Archives of American Art

Alexander family papers relating to Henry Ossawa Tanner

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.alexande
Creators:
Alexander family
Dates:
1912-1985
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1 Microfilm reel
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This microfilm collection consists of the Alexander family papers relating to African American painter Henry Ossawa Tanner. The collection includes correspondence between Tanner and Raymond Alexander (1924-1937) and court documents concerning Tanner's legal action against the Bethel A.M.E Church. Included in the Sadie Aleander materials are personal letters from Tanner; correspondence from museums discussing exhibition loans and the discovery of Tanner paintings; printed material, including catalogs and clippings; and materials related to the Tanner commemorative stamp.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Raymond Pace Alexander (1897-1974) and Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander (1898-1989) were prominent African American lawyers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sadie Alexander was Henry Ossawa Tanner's niece. Raymond Alexander represented Tanner in his legal suit against the Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church in Philadelphia regarding nonpayment for a bust of Richard Allen.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel 4399 available at Archives of American Art offices, through interlibrary loan and at the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals in University of Pennsylvania Archives.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Microfilmed in 1990 as part of AAA's Philadelphia Arts Documentation Project. Only those parts of the Alexander family papers relating to Henry Ossawa Tanner were filmed; the entire collection is available at the University of Pennsylvania Archives and Records Center (Alexander Family Papers, 1817-2005).

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.

Related Materials
The Archives of American Art also holds the Henry Ossawa Tanner papers, 1860s-1978; the Henry O. Tanner letters to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, 1885-1909; and the Marcia M. Mathews papers relating to Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1937-1969. The Atlanta University Center, Robert W. Woodruff Library holds the Henry Ossawa Tanner collection, 1907-1937.

More Information

Other Finding Aids

Other Finding Aids
A finding aid to the Alexander family papers prepared by the lender is available on microfilm reel 4399 and at the University of Pennsylvania Archives.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Expatriate painters -- France -- Paris Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lawyers -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Artists' contracts Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Alexander, Raymond Pace, 1898-1974 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Alexander, Sadie Tanner Mossell, 1898-1989 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Tanner, Henry Ossawa, 1859-1937 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Philadelphia, Pa.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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