Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America
Archives related to: Graham Gallery
| title | Robert C. Graham collection of artists' letters, 1783-1935, bulk 1804-1877 |
| repository | Archives of American Art |
| description | Graham is an art dealer, and collector; New York, N.Y.; director of the Graham Gallery. Gathering of unrelated letters from several late eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century painters. Included are letters written by: John Henry Brown, Francis Bicknell Carpenter, Aaron Clark, Thomas Doughty, Ferdinand J. Dreer, William Hart, G.P.A. Healy, Robert Hinshelwood, Daniel Huntington, Henry Inman, Philip S. Kane, James Reid Lambdin, Emanuel G. Leutze, Samuel F. B. Morse, John Neagle, Rembrandt Peale, Luigi Persico, John Pine, John Francis Renault, John Singer Sargent, Thomas Sully, John Trumbull, Benjamin West, Joseph Wood, and an unidentifed writer to John Durand. Also included are a bookplate engraving by John Callender; a receipt of F.B. Carpenter for goods exchanged for a painting by Carpenter; a stock certifiate, 1809, for a share in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts; and a few other miscellaneous lists and receipts. Notable among them is a letter, probably a draft, from Trumbull in London to Andrew Robertson, June 28, 1816. He writes at length about the reconciliation of Robertson's brothers and their families, as well as his own; he inquires about "the picture" and refers to the economic troubles in England and their effect on the arts; about the engraving of his "Declaration of Independence" and rumors of the death of the engraver, [James] Heath; and asks him to test an oil which he sends. Another is from Benjamin West to Charles Willson Peale, June 15, 1873, congratulating "you and my Countrymen in general" for their fortitude, wisdom in the war. He looks forward to the painting of Washington which Peale is sending, and asks for drawings of the uniforms worn by the American army. |
| extent | 40 items (on partial microfilm reel). reels D23 (fr. 225-352), D294 (does not include West letters), 1236 (Healy letter) |
| formats | Correspondence Financial Records |
| access | Patrons must use microfilm copy. |
| record link | n/a |
| record source | https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/robert-c-graham-collection-artists-letters-5810/series-1 |
| finding aid | Inventory of the letters available at all Archives of American Art offices. |
| acquisition information | Donated by Robert Graham, 1961. The letters were filmed on reel D23, and, except for West letters, refilmed on reel D294. One G.P.A. Healy letter refilmed on reel 1236. |
| updated | 02/14/2025 10:07:27 |
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| title | David Herbert papers, circa 1909-1996, bulk 1945-1995 |
| repository | Archives of American Art |
| description | Art gallery owner and employee; New York, N.Y. Herbert worked for a number of important contemporary galleries, namely the Betty Parsons Gallery (1951-1953), Sidney Janis Gallery (1953-1959), and the Graham Gallery (1969-1975). In addition, he had his own eponymous gallery (1959-1962), was a private dealer (1964-1969; 1975-1995) and was in partnership with dealer Richard Feigen (1962-1964). The papers of David Herbert consist of scattered records emanating from his work at various art galleries, as well as personal documents such as photographs of occupied Japan, where he served after World War II, and many letters to and from his mother, Sarah Schmerer. Gallery records include appointment calendars; sales books; receipts; list of commissions from the Sidney Janis, David Herbert, and Graham Galleries; and various announcements and catalogs. Also found are correspondence between Herbert and Richard Feigen; files on artists, dealers, and galleries, among them Ellsworth Kelly (whom Herbert discovered and recommended to Betty Parsons, triggering his New York career), Ferus Gallery (containing detailed letters from Irving Blum and Walter Hopps, 1958-1962, relating to its founding), Jeanne Reynal, Anthony Padovano, Sven Lukens, Martha Jackson Gallery, and the Arthur Tooth Gallery; and extensive newspaper clippings on art and the art world (mainly obituaries). Of special interest are two transcripts of radio interviews with Betty Parsons from 1951 and 1952, in which Parsons defends the new and controverial art she showed. |
| extent | 7.0 linear ft. |
| formats | Correspondence Photographs Catalogs Electronic Resource Clippings |
| access | Unmicrofilmed; use requires an appointment and is limited to the Washington, D.C. office. |
| record link | https://sirismm.si.edu/EADpdfs/AAA.herbdavi.pdf |
| record source | https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/david-herbert-papers-6259 |
| acquisition information | Donated 1999 by Jaime Andradre, Herbert's companion. |
| updated | 02/14/2025 10:07:27 |
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| title | Oral history interview with Robert Claverhouse Graham, 1976 Nov. 19 |
| repository | Archives of American Art |
| description | Interview of Robert Claverhouse Graham conducted by Paul Cummings in New York, N.Y., on 1976 Nov. 19, for the Archives of American Art. Graham discusses the history of the Graham Gallery and its clientele; the impact of the Depression on art sales; exhibitions at the Graham Gallery and changes in the art business and American collecting. |
| extent | Sound recording: 1 sound tape reel ; 5 in. Transcript: 18 p. |
| formats | Sound Recording Interview Transcript |
| access | Online Transcript |
| record link | https://www.aaa.si.edu/download_pdf_transcript/ajax?record_id=edanmdm-AAADCD_oh_212286 |
| record source | https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/interviews/oral-history-interview-robert-claverhouse-graham-12189 |
| acquisition information | Part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958. |
| updated | 02/14/2025 10:07:28 |
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| title | James Graham & Sons records, 1821 |
| repository | Archives of American Art |
| description | Artists files, correspondence, financial records, inventories, exhibition records, photographs, printed materials, and miscellany regarding the operation of the James Graham and Sons gallery. Bio / His Notes: Art gallery; New York, N.Y.; Est. 1857. One of the oldest family-run galleries in the United States, specializing primarily in American paintings and sculpture, both contemporary and secondary market. |
| extent | 69.6 linear feet |
| formats | Artist Files Correspondence Financial Records Inventories Exhibition Catalogs |
| access | Use requires an appointment. Permission to quote or reproduce for the purposes of publishing requires written permission from James Graham and Sons via Jay Grimm, 32 East 67th Street, New York, N.Y. 10065. |
| record link | https://sirismm.si.edu/EADpdfs/AAA.jamegras.pdf |
| record source | https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/james-graham--sons-records-13683 |
| acquisition information | The James Graham & Sons records were donated in 2007, 2008, and 2012 by Priscilla Caldwell and Jay Grimm of James Graham & Sons and in 2018 by Cameron Shay of James Graham & Sons. |
| updated | 02/14/2025 10:07:41 |
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