Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Anthony Thieme Papers, 1909-1972, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.thieanth
Creators:
Thieme, Anthony, 1888-1954
Dates:
1909-1972
Languages:
Two letters are in Dutch.
Physical Description:
1 Linear foot
Repository:
The papers of painter Anthony Thieme measure 1.0 linear feet and date from 1909 to 1972. The collection includes letters, notes and writings, photographs, business records, printed material, photographs, and a half-tone printing block of a work of art.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of painter Anthony Thieme measure 1.0 linear feet and date from 1909 to 1972. The collection includes letters, notes and writings, photographs, business records, printed material, photographs, and a half-tone printing block of a work of art.
Letters are from Thieme during his time in Europe to his wife Becky (Lillian Beckett Thieme) regarding family matters, and to business associates concerning the sale and reproduction of his paintings and inventions, including a movie projector and a device for repairing torpedo damage to battleships. There are also letters from painter Hanny Bouman to "Aunt Becky," and letters to Lillian after Thieme's death regarding the sale and exhibition of his paintings.
Notes and writings are comprised of notes on watercolor painting, lists of Thieme's work owned by Mrs. Sally Fenelon Young, three address books, and lists of household chores. Also found are two typescript writings titled, "Must Sixty-five Always be the Deadline?" and "Majority Wins."
Business records contain shipment and exhibition records, price lists, correspondence with the J. J. Gillespie Company, receipts, and invoices.
Printed material includes clippings, a press release, exhibition catalogs, brochures from Thieme's New Summer School of Art, a blueprint of a section of Rockport, Massachusetts, and picture postcards.
Photographs are of Thieme, his family, and classes at the Thieme School of Art in Rockport.
The collection also includes a half-tone printing block of a work of art.

Arrangement

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

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Anthony Thieme (1888-1954) was a landscape and marine painter in Rockport, Massachusetts. Born in Rotterdam, Holland, Theime studied in Germany with George Hacker, in Italy with Giuseppe Mancini, and at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Holland. He came to the United States in 1917 where he designed and painted stage settings until 1927. Theime settled in Rockport, Massachusetts where he established and directed the Thieme School of Art from 1929 to 1943, and managed a private art gallery.

Administration

Author
Caroline Donadio
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers of Anthony Thieme were donated in 1985 by Jane Goodwin, whose mother was Mrs. Thieme's friend. Goodwin initially obtained the collection from Harriet Chamberlain, who purchased the Thieme home in Florida where she found the papers.
Processing Information
The collection was processed by Jean Fitzgerald in 1989. A finding aid was written by Caroline Donadio in 2019.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.
Preferred Citation
Anthony Thieme papers, 1909-1972. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Painters -- Massachusetts -- Rockport Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Marine painters -- Massachusetts Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art schools -- Massachusetts Function Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Bouman, Hanny Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Thieme School of Art (Rockport, Mass.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Thieme, Lilian Beckett Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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