Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Mary Cecil Allen Papers, 1928-1970, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.allemary
Creators:
Allen, Mary Cecil, 1893-1962
Dates:
1928-1970
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.2 Linear feet
Repository:
The scattered papers of Australian artist and lecturer Mary Cecil Allen measure 0.2 linear feet and date from 1928 to 1970. Found is a copy of Allen's book, The Mirror of the Passing World (1928) and a mixed media scrapbook focusing on Allen's return to Melbourne, Australia. Inserted in the book are a letter to Elisabeth Hooker, and a snapshot of Allen with the painters Henry and Ada Hensche and art shop owner, Will Rogers, in the Hensche's house, Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The scattered papers of Australian-born painter and educator Mary Cecil Allen measure 0.2 linear feet and date from 1928 to 1970. Found is a copy of Allen's book, The Mirror of the Passing World (1928) and a mixed media scrapbook focusing on Allen's return to Melbourne, Australia. Inserted in the book are a letter to Elisabeth Hooker, and a snapshot of Allen with the painters Henry and Ada Hensche and art shop owner, Will Rogers, in the Hensche's house, Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Due to the small size of this collection the papers are arranged as one series.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Mary Cecil Allen (1893-1962) was a painter and educator in Melbourne, Australia, New York, New York, and Provincetown, Massachusetts who was also known as Cecil Allen and Mary Cecil.
Born in Australia, Allen studied at the National Gallery of Victoria for several years, and briefly at the Slade School in London. In 1927, she accepted an invitation to lecture on art for the People's Institute, sponsored by the Carnegie Corporation. The lectures formed the basis for her two books, The Mirror of the Passing World and Painters of the Modern Mind, and for her successful lifelong career as a lecturer. She returned to Melbourne during 1935-1936, where she lectured on modern art and exhibited her work. From 1950 until her death she split her time between Provincetown, Massachusetts and Australia. She died in Provincetown on April 7, 1962.

Administration

Author
Jayna M. Josefson
Sponsor
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was donated to the Archives of American Art in 1996 by Elisabeth Hooker. Hooker was a friend of Allen's and found the papers among Allen's effects soon after her death.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Jayna Josefson in 2023 with support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Use
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.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Preferred Citation
Mary Cecil Allen papers, 1928-1970. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women painters Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women educators Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- Massachusetts -- Provincetown Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Educators -- Massachusetts -- Provincetown Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Educators -- Australia -- Melbourne Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- Australia -- Melbourne Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hensche, Henry, 1901- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Allen, Mary Cecil, 1893-1962 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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