Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives

Benjamin March Papers

Summary

Collection ID:
FSA.A1995.10
Creators:
March, Benjamin, 1899-1934
Dates:
1923-1934
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
15 Linear feet
Repository:
Writer, curator, and professor Benjamin Franklin March Jr. (1899-1934) studied, lectured, and wrote in the United States and in China, and through his works gained respect as one of the foremost authorities on Chinese art during the 1920s and 1930s. His papers, dating from 1923 to 1934, document his professional and personal life in the United States and in China and include lecture notes and outlines; research notes; diaries; scrapbooks; and photographs.

Scope and Content Note

Scope and Content Note
The Benjamin March Papers span the years 1923 to 1934 and measure 15 linear feet. The collection includes: biographical data included in passports, obituaries, and fifty-seven condolence letters; lecture and course outlines; research notes; four diaries; one scrapbook; four illustrations including sketches for the March bookplate; fourteen photograph albums; printed matter; and 100 personal and artistic photographs.

Arrangement note

Arrangement note
The collection is divided into the following series:
Series 1: Biographical Information, 1927-1935
Series 2: Diaries, 1925-1934
Series 3: Writings and Research Materials, 1927-1934, undated
Subseries 3.1: Lecture Materials
Subseries 3.2: Research
Subseries 3.3: Printed Matter
Series 4: Scrapbooks, 1924-1934
Series 5: Graphic Materials, 1925, 1933, undated
Subseries 5.1: Illustrations
Subseries 5.2: Photo Albums
Subseries 5.3: Photographs

Biographical Information

Biographical Information
Biographical Sketch
1899
Born, Chicago, IL. Son of Benjamin Franklin and Isabel (née McNeal)
[1917?]
Attended Lewis Institute and the YMCA College before transferring to the University of Chicago
1918-1919
Military service, Sergeant, Field Remount Squadron, No. 305, Army Service Corps
1922
Graduated from the University of Chicago (Ph.B)
1922-1923
Attended the Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY
1923-1925
Teacher of English, Latin, and Bible Studies at Hopei University; the Second Normal School; and the YMCA in Paotingfu, China
1925 June 25
Married Dorothy Rowe in Nanking, China
1925-1927
English instructor; Librarian; and Lecturer in Chinese Art, Yenching University Peiping, China
1927, summer
Lecturer on Chinese art
Columbia University
1927-1931
Curator of Asiatic Art
Detroit Institute of Arts
1928
Honorary Curator of Oriental Aesthetic Art at the Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
1928
Appointed honorary curator at the Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
[1929?]
Daughter (Judith) born
1929
China and Japan in Our Museums
, published by the American Council, Institute of Pacific Relations
1931
Spent six months in China under a special grant from the
American Council of Learned Societies
to study 13th century painter, Ch'ien Hsuan
1932
Curator, Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
1932
Appointed honorary curator at the Detroit Institute of Arts
1933
Awarded a Freer Fellowship
1934
Standards of Pottery Description
, published by the University of Michigan Press
1934, summer
Organized, directed, and lectured at a summer session of the Institute of Asiatic Studies at the
University of California, Berkeley
1934 December
Died at home in Ann Arbor, Michigan after a five-week illness (heart ailment)
Far Eastern art writer, curator, and lecturer, Benjamin Franklin March Jr., was born in Chicago on July 4, 1899 to Benjamin and Isabel March. He studied, lectured, and wrote in the United States and China and through his works gained respect as one of the foremost authorities on Chinese art during the 1920s and 1930s. Although he lived only thirty-five years, Benjamin March was a respected and influential scholar of Asian art.
After high school, March attended the Lewis Institute and the YMCA College before transferring to the University of Chicago from which he graduated in 1922 (Ph.B). With thoughts of becoming a Methodist minister, March enrolled at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City. At the same time, March enrolled in art classes at the Metropolitan Museum. After one year at the seminary, March was presented with and accepted the opportunity to work in China. From 1923 to 1927, March resided in China where he taught and lectured at colleges. Initially, March taught English, Latin, and Bible Studies at Hopei University, the Second Normal School, and the YMCA. From 1925 to 1927, he worked at Yenching University in Peiping (now Peking) as an instructor in English, a librarian, and lecturer in Chinese art.
While in China, March met Dorothy Rowe, the daughter of a Methodist missionary stationed in Nanking. On June 25, 1925 the two were married. Ms. Rowe, whom March sometimes called Doré, had lived in China since infancy. The author of the children's story, "The Begging Dear," Rowe wrote children's stories with Chinese settings.
During the summer of 1927, the March's moved to the United States when Columbia University offered March an appointment as lecturer of Chinese Art. Later that year March was appointed curator of Asiatic art at the Detroit Institute of Arts. He remained at the Detroit Institute of Arts in this capacity until 1931. In 1928, March was appointed Honorary Curator of Oriental Aesthetic Art by the University of Michigan's Museum of Anthropology. The next year, Dorothy March gave birth to the couple's only child, Judith.
During this period March published extensively, including two publications, China and Japan in Our Museums, in 1929 and, Standards of Pottery Description, in 1934. In the latter, March developed a new technique for the scientific study of the materials and methods of manufacture of ancient Chinese pottery. (
Ann Arbor Daily News.
"Death Takes Noted Curator".
December 14, 1934
)
In 1931, March received a grant from the American Council of Learned Societies. This grant allowed March the opportunity to travel to China and Europe to study the 13th century painter, Ch'ien Hsuan. In 1932, March was named a curator at the Museum of Anthropology at the University of Michigan. The following year he was named a Freer Fellow. The summer of 1934 found March in Berkeley, California, organizing and directing the Institute of Asiatic Studies at the University of California. During the fall of 1934, March fell ill with a heart ailment. He was ill for five weeks before he died, at the age of 35, in December of 1934. At the time of his death, Benjamin March was survived by his wife Dorothy and their daughter, Judith.

Administration

Author
Colleen Hennessey, Eileen Hayden, and Linda Machado.
Custodial History note
Gift of Judith March Davis, 1995.
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Judith March Davis, the daughter of Benjamin March, donated her father's papers to the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives in 1995.
Provenance
Benjamin March's daughter, Judith March Davis, donated her father's papers to the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives in
1995
.
Processing Information
Processed by archivist Colleen Hennessey with the assistance of volunteer Eileen Hayden. Additional processing by archivist Linda M. Machado in September, 2001 .

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access note
Collection is open for research.
Restrictions on Use
No restrictions on use.
Preferred Citation note
Benjamin March Papers, FSA.A.1995.10. National Museum of Asian Art Archives. Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Judith March Davis, 1995

Related Collections
The
Detroit Institute of Arts
maintains administrative correspondence and files generated by Benjamin March during his tenure as curator.
The
Bentley Historical Library
at the
University of Michigan
houses the Benjamin Franklin March drawings collection, This is a collection of drawings by March for his daughter; includes illustrated poems of Pentwater Beach, Michigan.

More Information

Other Finding Aids note



Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Art, Japanese Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art, Chinese Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Architecture -- China Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
China Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Japan Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Architecture, Japanese Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painting, Chinese Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
China -- Description and Travel Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Michigan Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art, Korean Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art, Asian Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painting, Japanese Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art, Asian -- Research Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Chinese language -- Terms and phrases Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art -- Terminology Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Lecture notes Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Letters Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
March, Benjamin, 1899-1934 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rowe, Dorothy, 1898- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives
National Museum of Asian Art Archives
Washington, D.C. 20013
Business Number: 202-633-0533
AVRreference@si.edu