Hofer, Philip, 1898-1984

Hide Profile

Philip Hofer (1898-1984) was a librarian, book collector, and founder and first curator of the Department of Printing and Graphic Arts at Houghton Library at Harvard University. Hofer graduated from Harvard College and spent a few years in business. He began collecting a wide variety of printed books in 1917. By 1933 he focused on illustrated and decorated books, thus entering into a serious study of book arts. He served as curator of the Spencer Collection of the New York Public Library, and in 1934 he became the first assistant director of the Morgan Library in New York, where he worked until 1937. In 1938, the newly appointed librarian of Harvard University's library, William Jackson, asked Hofer to head the Department of Printing and Graphic Arts, the first such department in the country. Hofer spent the next forty years building the collection, which became part of the founding collection of Houghton Library, Harvard College's special collections repository. Hofer was secretary of the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard as well. In 1980 he retired emeritus. He was a trustee for the American School of Classical Studies in Athens.
Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Berenson, Bernard and Mary. Papers, 1880-2002, 1880-2002 Biblioteca Berenson, Villa I Tatti - The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies
creatorOf Hofer, Philip, 1898-1984. Papers of Philip Hofer, 1987. Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Coolidge, John, 1913-1995. Papers of John Coolidge and Agnes Mongan, 1909-2006. Harvard University Art Museum
creatorOf Wyatt, Leo, d. 1981. Collection of wood blocks, progressive proofs, and wood engravings by Leo Wyatt. Houghton Library
referencedIn Edward Lear miscellaneous drawings, 1849-1866. Houghton Library
referencedIn Papers of Paul J. Sachs, 1903-2005 Harvard Art Museums. Archives
creatorOf Khāqānī, Afz̤al al-Dīn Shirvānī, ca. 1126-1198 or 9. 880-03 Tuḥfat al-ʻIrāqayn : manuscript, 1604. Houghton Library
creatorOf Hofer, Philip, 1898-1984. Papers relating to the Psalm Book of Charles Knowles : 1955-1979. Houghton Library
creatorOf Peter Newell family papers, 1840-1986, 1884-1950 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Papers, 1923-1969, n.y., n.d. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Peter Newell family papers, 1840-1986, 1884-1950 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Hofer, Philip, 1898-1984. Autograph letter signed : Venice, Fla., to Charles Ryskamp and Muffy [Priscilla Barker], 1982 Mar. 13. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Eccles, Mary Hyde. Papers, 1853-2005 (inclusive), 1939-2003 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Lucien Howe papers, 1892-1940 (inclusive), 1907-1931 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Hofer, Philip, 1898-1984. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, [between 1938 and 1963]. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Sachs, Paul J. (Paul Joseph), 1878-1965. Papers, 1903-2005. Harvard University Art Museum
referencedIn Papers, 1931-1999 (inclusive), 1960-1980 (bulk) Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Autograph File, B, ca.1500-1982 Houghton Library
referencedIn Papers of Alfonso Ossorio and Edward Dragon Young, 1902-2000 Harvard Art Museums. Archives
creatorOf Muʻizzī, Amīr ʻAbd Allāh Muḥammad, b. 1048 or 9. 880-03 Kitāb-i ashʻār-i malik al-shuʻārāʼ Amīr Muʻizzī : manuscript, 1156. Houghton Library
referencedIn Grolier Club. Library. Records of the librarians, 1897-1970. Grolier Club
creatorOf Process blocks commissioned by Philip and Frances Hofer for a Christmas keepsake Houghton Library
creatorOf Philip Hofer collection of François Chauveau drawings for Metamorphoses d'Ovide Houghton Library
referencedIn Portrait file: Guide. Houghton Library
creatorOf Dering, Cholmeley Edward. A system of practical geometry / by Cholmeley Dering, member of Mr. Lochee's Roy[a]l M[ilitary] A[cademy] : manuscript, 1782 Feb. 27. Houghton Library
referencedIn Houghton Library printed book provenance file, E-K. Houghton Library
creatorOf Dwiggins, W. A. (William Addison), 1880-1956. Process blocks for Philip Hofer. Houghton Library
creatorOf Updike, Daniel Berkeley, 1860-1941. Letter, 1923 July 11, Boston [Mass.] to Mr. Philip Hofer, 308 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio. Boston Athenaeum
creatorOf Nash, Frederick, 1782-1856,. Paris and its environs : original drawings / by F. Nash : manuscript, [ca. 1820] Houghton Library
creatorOf Publications by Philip Hofer with related papers Houghton Library
referencedIn Edward Lear miscellaneous correspondence, 1836-1888. Houghton Library
referencedIn Autograph File, D, 1586-1975. Houghton Library
referencedIn Berenson, Bernard, 1865-1959. Bernard and Mary Berenson, Papers (1880-2002, bulk 1880-1959) : a finding aid. Houghton Library
creatorOf Mahoney, Dorothy Louise, 1902-. Some English garden flowers : Wrotham : calligraphic manuscript signed, 1960-1961. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Lucien Goldschmidt, Inc. Records, 1930-1991 (bulk 1937-1986) Grolier Club
