The William Trost Richards papers measure 1.8 linear feet and date from 1848-1920. The collection documents Richards' personal life and his career as a landscape and seascape painter. The collection consists of correspondence, writings, business files, printed material, photographs, and other miscellaneous materials.
Scope and Contents note:
The William Trost Richards papers measure 1.8 linear feet and date from 1848-1920. The collection documents Richards' personal life and his career as a landscape and seascape painter. The collection consists of correspondence, writings, business files, printed material, photographs, and other miscellaneous materials.
Correspondence files date from 1851 to 1917 and include family correspondence between Richards and his wife Anna as well as with their children. Of note are letters written by William Trost Richards to his wife while he was in Europe, which include many illustrations of his travels. Also found is general correspondence of a personal and professional nature between Richards and friends, artists, art dealers, and collectors, many of whom played a prominent role in Philadelphia society. Writings include essays written by Richards, homemade magazines written and illustrated by the Richards family, and writings by his wife Anna and others. Business files contain financial, legal, and real estate records, and printed material contains an exhibition catalog from 1976, news clippings, and event programs. Miscellany found in this collection include artwork by others, and inventory of paintings by others, compiled by Richards, and an interview transcript with Miriam Thayer Richards. Photographs include images of Richards, his wife Anna, and their home in Newport, Rhode Island.
Arrangement note:
The collection is arranged into 6 series:
Missing Title
Series 1: Correspondence, 1851-1917, undated (Box 1-2; 0.7 linear feet)
Series 2: Writings, 1849-1905, undated (Box 2-4; 0.8 linear feet)
Series 3: Business Files, 1865-1920, undated (Box 4; 3 folders)
Series 5: Miscellany, 1848-1876, undated (Box 5; 5 folders)
Series 6: Photographs, circa 1850-1900 (Box 5; 7 folders)
Biographical/Historical note:
William Trost Richards was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1833. From 1850 to 1858 he worked as a designer and illustrator of ornamental metalwork, and briefly studied draughtsmanship and painting with the German artist Paul Weber. Richards was also an active member of the Forensic and Literary Circle of Philadelphia during the early 1850s. In 1852 he had his first exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and a year later was elected a full Academician. He had great interest in landscapes and geological subjects, and spent summers sketching in the Catskills and Adirondacks. From 1855 to 1856 Richards toured Europe with William Stanley Haseltine and Alexander Lawrie, and was influenced by the Dusseldorf school of landscape painters.
Richards married aspiring poetess Anna Matlack in 1856, and they settled in Germantown, Pennsylvania, where they had eight children, five of which survived to adulthood. In 1858 he attended an exhibition of British art in Philadelphia, and was greatly influenced by the works of Pre-Raphaelite painters. He began painting outdoors, executing precise, naturalistic, yet atmospheric, landscapes. In 1862 he joined the National Academy of Design, and in 1863 joined the Society for the Advancement of Truth in Art, an American Pre-Raphaelite organization. From 1868 to 1874, Richards spent summers on the East Coast and began focusing on marine subjects painted in watercolor, exhibiting often with the American Watercolor Society. Richards also traveled to Europe several times, and lived there from 1879-1880 while trying to find a new direction for his artwork. In 1881 he built a summer house for his family in Newport, Rhode Island and moved there permanently in 1890. His wife Anna died in 1900, and he continued to paint landscapes and seascapes until his death in 1905.
Related Archival Materials note:
Also available on microfilm at the Archives are the Geoge Whitney papers relating to William Trost Richards, 1875-1885, which includes 112 watercolors and an oil painting by William Trost Richards. These items were lent anonymously in 1979 and returned to the lender after they were filmed. They are available on reels 1497.
Provenance:
The bulk of the collection was donated in 1980 by Mrs. James B. Conant, Richards's granddaughter. The Archives microfilmed this portion of the collection on reels 2296-2299 upon receipt. The inventory of paintings by others was donated by Victor Spark in 1954 and filmed on reel 3470.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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.
Topic:
Marine painters -- Rhode Island -- Newport Search this
Marine painting -- 19th century -- Rhode Island -- Newport Search this
Landscape painting -- 19th century -- Pennsylvania -- Germantown Search this
Landscape painters -- Pennsylvania -- Germantown Search this
Genre/Form:
Daguerreotypes
Photographs
Citation:
William Trost Richards papers, 1848-1920. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing and digitization of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.
Letters, 1850-1910, biographical data, and miscellany pertaining to Stauffer's study of early American printmakers.
