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Catalog Data

Collection Creator:
National Academy of Design (U.S.)  Search this
Extent:
3.5 Linear feet (Boxes 63-66)
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1826-2004
Scope and Contents:
Artist files include correspondence, writings, manuscripts, diaries, and printed material relating to many notable artists involved with the National Academy of Design, including Timothy Cole, Moseley Isaac Danforth, Asher B. Durand, Rembrandt Peale, John Singer Sargent, Benjamin West, and Worthington Whittredge. The bulk of the material consists of correspondence and memoranda related to the nomination and acceptance of individual artists as associates and academicians of the National Academy of Design, and documents the involvement of artists as both recipients of nominations as well as in the capacity of nominating and seconding colleagues. Other material includes files on specific donor bequests resulting in the disposition of artwork by William Stanley Haseltine, Kenyon Cox, and William Trost Richards, to various art institutions throughout the United States. These files contain correspondence with the donors and recipient institutions, and lists of the artwork dispersed through these bequests. In addition to the above, other records of particular note include: correspondence and transcripts of extensive and detailed letters from Timothy Cole about many aspects of his life and work; two notebooks belonging to Asher B. Durand, containing notes and sketches from anatomy lectures; Rembrandt Peale files, which contain technical painting notes and an extensive lecture titled, "Notes of the Painting Room;" and two notebooks belonging to Daniel Huntington with lists of pictures. Records relating to Moseley Isaac Danforth include correspondence with Danforth followed by correspondence with his descendants regarding the disposition of his papers and other items in his estate. Also found is a diary recording Danforth's 1827 journey to England and notes on his education at the Royal Academy, records of bills and accounts from that time period, and biographical material including examples of Danforth's bank note engravings and a handwritten copy of his will.
Arrangement:
Records are arranged alphabetically by name of artist, primarily in files spanning a range of artists, whose names are listed at the folder level. Some artists are represented in individual named files housed at the beginning of the letter of the alphabet to which they belong, with occasional sub-files arranged by subject as necessary.
Collection Restrictions:
This bulk of this collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
National Academy of Design records, 1817-2012. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.natiacad, Series 18
See more items in:
National Academy of Design records
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw97e881a28-f6cb-455a-bc2e-83417b32dee7
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-natiacad-ref18