referencedIn Harry Levin papers Houghton Library
creatorOf Philip Hofer collection of invitations and galley proofs Houghton Library
creatorOf COCKERELL PAPERS. Vol. C (ff. 185). Hi-Hold.includes:ff. 1-15 Mrs Caroline Hill, mother of Octavia Hill: Letters to S. C. Cockerell: 1890.ff. 16-107b Octavia Hill, social reformer: Letters, etc., to S. C. Cockerell: 1887-1909.ff. 108-113 Willia... British Library
creatorOf Cazim, Zeyrekzade. Divan-i Jazim. Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Ruzicka, Rudolph, 1883-1978. Designs and correspondence, 1918-1983. Houghton Library
creatorOf Philip Hofer papers Houghton Library
referencedIn Forbes, Edward Waldo, 1873-1969. Papers, 1867-2005. Harvard University Art Museum
referencedIn Carteret Book Club. Records, [ca. 1902-1958]. Grolier Club
referencedIn Book collectors miscellaneous papers, 1649-1937. Houghton Library
creatorOf Krimpen, Jan van, 1892-1958. A letter : to Philip Hofer on certain problems connected with the mechanical cutting of punches : manuscript, 1955. Houghton Library
creatorOf Philip Hofer card catalogs and indexes Houghton Library
creatorOf 18th century French vignettes collected by Philip Hofer Houghton Library
creatorOf Dwiggins, W. A. (William Addison), 1880-1956. W. A. Dwiggins papers concerning Cedar Hill, 1934-1979. Houghton Library
referencedIn Records of the Assistants to the Directors, 1913-1999 (inclusive),1927-1943 (bulk) Harvard Art Museums. Archives
referencedIn Papers concerning The first writing book, 1953-1955. Houghton Library
referencedIn Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars. Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars records. 1927-1949. New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Smith, Charles (Charles William), b. 1893. Papers of Charles William Smith 1910-1979. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Warde, Frederic, 1894-1939. Papers, 1915-1938. Grolier Club
creatorOf Zóbel, Fernando. Letter from Fernando Zóbel to Philip Hofer, 1977. Houghton Library
referencedIn Adlow, Dorothy, 1901-1964. Papers, 1923-1969 (inclusive) [microform]. Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
creatorOf Wyatt, Leo, d. 1981. Collection of wood blocks, progressive proofs, and wood engravings by Leo Wyatt. Houghton Library
creatorOf Castano Galleries records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Heckscher, Philip Hofer. Lamu : manuscript, 1975, 2006. Houghton Library
creatorOf Benson, John Howard, 1901-1956. Papers concerning The first writing book, 1953-1955. Houghton Library
referencedIn Papers of Robert Woods Bliss and Mildred Barnes Bliss, ca. 1860-1969 (inclusive) Harvard University Archives.
referencedIn Carl Tilden Keller papers, 1908-1954. Houghton Library
creatorOf Philip Hofer collection of samples and other material related to papermaking Houghton Library
referencedIn Myron Bement Smith collection, circa 1910-1970 Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Archives
referencedIn Learned Hand papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
creatorOf López-Rey, José. Syllabus for N.Y.U. Fine Arts 270, "Spanish Painting from Goya to Miro," 1945. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Pirie, Robert S. Robert S. Pirie papers, [1956-2005]. Grolier Club
creatorOf Bruce Rogers papers and designs Houghton Library
referencedIn Howe, Mark De Wolfe. Mark De Wolfe Howe papers. 1933-1967. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
creatorOf Hofer, Philip, 1898-1984. Still learning : manuscript, 1964-1977. Houghton Library
creatorOf Hofer, Philip, 1898-1984. Philip Hofer papers concerning the Henry Hamilton collection, 1941-1942. Houghton Library
creatorOf Cohen, Herman. Correspondence between Herman Cohen, Philip Hofer, and Fernando Zóbel, 1947-1984. Houghton Library
referencedIn Legg, Elijah, 1771-1826. Elijah Legg's surveying : Milford, January AD 1806. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Philip Hofer papers concerning the Henry Hamilton collection, 1941-1942. Houghton Library
creatorOf Wolpe, Berthold,. Deutsche Kinderlieder : manuscript, 1932. Houghton Library
referencedIn Papers of John Coolidge and Agnes Mongan, 1909-2006 Harvard Art Museums. Archives
creatorOf Cohen, Herman, d. 1997. Herman Cohen correspondence and notes, 1954. Newberry Library
creatorOf Philip Hofer collection of printed and manuscript Rudolf Koch ephemera Houghton Library
referencedIn Miscellaneous autograph documents, 1287-1938. Houghton Library
creatorOf Philip Hofer collection of Piranesi Vedute di Roma etchings Houghton Library
creatorOf Process blocks commissioned or owned by Philip Hofer Houghton Library
creatorOf Hofer, Philip, 1898-1984. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1940-1956. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Abbe, Dorothy. Papers, 1926-1993. Boston Public Library, Central Library in Copley Square
referencedIn Alexander McElwain papers on George Sandys, 1925-1956. Houghton Library