Writing to Stauffer are: W. Bruce Almon, Vistus Balch, Albert C. Bates, William A. Beardsley, Clarence S. Bement, J. W. Bothwell, Mrs. J. C. Bruen, William J. Campbell, John Bassett Chapin, Charles E. Clark, William W. Conway, Warren C. Crane, John J. Currier, Charles G. Darrach, Theodore L. De Vinne, Campbell Dodgson, Wilberforce Eames, John H. Edmonds, D. Edwin, Fanny J. Flagg, Edwin D. French, Robert Fridenberg, E. M. Gallaudet, Ernest L. Gay, Charles S. Giles, Walter Gilles, Charles W. Girsch, Charles E. Goodspeed, Samuel A. Green, Charles B. Hall, R. T. H. Halsey, Edward B. Hamlin, W. F. Hammersly, H. R. Harper, Charles H. Hart, Sumner Hazelwood, Henry W. Herbert, E. B. Holden, Samuel Hollyer, John W. Jordan, Charles Lanman, Charles Lanborn, R. H. Lawrence, Alexander Lawson, L. Lement, Emanuel Leutze, George E. Littlefield, Orleans Longacre, Benson John Lossing.
Also, Kate L. McNeely, Frank E. Marshall, James T. Mitchell, F. Moras, Jedediah Morse, Charles A. Munn, William Nelson, Dr. Charles L. Nichols, Frederick B. Nichols, Ourdan Family, Nathaniel Paine, Daniel Parrish, Jr., Howland D. Perrine, Harry Piers, A. Winthrop Pope, Thomas B. Read, Emil H. Richter, William Rollinson, William Sartain, Charles Schlecht, Stephen A. Schoff, Howard Sill, Denison R. Slade, C. A. Smith, F. Hopkinson Smith, Sidney L. Smith, J. Winfred Spenceley, Thackera Family, William Thornton, R. H. Tiebout, Henry T. Tuckerman, Frances K. Walter, A. Coolidge Warren, Frank W. Weitenkampf, and John P. Woodbury.
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.
Indians of North America -- Great Plains Search this
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Pages
Date:
undated
Scope and Contents:
Contents:
1. Myths and customs of the Cherokee, Catawba, and Choctaw, from "Adventures in the Wilds of the United States and British Provinces," by Charles Lanman, 2 volumes, Philadelphia, 1856- 60 pages.
2. Legends of Caddo Paintings by J. M. Stanley, from "Portraits of North American Indians, with sketches of scenery, etc., Washington, 1852. 1 page".
3. Corrections of McNutt's translations of the section on Chicora in Peter Martyr's "De Orbe Novo," by Dr John M. Cooper. 1 page and letter.
4. Memoirs of Berenger, La Harpe's captain on his exploration of the Texas coast. Copied from manuscript in Newberry Library, Chicago. (Linguistic sections omitted but published by Du Terrage and Rivet in Journal de la Societe des Americanistes de Paris. 34 pages.
5. Excerpts from Barcia's "Ensayo Cronologico a la Historia de la Florida." 23 pages.
6. Excerpts from Serrano y Sanz, "Documentos Historicos de la Florida y la Luisiana." 14 pages with additional slips.
7. Excerpts from Eugenio y Caravia, "La Florida." 2 volumes, 12 pages.
8. Extract from the Journal of the Reverend William Capers, printed in the Methodist Magazine for June, 1822, pages 232-236. 4 pages.
9. Extract from Captain Basil Hall's "Travels in North America in the years 1827 and 1828, Philadelphia, 1929. 18 pages (in duplicate.)
10. Notes from Dr Gideon Lincecum's manuscript entitled "Traditional History of the Chahta Nation", owned by the University of Texas, and never published in its entirety though the Choctaw migration legend was primted by the Mississippi Historical Commission. 21 pages.
11. Three pages of Manuscript material from the library of Col. William Preston, in Virginia State Library. 3 pages. Re Cherokee ca. 1780. Cf.Manuscript # 1912, transcript by Mooney, Same ?
12. Notes from Library of Congress copy of French documents by Regis de Roullet; printed also in Journal de la Societe des Americanistes de Paris. 6 pages.
13. Notes on sewan (Wampum) from "Original Narratives of New Netherlands". 2 pages.
14. Notes on Creek Indians from Manuscripts afterward printed by Grant Foreman in "A Traveler in Indian Territory." 23 pages.
15. Excerpts from a Memoir printed at Luxemberg, a copy of which is in the Library of Congress. 5 pages.
16. Excerpts from the "Letters" of Benjamin Hawkins, printed by the Georgia Historical Society. 23 pages.
17. Excerpts from the Narrative of Jean de Ribault from French's Historical Collections of Louisiana, 1875, 159-190. 4 pages.
18. Excerpts from Narrative of Jacques le Moyne translated and printed in Boston, 1875. 3 pages.
19. Excerpt from Oviedo, "Historia General y Natural," volume 3, 630-631. 3 pages.
20. Excerpt from Relation of Penicaut in Margry, V, page 457. 5 pages.
21. Miscellaneous extracts from Barcia's Ensayo (see Number 5). 44 pages and additional slips.
22. Extracts from Rene Gourlaine de Laudonniere, Paris, 1853, "L'Histoire Notable de la Florida." 44 pages.
23. A page on the Natchez language from Le Page du Pratz, "La Louisiane," Paris, 1758; and lists of Natchez and Taensa villages from Margry. 1 page.
