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Legal records relating to the estate of Mathilde Beckmann, [ca. 1959-1997]

Creator:
Rathbone, Perry Townsend, 1911-2000  Search this
Subject:
Beckmann, Max  Search this
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Citation:
Legal records relating to the estate of Mathilde Beckmann, [ca. 1959-1997]. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Law and art -- United States  Search this
Artists -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- United States  Search this
Decedents' estates -- New York (State)  Search this
Theme:
Research and writing about art  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)6184
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)216419
AAA_collcode_rathpert
Theme:
Research and writing about art
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_216419

Max Beckmann papers, 1917-1954

Creator:
Beckmann, Max, 1884-1950  Search this
Subject:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Type:
Photographs
Citation:
Max Beckmann papers, 1917-1954. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art -- Germany  Search this
Educators -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Painting, Modern -- 20th century -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Theme:
Diaries  Search this
Lives of artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)8879
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)211064
AAA_collcode_beckmax
Theme:
Diaries
Lives of artists
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_211064
Online Media:

Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries, 1941-1974

Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q., 1904-1986  Search this
Subject:
Beckmann, Max  Search this
Citation:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries, 1941-1974. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art, Modern -- United States  Search this
Art, Modern -- Germany  Search this
Women artists  Search this
Theme:
Women  Search this
Lives of artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)10180
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)213220
AAA_collcode_beckmath
Theme:
Women
Lives of artists
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_213220

Legal records relating to the estate of Mathilde Beckmann

Creator:
Rathbone, Perry Townsend, 1911-2000  Search this
Names:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Beckmann, Max, 1884-1950  Search this
Extent:
2 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
[ca. 1959-1997]
Scope and Contents:
Records kept by Perry Rathbone pertaining to the lawsuits and counter suits over the multi-million dollar estate of Mathilde Beckmann, widow of the painter Max Beckmann. Included are: documents of the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, the New York Surrogate's Court, and a State Court in Florida; correspondence, various wills and codicils to wills of Mathilde Beckmann; testimony of art experts; and supporting material, including clippings, exhibition catalogs, slides and photographs. Much of the material consists of photocopies sent to Rathbone as executor of Mrs. Beckmann's original (1975) will.
Biographical / Historical:
Rathbone (1911-2000) was executor of the estate of Mathilde Beckmann (ca. 1904-1986), the widow of painter Max Beckmann. The suit and counter suits over her estate began just after her death in 1986 and related to re-writing in 1982 of Mrs. Beckmann's original will of 1975, in which Hedda von Kaulbach Schoonderbeek--her elder sister and only surviving relative--was primary benefactor, as well as the disposition of several works of art by Max Beckmann to the National Gallery of art and other museums.
The new will made Mrs. Beckmann's caretakers, sisters Betty Sue Robinson and Mary Dent the primary beneficiaries, leaving Schoonderbeek with just {dollar}5,000 of the multi-million dollar estate and excluded most of the recipients of works of art altogether. In 1985, almost all of Mrs. Beckmann's property was transferred to the Robinson sisters, and in February 1986 Mrs. Beckmann was moved by the Robinsons to Florida, where she died just a few weeks later. In June, Perry Rathbone and Frederic Houston, as executors of the original will, Schoonderbeek, and a friend, Richard Keoseian, filed suit in Surrogate's Court in Manhattan. Although the suit was successful in challenging Robinson and Dent, it spawned several bitter and protracted counter suits, which finally concluded in 1997. By then most of the initial parties were deceased, and the bulk of the estate spent on attorney's fees.
Provenance:
Donated 1998 by Perry T. Rathbone, executor of the Beckmann estate.
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.
Topic:
Law and art -- United States  Search this
Artists -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- United States  Search this
Decedents' estates -- New York (State)  Search this
Identifier:
AAA.rathpert
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9ef206f6e-b2c7-4483-8475-af916d232d18
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-rathpert

Max Beckmann papers

Creator:
Beckmann, Max, 1884-1950  Search this
Names:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Extent:
1.4 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Date:
1917-1954
Summary:
The papers of painter and educator Max Beckmann measure 1.4 linear feet and date from 1917 to 1954. The collection documents Beckmann's art career in Germany as well as New York and includes biographical material, correspondence, printed material and photographs.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of painter and educator Max Beckmann measure 1.4 linear feet and date from 1917 to 1954. The collection documents Beckmann's art career in Germany as well as New York and includes biographical material, correspondence, printed material and photographs.

