The bulk of the papers consist of Nagel's files on his various positions and projects (ca. 3.3 ft), containing a variety of materials, including correspondence, writings, notes, art works, clippings, photographs and printed material. Also included are files pertaining to Nagel's father, lawyer and statesman Charles Nagel, and to his mother, Anne; and papers of and relating to Nagel's friend and associate, architect Victor Proetz (0.6 ft).
Nagel's files on positions and projects are arranged chronologically, and relate to: design projects while a student at Yale University, ca. 1926-1928; his struggle with career choices (mostly typescripts of letters to his father), ca. 1927-1931; his appointment to the Yale University Gallery of Fine Arts; commissions during his partnership in Nagel & Dunn (includes photographs of Fred Dunn, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, and other designs); organizing the exhibit "Italy at Work: Her Renaissance in Design Today, 1950-1951," his publication American Furniture, 1650-1850, and other activities while director of the Brooklyn Museum, 1946-1955; his position as juror and secretary for the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Competition and working with other jurors Fiske Kimball and William Wurster, and design winner, Eero Saarinen; the Independence National Historical Park Project, Philadelphia, Pa.; positions at the City Art Museum, St. Louis, Mo.; establishment of the National Portrait Gallery (includes photographs of staff, the building, exhibitions, and opening celebrations, 1964-1969, notably Chief Justice Earl Warren, Smithsonian Secretary S. Dillon Ripley, and artist Peter Hurd); his emigration to Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mex.; and alterations and additions to St. Michael and All Angels Church in Cuernavaca, 1983. Included in several files are photographs of Nagel, his residences, and colleagues, and architectural drawings.
Files on his father contain honorary degrees and awards, photographs and printed material relating to the naming of a post office in his honor, St. Louis, Mo., and other events honoring him.
The papers of Victor Proetz, ca. 1928-1966 (ca. 0.6 ft), include obituaries; correspondence; a Last Will and Testament; a list of Proetz's commissions, 1934-1943; writings by Proetz and others; Proetz's "The Astonishment of Words," 1971, posthumously published; a scrapbook; exhibition announcements and catalogs; printed material; and photographs of Proetz and his designs for interiors and furniture.
Biographical / Historical:
Museum director; architect. Nagel was born in St. Louis, Mo. He attended Yale University, earning a B.A. in 1923, a B.A. in architecture in 1926 and M.F.A. in architecture in 1928. Upon graduation, he was employed at the firms of Jamieson & Spearl, and Hall & Proetz, St. Louis, and with Coolidge, Shepley, Bulfinch, Abbott in Boston.
He taught art history at Yale, and served as curator of Decorative Arts at Yale's Gallery of Fine Arts, 1930-1936, returning to architecture with the firm Nagel & Dunn, St. Louis, from 1936-1942. His positions as museum director include the City Art Museum in St. Louis, 1942-1946 (acting) and 1955-1964; the Brooklyn Museum, 1946-1955; and the National Portrait Gallery, 1964-1969.
Provenance:
Donated 1992 and 1994 by Lucie O. Nagel, widow of Charles Nagel. According to Mrs. Nagel, the material relating to Victor Proetz was given to Nagel by Proetz, who was a close friend and associate, and by the Proetz estate following his death in 1966.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Occupation:
Museum directors -- Missouri -- St. Louis Search this
Museum directors -- New York (State) -- Brooklyn Search this
Found here is one letter to museum director Charles Nagel written by artist Beauford Delaney, dated February 16th, 1967. In this letter, Beauford Delaney thanks Charles Nagel for his kindness to artists. Delaney also mentions Madame Breeskin [Adelyn Breeskin].
Scope and Contents:
Found here is one letter to museum director Charles Nagel written by artist Beauford Delaney, dated February 16th, 1967. In this letter, Beauford Delaney thanks Charles Nagel for his kindness to artists. Delaney also mentions Madame Breeskin [Adelyn Breeskin].
Arrangement:
Due to the small size of this collection the papers are arranged as one series.
Biographical / Historical:
Beauford Delaney (1901-1979) was an African American painter known for his association with the Harlem Renaissance and his works in abstract expressionism after his move to Paris in 1953. Charles Nagel, Jr. (1899-1922) was an architect and museum director.
Provenance:
Transferred in 2005 from Smithsonian American Art Museum. Provenance unknown.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Rights:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
120mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1966
May 23, 1966
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-887]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
120mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1966
May 27, 1966
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-891R1]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
35mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1966
May 27, 1966
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-891R2]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
Stevenson, Adlai E (Adlai Ewing) 1900-1965 Search this
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
120mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1966
September 20, 1966
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-934]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
120mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1966
October 4, 1966
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-937R1]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
120mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1966
October 4, 1966
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-937R2]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
Arts and Industries Building (Washington, D.C.) Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
35mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1967
March 29, 1967
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-1025]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
35mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1967
December 1967
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-1156]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
35mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1968
May 1, 1968
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-1246]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
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Physical description:
35mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1968
October 1, 1968
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-1336]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
American Association for State and Local History Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
35mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1968
September 27, 1968
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-1337]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
35mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1968
September 9, 1968
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-1326]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
35mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1968
October 5, 1968
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-1341R1]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
35mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1968
October 5, 1968
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-1342R1]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution) Search this
Smithsonian Institution Office of Public Affairs Search this
Physical description:
35mm;
Type:
Black-and-white negatives
Date:
1968
October 5, 1968
Local number:
SIA Acc. 11-008 [OPA-1342R2]
Restrictions & Rights:
No access restrictions Many of SIA's holdings are located off-site, and advance notice is recommended to consult a collection. Please email the SIA Reference Team at osiaref@si.edu
