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Archives of American Art
Mary Cassatt collection
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.cassmary
- Creators:
-
Cassatt, Mary, 1844-1926
- Dates:
-
1871-1955
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
1 Microfilm reel
- Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
Letters to Cassatt, from Cassatt, and from and to Cassatt's family and others; a typescript of a family history written by Cassatt's father, and other genealogical and biographical material; and pages from Paris Salon exhibition catalogs of 1872-1876 referencing Cassatt. The materials were primarily in the possession of Art Institute of Chicago curator Frederick Sweet at the time of microfilming; Sweet coordinated the microfilm project with the then newly formed Archives of American Art. The microfilm also identifies the owner at the time of microfilming (1955) and some of Sweet's correspondence concerning permission to microfilm from the various owners.
Scope and Contents
Among the recipients of letters from Cassatt are Cecilia Beaux, Electra Havemeyer Webb, Mrs. Potter Palmer, Theodate Pope, Mary Gardner Smith, Carroll S. Tyson, Ambroise Vollard, Harris Whittemore, her nephew Robert Kelso Cassatt and his wife Minnie Drexel Fell Cassatt; her sister-in-law Jennie (Mrs. J. Gardner Cassatt); and others. [Microfilm label: Frederick A. Sweet papers]
Administration
Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel C1 available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Existence and Location of Originals
Reel C1 Frames 1-869, Letters from Cassatt's mother, father, brothers; and Cassatt's letters to her family: and Cassatt's will, all lent for microfilming by Mrs. John B. Thayer, Rosemont, Pa. Originals in the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Existence and Location of Originals
Reel C1 frames 1188-1410, letters from Cassatt to her nephew Robert Kelso Cassatt and his wife Minnie Drexel Fell Cassatt, lent for microfilming by her great-nephew Alexander: Originals in the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution and are cataloged separately.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Lent for microfilming in 1955 by Frederick Sweet, author of the exhibition catalog Sargent, Whistler, and Mary Cassatt (1954) and Miss Mary Cassatt, Impressionist From Pennsylvania (1966). The owners of the letters at the time of microfilming are listed on the microfilm and the inventory. Letters and the typescript family history filmed on CI frames 1-869 were subsequently donated by their owner Mrs. John B. Thayer of Rosemont, Pa. to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1967, and letters from Cassatt to her nephew Robert Kelso Cassatt that were lent by Mr. Alexander Cassatt, Robert's brother in 1955, were subsequently donated to the Archives of American Art in 1986 by Alexander's son, also named Alexander Cassatt (microfilm reel 3684).
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Conditions Governing Use
Authorization to publish, quote or reproduce requires written permission from the owners of the letters. [Frames 1-869 owned by Philadelphia Museum of Art] Contact Reference Services for more information.
Terms of 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.
More Information
Other Finding Aids
Other Finding Aids
Finding aid available at Archives of American Art offices. Microfilm inventory available at all Archives of American Art offices.
Keywords
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions
