Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America
Archives related to: Morgan, John Hill, 1870-1945
| title | John Hill Morgan Research Files, 1922-1944. | repository | The Frick Collection and Frick Art Reference Library |
| description | Correspondence, approximately 500 black and white photographs of George Washington portraits, handwritten and typed notes, annotated volumes, printed material, some drafts of Morgan's writings, and copies of diaries and letters document John Hill Morgan's research on portraits of George Washington and other early American works. Papers date from 1920-1944, with a few printed items dating from 1892-1913. The bulk of the collection contains Morgan's research and correspondence for his 1931 book, "The Life Portraits of George Washington and Their Replicas," which he co-authored with Mantle Fielding. Also of note is Morgan's research on Gilbert Stuart, which includes reference materials and his annotated volumes of "Gilbert Stuart: An Illustrated Descriptive List of His Works" (1926) by Lawrence Park. Additional research in the collection concerns portraits of George Washington not included in Morgan's or Park's books, and fakes of early American oils and drawings: Frank Bayley's sale of a Washington portrait later determined to be a copy (in Series IV: Gilbert Stuart), and a series of fake drawings sold in the 1920s and early 1930s by a man using various aliases, including George J. Shepard, Ferdinand Danton and John J. Hughes (in Series V: Shepard-Hughes-Danton Fakes). Biographical/historical note John Hill Morgan (1870-1945), an assistant professor and curator of American painting at Yale University, was considered an authority on early American art, most notably of portraits of George Washington. Among his publications are "The Life Portraits of George Washington and Their Replicas" (1931) which he co-wrote with Mantle Fielding, "Gilbert Stuart and His Pupils" (1939), and "Early American Painters" (1921), as well as other monographs and articles on artists such as John Watson, Joseph Blackburn, Saint-Mémin, Jeremiah Theus, and John Ramage. A member of the Governing Committee of Museums of the Brooklyn Museum of Art and a trustee of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences and the New York Historical Society, Mr. Morgan also served as a New York State Legislator (1900-1903) and Bank of America director (1925-1932), and was a member of the New York law firm Rumsey & Morgan. Location Frick Archives Call Number MS.008 |
| extent | 7.3 linear feet |
| formats | Clippings Correspondence Notes Photographs |
| access | These records are open for research under the conditions of The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives access policy. Contact the Archives Department for further information at archives@frick.org |
| record link | http://www.frick.org/sites/default/files/FindingAids/JohnHillMorgan.html |
| record source | https://library.frick.org/permalink/01NYA_INST/1qqhid8/alma991007514889707141 |
| finding aid | Finding aid available in the repository. |
| acquisition information | Bequest of John Hill Morgan, 1945. |
| updated | 03/16/2023 10:29:43 |
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| title | Lawrence Park Papers, 1910-1924. | repository | American Antiquarian Society |
| description | This collection is a compilation of Park's extensive correspondence, for the period 1910 to 1924, with museum directors, portrait owners, authors, publishers, photographers, art connoisseurs, and a variety of scholarly institutions concerning his work in the field of colonial art. Included are letters on the value of specific works, letters with detailed descriptions of portraits, letters on the compilation of photographs of old Worcester views (with which Park became involved in 1924), letters on the advisability of unearthing the old gravestones on Worcester's common. There are also many photographs of portraits collected by Park and by Clarence Saunders Brigham (1877-1963). Biographical and Historical Note Lawrence Park (1873-1924) of Worcester and Groton, Mass., author and authority on American portraiture, worked as a draftsman and architect in the firm of Park and Kendall until 1914, when he chose to devote his time to the sutdy of colonial art, especially portraiture. Park soon became an authority on the works of Gilbert Stuart (1755-1828), wrote several descriptive portrait lists, was granted membership in various historical societies, and was hired as a consultant for several museums. He also produced a few genealogies and wrote for many scholarly journals. |
| extent | 3 boxes. |
| formats | Correspondence Photographs |
| access | Contact repository for restrictions and policies. |
| record source | http://www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/ |
| finding aid | Contents list available in library. |
| acquisition information | The source of this collection is unknown. |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:29:59 |
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| title | William Henry Fox records, 1913-33 (bulk), 1908-35 (inclusive). | repository | The Brooklyn Museum Libraries and Archives |
