Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America
Archives related to: Nickerson, Samuel M. (Samuel Mayo), 1830-1914
| title | Benjamin K. Smith papers relating to O'Brien Galleries, 1912-1941. | repository | Archives of American Art |
| description | Papers kept by Benjamin K. Smith, an employee of the O'Brien Galleries (1912-1922), including: handwritten lists concerning paintings from the Samuel Nickerson collection on consignment from the Chicago Art Institute (1920-1921) and furniture bought for the O'Brien Galleries (photographs of furniture microfilmed on reel 4181); a December 1912 issue of ART, a monthly magazine published by the Galleries; sales catalogs and announcements for the O'Brien Art Galleries, the House of O'Brien, and M. O'Brien & Sons; a 1922 exhibition announcement for paintings by Helen West Heller at the Walden Book Shop with pencil sketches of a table "Spanish early 17th cent." on its reverse; a newspaper advertisement and an article (1941) "Gallery Fading from Picture as Art Declines in Chicago." Bio / His Notes: Art gallery; Chicago, Ill. and Scottsdale, Az. Chicago's first art gallery and one of the oldest family owned and operated gallery in the United States. It opened in 1855 as a frame shop, offering a variety of services to both artists and collectors. It was called by several names, including O'Brien's Art Emporium, O'Brien Art Galleries, O'Brien Galleries, House of O'Brien, and M. O'Brien & Sons. The gallery remained in Chicago until 1941, closed during the war, and resumed operation in Scottsdale, Arizona in the 1950s. Three generations of O'Briens (Martin, William, and William Jr.) ran the gallery before it moved to Arizona; all were committed to bringing culture and the visual arts to Chicago. |
| extent | 1 partial microfilm reel, reels 4065 & 4181 |
| formats | Microfilm Inventories Notes |
| access | Patrons must use microfilm copy. |
| record link | n/a |
| record source | https://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/benjamin-k-smith-papers-relating-to-obrien-galleries-9538 |
| acquisition information | Donated by Barton Smith, 1986, son of Benjamin K. Smith (1872-1973), was an employee of the gallery from 1912 to 1922 prior to opening his own art appraisal business. |
| updated | 06/08/2023 16:42:11 |
| .................................................................... | |
| title | Nickerson, Samuel M., portrait photograph [graphic]. | repository | Chicago History Museum |
| description | 1 or more photographic prints : b&w ; 10 x 15 in. or smaller. Call Number Cab cards, People N Collection PH-Use white callslip |
| extent | 1 or more photographic prints : b&w ; 10 x 15 in. or smaller. |
| formats | Photographs |
| record source | http://www.chsmedia.org |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:10 |
| .................................................................... | |
| title | Nickerson, Samuel M., portrait photograph [graphic]. | repository | Chicago History Museum |
| description | 1 or more photographic prints : b&w ; 16 x 22 in. or smaller. Call Number Image file People N Collection PH-Use white callslip |
| extent | 1 or more photographic prints : b&w ; 16 x 22 in. or smaller. |
| formats | Photographs |
| record source | http://www.chsmedia.org |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:10 |
| .................................................................... | |
| title | Roland Crosby Nickersons Fieldstone Hall and Tawasentha Crosby mansion (Mss A 6217) | repository | New England Historic Genealogical Society |
| description | Typescript remembrance about the Nickerson estate and Crosby mansion in Brewster, Mass. Includes some genealogical information concerning the family of Samuel M. and Matilda P. (Crosby) Nickerson. Preferred citation: Roland Crosby Nickersons Fieldstone Hall and Tawasentha Crosby mansion (Mss A 6217). R. Stanton Avery Special Collections Department, New England Historic Genealogical Society. |
| extent | 1 v. : ill., ports. ; 28 cm. |
| formats | |
| acquisition information | Gift; 2005 August 26; Holmes, Betty Dean, 86 Cherry St, Swampscott MA 01907; Accession #2005-072. |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:10 |
| .................................................................... | |
| title | Priscilla Dean research notes on Fieldstone and "Tawasentha," the Crosby Mansion, [1997] | repository | Sturgis Library Archives |
| description | Contemporary photographs and research notes compiled by Priscilla Dean. The Crosby Mansion, or "Tawasentha," was built by Albert and Matilda Crosby in 1888. Located on Crosby Road in Brewster, Mass., it was once the largest and most lavish house on Cape Cod, with a private art gallery. Fieldstone Hall on Route 6A in Brewster, was once the Nickerson Estate, built by Samuel Mayo Nickerson in 1888. Materials entirely in English. Note Forms part of the Town and Local History Collection. Location Barnstable (Sturgis) Special Call Number ARCHIVES REF VAULT MS. 24 |
| extent | 1 box |
| formats | Photographs Notes |
| access | Unrestricted. Credit Sturgis Library Archives for publication purposes. |
| record link | http://www.sturgislibrary.org/pdf/Nickerson.pdf |
| record source | http://www.sturgislibrary.org |
| finding aid | Finding aid available in the Hooper (Genealogy) Room and on Internet. http://www.sturgislibrary.org/pdf/Nickerson.pdf Folder level control. List of Sturgis Library finding aids available on Internet. http://www.sturgislibrary.org/collections/special/archives |
| acquisition information | Donated by Priscilla Dean, May 2002; accession # 04-07 |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:10 |
| .................................................................... | |
| title | M. Knoedler & Co. records, approximately 1848-1971 | repository | The Getty Research Institute |
| description | The 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. |
| extent | 3042.6 linear feet (5550 boxes, 17 flat file folders). |
| formats | Auction Catalogs Business Records Correspondence Financial Records Ephemera |
| access | Open 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 link | http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa2012m54 |
| record source | https://primo.getty.edu/permalink/f/19q6gmb/GETTY_ALMA21129976460001551 |
| contact information | Contact gallery's archivist |
| finding aid | At the Getty Research Institute and over their website. |
| acquisition information | Acquired in 2012. |
| updated | 07/28/2023 16:33:46 |
| .................................................................... | |
| title | Collection of Mr. & Mrs. Samuel M. Nickerson | repository | Internet Archive |
| description | Catalog of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel M. Nickerson Collection, presented to the Art Institute of Chicago in February, 1900. The Collection was installed in Rooms 41 and 42. |
| extent | 1 vol. |
| formats | Electronic Resource |
| access | Open on the internet |
| record source | http://archive.org/stream/collectionofmrmr00arti#page/n3/mode/2up |
| finding aid | NA |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:17 |
| .................................................................... | |
| title | Samuel M. Nickerson House, 40 East Erie Street, Chicago, Cook County, IL | repository | Library of Congress |
| description | Part of: Historic American Buildings Survey (Library of Congress) Notes: The house was designed in 1883 by one of Chicago's earliest architects, Edward Burling, for Samuel M. Nickerson, a wealthy banker. Nickerson spared no expense in creating his "Marble Palace," so-called because of its elegant interior which was finished in marbles, rare woods, and other rich materials. The original character of this spectacular home in beautifully preserved to this day. Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-119 Survey number: HABS IL-1052 Building/structure dates: 1883 Initial Construction Building/structure dates: 1901 Subsequent Work |
| formats | Digital Collection |
| access | Open for research. This is a digital collection of original images, drawings, etc. . . for the Nickerson Home, please consult collection for further information. |
| record source | http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/il0048/ |
| acquisition information | Documentation compiled after 1933 |
| updated | 11/12/2014 11:30:17 |
| .................................................................... | |