asia, and the business of trading Asian art Being a well-known dealer in Native American and Asian art, Nicholson was in contact with many artists, such as Frederick Arthur Bridgman (1847-1928), W. Herbert Dunton (1878-1936), Sadakichi Hartmann (1867-1944), Elizabeth Conrad Hickox (1872-1928), Louise Merrill Hickox (1896-1962), Grace Carpenter Hudson (1865-1937), George Wharton James (1858-1923), Lillian Miller, Hovsep T. Pushman (1877-1966), Joseph Henry Sharp (1859-1953), and Millard Sheets (b. 1907) Nicholson also purchased materials for institutions such as the Field Museum of Natural History, the Honolulu Academy of Arts, the Los Angeles Musuem of History, Science, and Art, the Pasadena Art Museum, and the Southwest Museum (Los Angeles, Calif.) Her intimate relationships with Native Americans give particular insight into their lives and culture. Thus she was a key source of information about them and historians and academics sought her out, including A.L. (Alfred Lewis) Kroeber (1876-1960), Charles Fletcher Lummis (1859-1928), and C. Hart (Clinton Hart) Merriam (1855-1942) Nicholson also received correspondence from political figures such as Frederick Webb Hodge (1864-1956), Herbert Hoover (1874-1964), Hiram Johnson (1866-1945), and Franklin D. (Franklin Delano) Roosevelt (1882-1945) Biographical note Grace Nicholson (d. 1948) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvannia in 1877. Partly because of her health but also because of a desire for adventure in the West, Nicholson arrived in Pasadena, California in 1901. With some borrowed money she opened up her own shop to sell Native American wares. By January of 1902 she was purchasing Native American baskets and other items in association with Carrol S. Hartman. She traveled throughout Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington. With the popularity of the wares of Native Americans waning, combined with higher prices and a lack of supply, Nicholson moved on to another passion of hers, Asian art. In 1931 she built her home/store/gallery at 46 N. Los Robles Ave. in Pasadena, which was designed and constructed after a Chinese temple. In 1943 Nicholson offered her Los Robles building to the Pasadena Art Institute which eventually became the Pasdena Art Musuem and is now the Pacific Asia Museum. Getting on in years, Nicholson left the care of her shop to her assistants Thyra H. Maxwell and Estelle Bynum. From February 1948 onwards she suffered from a lengthy illness and passed away on August 31, 1948 Note Related photographs (as well as Addenda Box 3) may be consulted in the Photo Archives, Rare Books Department, Huntington Library |
| extent | 4,370 pieces. 30 boxes. 9 oversize folders. 3 scrapbooks. 1 roll. |
| formats | Correspondence Notes Scrapbooks |
| access | Collection is open to qualified researchers by prior application through the Reader Services Department. |
| record link | http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/tf787005cq/ |
| bibliography | Guide to American historical manuscripts in the Huntington Library (San Marino, Calif. : H. E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery, 1979) |
| record source | http://catalog.huntington.org |
| finding aid | Unpublished finding aid available in repository. An electronic version is available on the Web site of Online Archives of California (OAC). |
| acquisition information | Thyra H. Maxwell, Gift, 10/1968 Raymond P. Clover, Gift, 12/29/1975 Anonymous, Gift, 11/23/1998 |
| updated | 03/16/2023 10:29:58 |
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