| description | The records of William Henry Fox's administration document all activities of the Museum and include correspondence with artists, donors, lenders, and vendors; Board of Trustees and Governing Committee members; New York City agencies, particularly the Parks Department; Museum staff; and staff of other museums and cultural institutions. The activities of the curatorial departments can be tracked through files on the individual curators and departments. These files often contain letters reporting on collecting expeditions, information that may not be available elsewhere. In addition, the files document everyday activities, from routine memos to requisitions for works of art. Among the most important curatorial correspondents are Stewart Culin and Herbert Spinden (Ethnology); William Henry Goodyear, Herbert Tschudy, and Andre Rueff (Fine Arts, Paintings); George P. Engelhardt and Robert C. Murphy (Natural History); Elizabeth Haynes (Decorative Arts); Susan Hutchinson (Library ? and Tassilo Adam (Oriental Art). Donor correspondence documents the offer and acquisition (or rejection) of objects as diverse as a small curiosity or a major art collection. Bequest files also contain valuable acquisitions information. The provenance of objects in the collection can often be traced through these files. Among the donors and artists found in the files are Edwin H. Blashfield, Charles Caryl Coleman, M.D.C. Crawford, Frank Crowninshield, Katherine and Dorothea Dreier, Michael Friedsam, Emil Fuchs, Albert E. Gallatin, Samuel E. Haslett, A. Augustus Healy, Paul Helleu, William H. Herriman, Alfred W. Jenkins, Joseph Pennell, Dick S. Ramsay, Augusta Saint-Gaudens, Louis Sparre, Joseph Stella, Theodora Wilbour, and Claggett Wilson. Correspondence with Trustees also provides valuable insights into administrative matters, collecting policy, and Museum activities. Several Trustees, including Frank L. Babbott, Edward C. Blum, A. Augustus Healy, Adolph Lewisohn, Luke V. Lockwood, John Hill Morgan, and Caroline A. L. Pratt took a very active interest in the day-to-day activities of the Museum and generated a significant amount of correspondence. During Fox's administration, a number of exhibition series were established, among them the biennials "Water Color Paintings by American Artists," beginning in 1921, and "Paintings, Sculpture & Drawings by American & Foreign Artists," beginning in 1928. The Museum also hosted the annual exhibitions of the Brooklyn Society of Etchers from 1915, The Brooklyn Society of Miniature Painters from 1916, and the Brooklyn Society of Artists from 1922. The Director's files provide important adjunct material to the primary exhibition documentation, which appears in curatorial files. Of particular significance are exhibition files that document Fox's organization of circulating loan shows of contemporary art and decorative arts. Fox acted as curator for many shows, often assisted by art critic Christian Brinton. The files include correspondence and lists compiled during trips to Europe to visit museums and artists, select works, and arrange loans; efforts to arrange venues; administration; and critical reaction. In addition, several important exhibitions organized by outside groups were held at the Museum. Among these, the Société Anonyme's "International Exhibition of Modern Art" (1925-27), the "International Exhibition Organized by the Carnegie Institute" (1928), and the American Union of Decorative Artists and Craftsmen (AUDAC) exhibition (1931), are of particular significance. Circulating exhibitions from the American Federation of Arts also appeared at the Museum. While the depth of information seen above does not exist in these files, they do provide critical material not found elsewhere. Bio/History: The son of Daniel M. Fox, lawyer and mayor of Philadelphia, William Henry Fox received academic (1881) and law (1883) degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. He also studied studio art and drew and painted as an amateur. In 1904, Fox served as Secretary of the Fine Arts Department of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri, and the following year became the first Director of the John Herron Art Institute, Indianapolis. In 1910, he served as Secretary General of the American Section of the International Exposition of Art and History in Rome. Location: Brooklyn Archives Call Number: DIR: WHF |
| extent | 15.25 linear ft. plus. 1.25 linear ft. oversize materials plus. .5 linear ft photographs. |
| formats | Administrative Records Correspondence Exhibition Files Notes Ephemera |
| access | Some folders may be restricted. Consult archivist for details. |
| record source | https://library.nyarc.org/permalink/01NYA_INST/ai54l4/alma991004036929707141 |
| finding aid | Unpublished finding aid available in repository. Folder-level descriptions available on-line in repository. Contemporaneous card index available in repository. |
| acquisition information | These files were held by the Registrar's Office until accessioned by the Archives. |
| updated | 11/29/2022 15:49:50 |
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