Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the John M. Donaldson papers, 1873-1938, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.donajohn
Creators:
Donaldson, John M., 1854-1941
Dates:
1873-1938
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.11 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of Detroit-based architect John M. Donaldson measures 0.11 linear feet and consists of 31 items that date from 1873 to 1938. The papers include a letter from Frank Duveneck, 1877; a sketch of Donaldson, ca. 1876, by [James] Carroll Beckwith, alongside a note from Beckwith, 1913; letters from Gari Melchers, some of which are illustrated; obituary clippings on Melchers; photographs in the form of carte de visites, mostly of fellow art students in Munich, 1873-1877, including Francis Davis Millet and Frank Duveneck; and miscellany. Also included are several letters from Gari Melchers's wife Corrine to Donaldson's son, Bruce.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of Detroit-based architect John M. Donaldson measures 0.11 linear feet and consists of 31 items that date from 1873 to 1938. The papers include a letter from Frank Duveneck, 1877; a sketch of Donaldson, ca. 1876, by [James] Carroll Beckwith, alongside a note from Beckwith, 1913; letters from Gari Melchers, some of which are illustrated; obituary clippings on Melchers; photographs in the form of carte de visites, mostly of fellow art students in Munich, 1873-1877, including Francis Davis Millet and Frank Duveneck; and miscellany. Also included are several letters from Gari Melchers's wife Corrine to Donaldson's son, Bruce.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Due to the small size of this collection the papers are arranged as one series.
  • Series 1: John M. Donaldson papers, 1873-1938 (Folder 1, OV 2; 31 items)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
John M. Donaldson (1854-1941) was an architect based in Detroit, Michigan. Donaldson was a friend of painter Gari Melchers. Donaldson's son Bruce (d. 1940) was chairman of the Art History Department at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Administration

Author
Rihoko Ueno
Existence and Location of Copies
Portions of the collection are available on 35mm microfilm reel D160 at the Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The John M. Donaldson papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in 1963 by Mrs. Alex G. Donaldson.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Rihoko Ueno in 2020.

Using the Collection

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.
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 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.
Preferred Citation
John M. Donaldson papers, 1873-1938. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Related Materials
Also found in the Archives of American Art are the Bruce M. Donaldson letters from Gari Melchers, 1928 May 9 and May 22.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Painters Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Architects -- Michigan -- Detroit Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Donaldson, Bruce M., d. 1940 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Beckwith, J. Carroll (James Carroll), 1852-1917 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Duveneck, Frank, 1848-1919 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Melchers, Gari, 1860-1932 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Melchers, Corinne, 1880-1955 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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