Biographical material consists of an art class student register, art organization membership card, bibliography, customs forms for a pet, exhibition price lists, and assorted travel identification documents.

Correspondence is with universities, museums and galleries regarding teaching positions, lectures, exhibitions and art sales. There are also numerous letters and telegrams with his wife Mathilde.

Printed material includes clippings, catalogs, postcards, and miscellany.

Photographs are of Max Beckmann, family, friends, exhibition installations, and houses. Most of the series consists of photographic prints, but there are also a few negatives. Many of the photographs are annotated in German.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as four series.

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1939-1954 (Box 1; 0.2 linear feet)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1922-1950 (Boxes 1-2; 1 linear foot)

Series 3: Printed Material, circa 1937-1950 (Box 2; 4 folders)

Series 4: Photographs, 1917-1950 (Box 2; 7 folders)
Biographical / Historical:
Max Beckmann (1884-1950) was a painter and educator who was born and educated in Germany and based in New York after World War II.

Max Beckmann was born in 1884 in Leipzig, Germany. He studied art at the Weimar-Saxon Grand Ducal Art Academy from 1900 to 1902 and graduated with honors. During World War I, he volunteered as a medical orderly from 1914 t0 1915, an experience that haunted him and deeply impacted his artwork. Beckmann's art is considered part of the German New Objectivity movement.

In 1925, Beckmann's first marriage to Minna Tube ended in divorce, and he married Mathilde von Kaulbach. That same year he began teaching art at the Städelschule Academy of Fine Art in Frankfurt. By the late 1920s he had several major exhibitions in museums and galleries in Germany and Switzerland, had his first exhibition in the US (1926), and his paintings were acquired by the National Gallery in Berlin.

When Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany in 1933 and the Nazis came to power, marking the end of the Weimar Republic, modern art was quickly suppressed and derisively referred to as "degenerate art." Consequently, Beckmann lost his teaching job at the Frankfurt Art Academy and several of his paintings were included in the Degenerate Art or Entartete Kunst exhibition (1937) in Munich. Shortly thereafter, Beckmann left Germany and never returned to the country again.

Beckmann and his wife Mathilde settled in Amsterdam, where they stayed for approximately ten years. Beckmann continued to paint during this time. After the end of World War II, Beckmann immigrated to the United States where he taught, painted, and regularly exhibited his work. He taught art at Washington State University in St. Louis, Missouri, for a time and then became an art professor at the Brooklyn Museum's Art School in New York. Max Beckmann died in 1950.
Related Materials:
The Max Beckmann Archive in Munich, Germany also holds papers of Max Beckmann including correspondence, clippings, photographs and artifacts.
Separated Materials:
The Archives of American Art also holds microfilm of material lent for microfilming (reels 1213-1214 and 1237) including ten personal diaries of Max Beckmann and three notebooks containing lists of works, sketches, and some daily entries of activities and observations. Loaned materials were returned to the donor and are not described in the collection container inventory.
Provenance:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann, the artist's widow, loaned diaries and notebooks for microfilming in 1977 and donated additional material in 1983.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.
Occupation:
Painters -- Germany  Search this
Topic:
Art -- Germany  Search this
Educators -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Painting, Modern -- 20th century -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Citation:
Max Beckmann papers, 1917-1954. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.beckmax
See more items in:
Max Beckmann papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw94fa3c2f4-e038-4b91-bc70-e56db9b0ba8b
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-beckmax
Online Media:

Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries

Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Names:
Beckmann, Max, 1884-1950  Search this
Extent:
5 Microfilm reels (42 volumes on 5 microfilm reels)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Microfilm reels
Date:
1941-1974
Scope and Contents:
The microfilmed Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries contain information about Mathilde Beckmann's husband, Max Beckmann, some sketches, and photographs.
Biographical / Historical:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann (1904-1986) was a German singer and the second wife of painter Max Beckmann. Beckmann was portrayed in many of her husband's works and she administered his estate after his death.
Related Materials:
The Archives of American Art also holds the Legal records relating to the estate of Mathilde Beckmann, circa 1959-1997 and the Max Beckmann papers, 1917-1954.
Provenance:
Lent 1977 by Mathilde Beckmann.
Occupation:
Singers  Search this
Topic:
Art, Modern -- United States  Search this
Art, Modern -- Germany  Search this
Women artists  Search this
Identifier:
AAA.beckmath
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw954bcb972-b992-436d-9c6e-6fc20b597130
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-beckmath

Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries

Collection Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1941-1974
Identifier:
AAA.beckmath, Series 1
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw916830f8d-43a4-4bda-be48-fbf573d800f7
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-beckmath-ref15

Diaries

Collection Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Container:
Reel 1254, Frame 1-792
Type:
Archival materials
Microform [31027000113510]
Date:
1958-1974
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries / Series 1: Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw98631da45-24d1-4526-9642-c92f0827ae30
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-beckmath-ref20

Diaries

Collection Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Container:
Reel 1250, Frame 1-98
Type:
Archival materials
Microform [31027000113478]
Date:
1941
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries / Series 1: Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9f2306451-f68d-4167-8ff2-a74533891677
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-beckmath-ref21

Diaries

Collection Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Container:
Reel 1250, Frame 99-268
Type:
Archival materials
Microform [31027000113478]
Date:
1942
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries / Series 1: Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9373d02f5-79c2-4070-8193-4171b2458307
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-beckmath-ref22

Diaries

Collection Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Container:
Reel 1250, Frame 269-377
Type:
Archival materials
Microform [31027000113478]
Date:
1943
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries / Series 1: Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw94db76921-5b6d-4281-a512-c4395c805c89
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-beckmath-ref23

Diaries, part 1

Collection Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Container:
Reel 1250, Frame 378-517
Type:
Archival materials
Microform [31027000113478]
Date:
1944
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries / Series 1: Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9fa7cde98-16d7-47f2-97f1-03eb00d559be
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-beckmath-ref24

Diaries, part 2

Collection Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Container:
Reel 1251, Frame 1-203
Type:
Archival materials
Microform [31027000113486]
Date:
1944
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries / Series 1: Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9a6e34a53-661a-4c3b-aeda-97b5cb5c2900
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-beckmath-ref25

Diaries

Collection Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Container:
Reel 1251, Frame 204-488
Type:
Archival materials
Microform [31027000113486]
Date:
1945
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries / Series 1: Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9b2e9b8e6-6c0c-4c9a-80d1-bcbc1d8aa8df
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-beckmath-ref26

Diaries

Collection Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Container:
Reel 1251, Frame 489-732
Type:
Archival materials
Microform [31027000113486]
Date:
1946
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries / Series 1: Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw940fb9295-d46c-47a3-8a39-f0a69518c136
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-beckmath-ref27

Diaries

Collection Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Container:
Reel 1251, Frame 733-922
Type:
Archival materials
Microform [31027000113486]
Date:
1947
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries / Series 1: Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9c0325689-8e22-4ee0-b8cb-28028e98bec2
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-beckmath-ref28

Diaries

Collection Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Container:
Reel 1252, Frame 1-196
Type:
Archival materials
Microform [31027000113494]
Date:
1948
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries / Series 1: Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9e92ea744-cf65-4427-a9f1-5e4794fe0bbf
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-beckmath-ref29

Diaries

Collection Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Container:
Reel 1252, Frame 197-391
Type:
Archival materials
Microform [31027000113494]
Date:
1949
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries / Series 1: Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9d7daafdb-9f53-4c04-abac-e5d947b2e19b
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-beckmath-ref30

Diaries

Collection Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Container:
Reel 1252, Frame 392-592
Type:
Archival materials
Microform [31027000113494]
Date:
1950
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries / Series 1: Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9fcdf3a65-9c54-4030-be86-7aff5feba293
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-beckmath-ref31

Diaries

Collection Creator:
Beckmann, Mathilde Q.  Search this
Container:
Reel 1252, Frame 593-808
Type:
Archival materials
Microform [31027000113494]
Date:
1951
See more items in:
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries / Series 1: Mathilde Q. Beckmann diaries
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw93cc4b45f-6d77-4ed4-b34f-12fde9f472fb
EDAN-URL:
ead_component:sova-aaa-beckmath-ref32

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