Most of the printed material is about or mentions Chester Beach, and quite a few items contain reproductions of his work. Panama-Pacific International Exposition guide books are The Jewel City by Ben Macomber, and The Sculpture and Murals of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, Official Handbook containing commentary on the Beach sculptures commissioned for the exposition. Two brochures are about the Chester Beach Memorial Studio in Brewster, New York, and one from The Society of Medalists reproduces Beach's work. Exhibition catalogs are for solo and group exhibitions. Miscellaneous items are calling cards of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Beach; and "The New Society Dinner of 1923" seating card. Also found is a printing block for a half-tone reproduction of an unidentified Beach sculpture, probably used for an article or catalog.
General art-related printed items consist of brochures and an exhibition catalog. The brochures are for the Armory Show 50th Anniversary Exhibition and The Hall of Fame for Great Americans. Although neither brochure mentions Beach, he participated in the original Armory Show and his work appeared in its anniversary exhibition; and The Hall of Fame for Great Americans commissioned Beach to create six busts. Also found is a catalog, Exhibition of a Loan Collection of the Work of Maxfield Parrish, Through the Kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Austin M. Purves, date unknown, held at the Plastic Club in Philadelphia (Beach became acquainted with the Purveses in 1909 when Mr. Purves commissioned a marble portrait head of his wife).
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information. Glass plate negatives are housed separately and not served to researchers.
Collection Rights:
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Collection Citation:
Chester Beach papers, 1846-1999, bulk circa 1900-1999. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the digitization of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.
