Correspondence, including a letterbook which contains some drafts of Cummings' own communications, and letters received; broadsides; and clippings.
Among the correspondents are many 19th century New York painters and National Academy of Design members, including Gorham D. Abbott, William Aspinwall, Anthony Barclay, Albert Bierstadt, Victoria Bellamy, Robert Bunch, Charles Butler, J. G.Chapman, Vincent Colyer, Mortimer De Motte, Asher B. and John Durand, F. W. Edmonds, Charles L. Elliott, Isaac Ferris, Hamilton Fish, Robert Fraser, William Gibbons, Régis Gignoux, R. K. Haight, Walter Harding, Daniel Huntington, Charles Ingham, Henry Inman and his widow Jane Inman (re proceeds from an Inman memorial exhibition organized by Cummings), William Kemble, Louis Lang, James Lenox, Edward Lester, Charles Leupp, John Lewis, Benson Lossing, James J. Mapes, James McMurtrie, John Morgan, George P. Morris, S. F. B. Morse, E.W. Perry, William H. Seward, D. Seymour, James Shegogue, John R. Smith, William Stillman, Russell Sturgis, Thomas Sully, Henry Tappan, Thomas Thorpe, T. B. Wakeman, Prosper Wetmore, and James Whitehorne.
Biographical / Historical:
Thomas Seir Cummings (1804-1894) was a miniature and portrait painter from New York, N.Y. One of the founders of the National Academy of Design.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming 1958 by the Century Association.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Church, Frederic Edwin, 1826-1900 -- Heart of the Andes Search this
Winthrop, Theodore, 1828-1861. -- Companion to the Heart of the Andes Search this
Extent:
2,000 Items ((on 5 microfilm reels))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1854-1907
Scope and Contents:
Correspondence and printed material.
Reels N21-N24: Letters concerning publication of THE CRAYON, a journal devoted to the graphic arts and related literature edited by Durand, and published by Stillman and Durand, New York.
Reel N25: The book A COMPANION TO THE HEART OF THE ANDES, 1859, by Theodore Winthrop, with John Durand's signature on the title page. The book is a critique of Frederic Edwin Church's painting "The Heart of the Andes."
Biographical / Historical:
Editor; Paris, France and New York City.
Provenance:
Microfilmed 1956 by the Archives of American Art with other art-related papers in the Manuscript Division of the New York Public Library. Included in the microfilming project were selected papers of the Art Division and the Prints Division.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Occupation:
Editors -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
3 Microfilm reels (800 items on 3 microfilm reels)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Microfilm reels
Date:
1857-1902
Scope and Contents:
The microfilmed Samuel Putnam Avery papers contain correspondence, including letters, calling cards, and sketches from American and European artists, among them Albert F. Bellows, Eugene Benson, Edwin H. Blashfield, Rosa Bonheur, Adolph W. Bouguereau, Samuel Colman, Clarence Cook, Jasper F. Cropsey, F. O. C. Darley, Charles F. Daubigny, John Durand, Sanford R. Gifford, E. D. E. Greene, Augustus Hoppin, Victor Hugo, John La Farge, Jules Lefebvre, Jervis McEntee, Charles H. Moore, William S. Mount, Thomas A. Richards, Launt Thompson, Henry T. Tuckerman, and James McNeill Whistler; five diaries (1871-1882) detailing annual buying trips to Europe; catalogs; clippings; and miscellaneous publications pertaining to the Avery Art Gallery.
The travel diaries were written exclusively during the summers of 1871-1882 while in Europe (circa780 pages). Avery visited England, France, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, and Italy, visiting galleries and studios, and attending sales in the major cities. In his entries, Avery lists the works that he sees and art he purchases, detailing prices, sizes, and frame requirements. Avery spent most of his time visiting dealers, making shipping arrangements, and commissioning work from a variety of artists. He visited auction houses such as Christie's in London, and "bric a brac shops" where he purchased paintings, as well as furniture, tapestries, and jewelry. He mentions several dealers throughout Europe, especially the P.L. Everard Company and Mr. Boughton in London, and Mr. Van Hinsberg in Belgium. His social engagements included gallery exhibitions, concerts, trips to the opera, and dinners. He describes the French city of Écouen and the Italian countryside vividly. Avery also records his meeting with the Spanish artist Cutazzi, and describes in detail the finery of the Makart studio in Vienna. Throughout the diaries, he corresponds and meets with Mr. Everard, Mr. Boughton, James McNeill Whistler, Vincent Van Gogh, and people he refers to only as Sam and Mary. Avery writes often of his occasional traveling companion, Mr. Lucas. Beginning in 1873, he mentions his wife, letters to her, and gifts that he buys her. At the end of the diary, he lists his accounts during these years.
Biographical / Historical:
Samuel Putnam Avery (1822-1904) was a wood engraver, art dealer, and collector in New York, New York. He was a founder and trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Avery took annual trips to Europe in the 1870s during which he commissioned art for clients. Avery also founded the Avery Architectural Library at Columbia University and donated his collection of etchings and lithographs to the New York Public Library.
Related Materials:
The New York Public Library Manuscripts and Archives Division holds the Samuel Putnam Avery papers, 1822-1904. The New York Historical Society holds the Samuel Putnam Avery letters to William D. Murphy, 1902-1903. The Metropolitan Museum of Art Thomas J. Watson Library holds the Samuel Putnam Avery Papers, ca. 1850-1905.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming 1964 by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Occupation:
Art dealers -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Engravers -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
United States of America -- California -- Los Angeles County -- Pasadena
Durand Garden (Pasadena, California)
Varying Form:
Also known as Arlington Garden.
General:
The House and Garden of Mrs. Durand in Winter, showing Hedge of Beautiful Cherokee Rose, Pasadena, Cal. Postcard 1901-1915.
Collection Restrictions:
Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Collection Rights:
Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Richard Marchand historical postcard collection.
Sponsor:
A project to describe images in this finding aid in this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care Initiative, administered by the National Collections Program.
Albert Bierstadt. Albert Bierstadt, New Bedford, Mass. letter to John Durand, New York, N.Y., 1858 December 07. Charles Henry Hart autograph collection, 1731-1918. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Frank Blackwell Mayer. Frank Blackwell Mayer, Baltimore, Md. letter to John Durand, New York, N.Y., 1861 October 06. Charles Henry Hart autograph collection, 1731-1918. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
James McDougal Hart. James McDougal Hart, Albany, N.Y. letter to John Durand, New York, N.Y., 1855 March 27. Charles Henry Hart autograph collection, 1731-1918. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Leonard Wells Volk. Leonard Wells Volk, Chicago, Ill. letter to John Durand, New York, N.Y., 1860 March 29. Charles Henry Hart autograph collection, 1731-1918. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
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