The microfilmed Charles Allen Munn collection relating to Charles Willson Peale, John Trumbull and Benjamin West contain a diary of Charles Willson Peale (1788-1789); letters, an account book (1816), and a letter book (1809-1810) of John Trumbull; and a brief manuscript autobiography of Benjamin West.
The Charles Willson Peale papers include a diary kept in Philadelphia and Annapolis (May 30, 1788-May 5, 1789). Peale writes about working on his drawing machine "for taking perspective views;" people sitting for portraits; techniques in painting; repairing pictures; travel conditions between Philadelphia and Annapolis; the operation of his Philadelphia Museum; recipes for preserving birds and animals; business and travel expenses; experiments in making bifocals; social activities; and acquaintances.
John Trumbull papers include correspondence, accounts, and a corrected proof of an original manuscript of a description of Trumbull's pictures. The Benjamin West papers consist of an undated autobiography.
Biographical / Historical:
Charles Allen Munn (1859-1924) was an editor, publisher, and art patron in New York, New York.
Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) was a painter, inventor, and naturalist known for his portraits of leading figures in the American Revolution, and for founding the Peale Museum (later the Philadelphia Museum), one of the first major museums in the United States.
John Trumbull (1756-1843) was a painter known for his paintings depicting the leaders and events of the American Revolution.
Benjamin West (1738-1820) was an American painter known for his historical and religious paintings. He was historical painter to the court for George III and Surveyor of the King's Pictures, as well as the second President of the Royal Academy. Many American artists traveled to London to study under him, including Charles Willson Peale and John Trumbull.
Related Materials:
The Archives of American Art holds the Charles Willson Peale diaries and exhibition announcement, 1765-1826; the John Trumbull collection, 1790-[ca. 1800]; Papers from John Trumbull's paint box, 1794-[ca. 1830]; Theodore Sizer research material on John Trumbull, 1790-1952; and the Benjamin West collection, 1771-circa 1879. Also found at the Archives of American Art are the microfilmed Mary Jane Peale and Peale family selected papers, circa 1815-1897; microfilmed selected Peale family papers, 1803-1854; microfilmed selected papers from the Peale-Sellers collection, circa 1767-1904; microfilmed Augusta Barker papers, 1875-1887; microfilmed John Trumbull papers, 1787-1843; the microfilmed Canning collection of papers relating to John Trumbull, 1799; the microfilmed John Trumbull collection at the Gilcrease Institute, 1820-1831; microfilmed Benjamin West selected papers from the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1755-1819.
The American Philosophical Society holds the Peale-Sellers Family Collection, 1686-1963 and the Peale family papers, 1705-1898. The Library of Congress holds the John Trumbull papers, 1786-1841; Princeton University Manuscripts Division holds the John Trumbull Collection, 1768-1842; Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library holds the John Trumbull papers, 1800-1842; Yale University Manuscripts and Archives Repository holds the John Trumbull papers, 1750-1961. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania holds assorted Benjamin West collections; Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library holds the Benjamin West papers, 1762-1829.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming 1968 by Fordham University Library.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Controversy concerning portrait of Washington by Gilbert Stuart, between Alexander Smith Cochran, Thomas B. Clarke, Charles Henry Hart, & Charles A. Munn
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.
Charles Allen Munn collection relating to Charles Willson Peale, John Trumbull and Benjamin West, 1788-1917. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