24. Relation of Captain Penalosa's voyage to Florida, from Ruidiaz, "La Florida," volume II, pages 473-476. 4 pages.
25. Excerpt from Iberville's Journal in Margry, volume IV, pages 512-514. 2 pages.
26. Excerpt from de Kerelec's Report in Compte Rendu du Congres Internacional des Americanistes, Quebec, 1907. 1 page.
27. Excerpts from Pope's "Tour". 1 page.
28. Excerpt from Journal of Pere du Ru in Journal de la Societe des Americanistes de Paris (N.S.), Volume XVII, pages 119-135. 6 pages.
29. John Smith's version of the "Huskanaw" ceremony, Tyler ed., pages 112-113. 2 pages.
30. Corrections of translations of Fontaneda by an unknown writer and of doubtful value. 23 slips.
Letters and documents of 19th century Americans, outstanding in literature and the arts.
Correspondents include: Washington Allston, Alexander Anderson, John Audubon, Samuel P. Avery, John Warner Barber, Mathew B. Brady, John Casilear, Vincent Colyer, Christopher P. Cranch, Felix O. C. Darley, Daniel P. Huntington, Washington Irving, James J. Jarves, Charles Lanman, Charles Leslie,Benjamin Lossing, Samuel F. B. Morse, Rembrandt Peale, Thomas B. Read, Thomas A. Richards, Thomas B. Thorpe, William D. Washington, and Benjamin West.
Biographical / Historical:
Editor; New York City. Edited, with his brother George, Literary World, 1847, and published a journal with him, 1848-1853. Also, edited CYCLOPAEDIA OF AMERICAN LITERATURE, 1855.
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.
The letters of Eastman Johnson measures 0.2 linear feet and contains 12 items that date from 1851 to 1899. The letters provide scattered documentation of his career as a painter and printmaker.
Scope and Content Note:
The letters of Eastman Johnson measures 0.2 linear feet and contains 12 items that date from 1851 to 1899. The letters provide scattered documentation of his career as a painter and printmaker.
The collection includes a letter to Mr. Champney concerning a painting by Eugene Benson, a letter to Charles Lanman, personal Secretary to Daniel Webster, a letter to Alfred Ordway, artist and Director of Paintings at the Boston Athenaeum, a letter to friend and patron John Coyle, and a letter to Mr. Cozzens concerning a painting which was already sold. Also found are two letters to artist and close friend Jervis McEntee, a letter to an unidentified Mrs. P, stating that he must go to Albany before starting another picture, a letter to Mr. Clark concerning a portrait, and a letter to Dr. Hochheimer regarding a print by Henry Wolf after one of Johnson's paintings. Also included in the collection is an oversize letter, written by Johnson in Dusseldorf, to his friend Charlotte Child, in which he speaks of his impressions of Germany, mutual friends, and working in Leutze's studio.
Arrangement:
Due to the small size of this collection, items are categorized into one series consisting of two folders. Items are arranged chronologically.
Biographical Note:
American painter and printmaker Jonathan Eastman Johnson was born in Lovell, Maine in 1824. After apprenticing with a Boston lithographer, he moved to Washington D.C. in 1845 and became a portraitist of prominent Americans, including Daniel Webster and Dolly Madison. Beginning in 1849, Johnson spent two years at the Royal Academy in Dusseldorf, Germany, studying with Emanuel Leutze, and three years at The Hague. After returning to America in 1855, he settled in New York and focused on painting American genre subjects including Native Americans, African Americans, and farmers. He married Elizabeth Buckley in 1869, and they bought a home in Nantucket where he spent every summer for the rest of his life. After 1880, as the popularity of genre paintings declined, Johnson focused again on portraiture. He died in 1906.
Provenance:
Items were donated in 1979 by Caroline Johnson Brown, Johnson's grand-niece, in 1976 by Letitia Howe, and by Charles E. Feinberg, an active donor to the Archives of American Art between 1955 and 1962, and were microfilmed after receipt.
Restrictions:
The collection has been digitized and is available online via AAA's website.
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.
Topic:
Portrait painters -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Painting, Modern -- 19th century -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Citation:
Eastman Johnson letters, 1851-1899. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing and digitization of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.
Tuckerman, Henry T. (Henry Theodore), 1813-1871 Search this
Extent:
60 Items ((on partial microfilm reel))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1866-1878
Scope and Contents:
Correspondence with contributors to THE GALAXY, of which Church was editor with his brother, Francis Pharcellus Church.
Correspondents include: Eugene Benson (40 letters), Clarence C. Cook, William P. W. Dana, James J. Jarves, John La Farge, Charles Lanman, William J. Linton, Benson J. Lossing, Maria R. Oakey, Thomas B. Read, William J. Stillman, Russell Sturgis, Bayard Taylor, and Henry T. Tuckerman.
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.
Bohn's hand-book of Washington. Beautifully illustrated with steel engravings of all the public buildings and the government statuary. Prepared by Charles Lanman, esq
