Archives of American Art

William E. Phelps papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.phelwill
Creators:
Phelps, William E., 1897-1967
M. Knoedler & Co.
Dates:
1939-1979
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.2 Linear feet
(141 items on partial microfilm reel)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
12 letters (2 are illustrated) from Andrew Wyeth to William E. Phelps; 6 letters from Wyeth's wife Betsy to Phelps and his wife Mary, 1939-1969; 8 letters to Andrew Wyeth and Phelps from friends and colleagues. Wyeth's letters were written from Chadds Ford, Pa. and Port Clyde, Cushing, and Thomaston, Me. and concern the business of borrowing paintings for exhibitions but also contain family news and some personal insights.
Scope and Contents
Also contains letters from Wyeth's dealer, E. Coe Kerr of M. Knoedler and Co., Inc. to Wyeth and receipts from sales of his paintings; 91 photographs of Andrew, Betsy, Henriette, N.C. Wyeth, Peter Hurd, and others at the Wyeths' house in Maine and the Hurds' house in New Mexico. Included are photographs of the Wyeths painting in their studios, an exhibition of the Phelps' collection; and clippings.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Collector, art patron; Montchanin, Delaware. Resided in the Brandywine Valley between Wilmington, De. and Chadds Ford, Pa. where he and his wife, Mary, became friends with many local artists. He was an early patron of Andrew Wyeth and a close friend of the Wyeth family.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel 3589 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The donor, Mary C. Parrish, is the niece of William E. Phelps. She found these papers in the furniture she inherited from the estate.

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 Finding Aids

Other Finding Aids
List of correspondents available in Archives of American Art offices.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Painters Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Hurd, Peter, 1904-1984 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wyeth, Henriette, 1907- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wyeth, N. C. (Newell Convers), 1882-1945 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wyeth, Andrew, 1917-2009 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wyeth, Betsy James, 1921- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kerr, E. Coe, 1914-1973 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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