The Ivins Family Papers consist mainly of correspondence between relatives and friends of the Ivins, 1878-1964, and also include drawings, clippings, genealogies, and miscellaneous items.
Correspondence between William M. Ivins, Jr., and his mother, Emma Yard Ivins, is extensive and wide-ranging. Included are letters from boarding school, c. 1890-1897, with childhood memorabilia such as grade reports, homework papers, a silhouette, and printed programs from school concerts and athletic events. His letters written while an undergraduate at Harvard, 1897-1901, and during his European trip of 1901-1902, reflect a growing interest in art. During some periods, mother and son corresponded almost daily. He frequently wrote in detail about progress with work, news of the museum, opinions about art, and activities of friends and colleagues, as well as commenting on daily life at home.
Florence Wyman Ivins (Mrs. William M. Ivins) also wrote to her mother-in-law regularly, mainly family news which often included details of her husband's professional activities.
Arrangement note:
The series is organized into eight subseries by individual: 5.1: Genealogy, undated
5.2: William M. Ivins, Jr., circa 1893-1964
5.3: Barbara Ivins, circa 1923-1949
5.4: Emma Yard Ivins, 1878-1940
5.5: Florence Wyman Ivins, circa 1910-1948
5.6: Katharine Ivins, 1890s-1962
5.7: Margaret Ivins Holmes, 1890s-1954
5.8: Sarah Mills Ivins, 1890s-1910
5.9: William M. Ivins, Sr., 1885-1924
Letters addressed to each particular person for whom a subseries exists are arranged alphabetically by sender and filed in chronological order within each name. Related clippings, estate papers, and miscellaneous items are filed with the papers of the person to whom they pertain. There are a few exceptions in this filing system: in cases where there is but one letter addressed to an individual, the item is filed with the papers of the sender, and the authorship clearly indicated in the description.
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Collection Citation:
William Mills Ivins papers, 1878-1964. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
