Archives of American Art

Edward Pierre and Mary Willard Vine Buyck papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.buycedwa
Creators:
Buyck, Edward Pierre, 1888-1960
Buyck, Mary Willard Vine
Dates:
1914-1971
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2 Linear feet
(on 4 microfilm reels)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Papers relating to the activities and careers of Edward Pierre and Mary Willard Vine Buyck, a couple active in art related activities in New York State in the 1930's and 1940's.
Scope and Contents
REEL 108, Frames 1355-1411 (Loan): Papers, 1934-1966, of Edward Pierre Buyck. 15 items, including: correspondence between Mrs. Buyck and Mrs. William Woodward, former owner of Belair Stud stables, concerning Edward Buyck; a sketchbook (25 pp.) of Edward Buyck showing horses and racetrack figures; clippings about Mrs. Woodward; and an announcement of the memorial opening in 1966 of Edward Buyck's studio, Highfield Hall, in Slingerlands, N.Y.
Scope and Contents
REEL 108, Frames 1412-1488 (Loan): Correspondence, press releases, and clippings, 1918-1944, of Mary Willard Vine Buyck. 50 items, mostly relating to her superintendency of the WPA Art Program in New York State from 1939 until its 1941 closing. Letters from artists, particularly those of Herman Linding and Ernest Cramer, are personal, not offical. They comment on her work, their own war work, deplore the end of the project, and detail their grave financial situation. Several letters and clippings concern dioramas done by WPA artists for the Oneida Historical Society.
Scope and Contents
REEL 669, Frames 1-621, and REEL 672, Frames 639-689 (photographs): Papers, 1914-1962, of Edward Pierre Buyck. 383 items, including: 103 letters to and from him, 1927-1962 and undated, relating to private commissions and to WPA art work, including two letters from Franklin D. Roosevelt, three from Herbert Lehman, and one each from Edith Lehman and Missy LeHand; fourteen personal documents; twelve commission contracts; 34 clippings; 41 photographs of him and miscellaneous subjects; 142 original drawings and sketches including war posters; 37 miscellaneous items. Some of the material relates to Mrs. Buyck.
Scope and Contents
REEL 863, Frames 328-1021 (Gift): Papers, 1939-1971, of Mary Willard Vine Buyck. 138 items, including: 47 letters to and from her, relating to her position as Art Project Supervisor of the Public Activities Section of the Division of Community Service for the New York State (WPA), and to the work of Mr. Buyck; included are two letters from Eleanor Roosevelt, and one from Edith Lehman; 90 printed items accumulated by her about the WPA; a notebook kept by her containing WPA information.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Edward Pierre Buyck was born in Belgium and studied art in Bruges, Antwerp, and Paris. When the Germans invaded Belgium in 1914, his family fled to England, while he stayed to fight in the Belgium Army. After being wounded, he joined his family in England and then traveled to America to serve in the U.S. Army. He became a U.S. citizen and met Mary Willard Vine, an interior decorator and landscape architect. They were married in 1920 and lived outside of Albany, N.Y. During the thirties, she became the supervisor of the New York State WPA art program, and his painting career flourished, receiving the patronage of Franklin Roosevelt. After Mr. Buyck's death, Mrs. Buyck remarried and took the last name Freund.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reels 108, 669, 672, and 863 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Reproduction Note
The letters from Franklin D. Roosevelt are photocopies.
Existence and Location of Originals
Reel 108: Originals returned to Mary Willard Vine Buyck Freund, Albany, N.Y.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Material on reels 669, 672, & 873 was donated, and material on reel 108 lent for microfilming1971 by Mary Willard Vine Buyck Freund.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Microfilmed materials must be consulted on microfilm. Contact Reference Services for more information.

More Information

Other Title

Other Title
Mary W. B. Freund papers (microfilm title on reel 863).


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sketchbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Arts administrators -- New York (State) Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- New York (State) Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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