Archives Directory for the History of Collecting in America

Archives related to: Huntington, Arabella Duval, 1850 or 51-1924

titleArabella Huntington Papers, 1888-1925.
repositorySyracuse University Libraries
descriptionThe papers of Arabella Huntington contain correspondence, subject files, bills and receipts, and manuscripts.

Correspondence includes incoming and outgoing correspondence, and correspondence to and from others. The incoming correspondence is arranged alphabetically by author. The outgoing correspondence if filed chronologically. (Dates: 1892, 1901-1902, 1905-1919, 1922-1923.)

Subject files contains accounts, blueprints, inventories, legal papers, material pertaining to the Roadside Mine, and related items. These materials are arranged alphabetically by type or subject. (Dates: 1891, 1897, 1909, 1912, 1920, 1923-1925.)

Bills and receipts consists of bills or receipts sent to Mrs. Huntington by various firms, merchants, charities, etc. These are arranged alphabetically by name of the firm or individual. (Dates: 1888-1889, 1902-1925)

Manuscripts includes three articles by others, all typescript. These are undated.

Arabella Duval Huntington was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1851. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Yarrington, raised Arabella in Virginia where she remained until her marriage at the age of eighteen. She married a Mr. Worsham of New York City in 1869 and returned there with him. However, he died a year later, leaving Arabella with an infant son, Archer Milton.* The next fourteen years were spent raising her son and educating him herself. In 1884, she married Collis P. Huntington, railroad builder and financier. Mr. Huntington legally adopted Archer. They lived a very happy life together until his death in 1900.

For the next ten years, Mrs. Huntington tried to carry on her husband's interests, visiting his shipyards and supporting charities in his name. In 1913, she remarried once more. Mutual interests in art attracted her to Collis P. Huntington's nephew, Henry E. Huntington, and after their marriage they traveled extensively in Europe, gathering the materials for what was to be the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery in California. She divided her time between New York and her husband's home in California. She remained active in numerous charities and good works until her death in 1924.

*This history has been questioned. A. Hyatt Mayor, Arabella's nephew, has suggested that Archer Milton was in fact the illegitimate son of Collis Huntington. [RR]

extent1.5 linear ft.
formatsCorrespondence Financial Papers Manuscript Ephemera
accessThe majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.
record linkhttp://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/h/huntington_a.htm
record sourcehttp://library.syr.edu/
finding aidOnline and in repository
updated03/16/2023 10:29:52
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titleHuntington Estate Papers, 1955-1976
repositorySyracuse University Libraries
descriptionThe Huntington Estate Papers consist primarily of legal and financial papers relating to the businesses and estates of Collis P. Huntington and his wife Arabella, and their son Archer Milton Huntingon and his wife Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington. The material includes bank statements, bills, correspondence, litigation documents, receipts, taxes, trust documents, wills, and similar material.

Biographical History
The Huntington family were businessmen, art collectors, and philanthropists in early 20th century New York. Collis P. Huntington was a railroad builder and financier; he and his wife Arabella Duval Huntington collected art and supported various charities. Their son, Archer Milton Huntington, was an American philanthropist and poet and together with his wife, noted sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, became an enthusiastic patron of the arts.

extent12 linear ft.
formatsEstate Papers Financial Papers Legal Papers Inventories
accessThere are no access restrictions on this material.
record linkhttps://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/h/huntington_est.htm
record sourcehttp://library.syr.edu/
finding aidOnline and in repository
acquisition informationGift of Anna Hyatt Huntington.
updated04/29/2018 14:20:42
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titleArabella Duval Huntington papers, 1888-1925.
repositoryArchives of American Art
descriptionCorrespondence, and subject files relating to the art collecting activities of Arabella Duval Huntington and family.

Extensive correspondence relating to Huntington's art collecting from dealers and others includes letters from Joseph Duveen regarding purchases of two Rembrandts and a Hals. Other materials include a biographical sketch, lists of accounts payable, an exhibition catalog for a show of paintings owned by Collis Potter Huntington, critical descriptions of Titian's paintings by G.B. Cavalcaselle and inventories, bills and receipts for paintings, jewelry, furnishings, and tapestries purchased from numerous dealers and galleries (see finding aid for a complete listing of dealers).

Originals in: George Arents Research Library for Special Collections, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York.
extent1.2 linear ft. (on 2 microfilm reels) reels 4279-4280
formatsMicrofilm
accessPatrons must use microfilm copy.
record linkhttps://www.aaa.si.edu/collections/arabella-duval-huntington-papers-9682
record sourcehttp://www.siris.si.edu/
finding aidA collection inventory prepared by the lender is available at AAA offices and at George Arents Research Library for Special Collections, Syracuse University.
acquisition informationOriginals in: George Arents Research Library for Special Collections, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York./
updated04/29/2018 14:21:27
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