referencedIn Fogg Art Museum. Archives of the Fogg Art Museum, 1895-1985 (inclusive). Harvard University Art Museum
creatorOf Drawing Society lectures Archives of American Art
referencedIn George Sarton additional papers, 1901-1956 Houghton Library
creatorOf W. A. Dwiggins design ephemera collected by Philip Hofer Houghton Library
creatorOf Keller, Johann Jakob, 1635-1700. Autograph letter signed : Douai, to M. de Mesgrigny, 1692 Aug. 9. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Robert Frost miscellaneous papers, 1915-1961. Houghton Library
referencedIn Dwiggins, W. A. (William Addison), 1880-1956. Püterschein-Dwiggins collection, 1872-1990. Boston Public Library, Central Library in Copley Square
creatorOf Zóbel, Fernando. Letter from Fernando Zóbel to Philip Hofer, 1969. Houghton Library
referencedIn Alfred Leete Hampson collection of correspondence concerning Emily Dickinson's papers, 1943-1964. Houghton Library
creatorOf Alexander, Margaret. Calligraphic manuscript of a poem : place not specified, 1950. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Mary Hyde Eccles papers, 1853-2005, (bulk) 1939-2003. Houghton Library
creatorOf Philip Hofer papers concerning the Henry Hamilton collection, 1941-1942. Houghton Library
creatorOf Philip Hofer collection of woodcuts by Hans Holbein Houghton Library
creatorOf Hofer, Philip, 1898-1984. Photocopy of an autograph letter signed : [New York], to Miss [Belle da Costa] Greene, 1935 May 14. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Durlacher Bros. Durlacher Bros. Records, 1919-1973. Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Durlacher Bros. records, 1919-1973 Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Line blocks for Christmas cards commissioned by Philip Hofer Houghton Library
referencedIn Paul A. Freund papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Thomas W. Lamont John Masefield collection, 1918-1947. Houghton Library
referencedIn William Bentinck-Smith papers for a book on Philip Hofer Houghton Library
referencedIn Dan Fellows Platt papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Miscellaneous drawings for book illustration, [before 1744]-1930s. Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Oral history interview with Philip Hofer Archives of American Art
Relation Name
correspondedWith Abbe, Dorothy. person
associatedWith Adlow, Dorothy, 1901-1964. person
associatedWith Alexander, Margaret. person
correspondedWith Anderson, Robert Woodruff person
associatedWith Beilenson, Peter, 1905-1962. person
associatedWith Benson, John Howard, 1901-1956 person
associatedWith Benson, John Howard, 1901-1956. person
associatedWith Berenson, Bernard, 1865-1959. person
associatedWith Berenson, Mary, 1864-1945 person
correspondedWith Bliss, Robert Woods, 1875-1962 person
associatedWith Brown, Robert F., person
correspondedWith Carteret Book Club. corporateBody
associatedWith Castano Galleries (Boston, Mass.) corporateBody
associatedWith Cazim, Zeyrekzade. person
associatedWith Cohen, Herman. person
associatedWith Cohen, Herman, d. 1997. person
correspondedWith Coolidge, John, 1913-1995 person
associatedWith Coolidge, John, 1913-1995. person
associatedWith Dering, Cholmeley Edward. person
associatedWith Dorothy Adlow, 1901-1964 person
associatedWith Drawing Society. corporateBody
associatedWith Durlacher Bros. corporateBody
associatedWith Dwiggins, W. A. (William Addison), 1880-1956. person
associatedWith Eccles, Mary Hyde. person
correspondedWith Eccles, Mary Hyde. person
correspondedWith Edward Dragon Young, 1921-2011 person
associatedWith Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced Foreign Scholars corporateBody
associatedWith Ferguson, May. person
associatedWith Fogg Art Museum. corporateBody
associatedWith Forbes, Edward Waldo, 1873-1969. person
associatedWith Frost, Robert, 1874-1963 person
associatedWith Greene, Belle da Costa, person
correspondedWith Grolier Club. Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Hamilton, Henry, d. 1796. person
correspondedWith Hampson, Alfred Leete, collector. person
correspondedWith Hand, Learned, 1872-1961 person
associatedWith Harvard Art Museum. Director's Office. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard College Library. Dept. of Printing and Graphic Arts. corporateBody
associatedWith Harvard University corporateBody
associatedWith Heckscher, Philip Hofer. person
associatedWith Henry Hamilton person
associatedWith Hermon Dunlap Smith. person
associatedWith Houghton Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Houghton Library. corporateBody
correspondedWith Howe, Lucien, 1848-1928 person
associatedWith Howe, Mark De Wolfe, 1906-1967 person
correspondedWith Keller, Carl Tilden, 1872-1955 person
associatedWith Keller, Johann Jakob, 1635-1700. person
associatedWith Khāqānī, Afz̤al al-Dīn Shirvānī, ca. 1126-1198 or 9. person
associatedWith Krimpen, Jan van, 1892-1958. person
correspondedWith Lamont, Thomas W. (Thomas William), 1870-1948 person
associatedWith Lear, Edward, 1812-1888 person
associatedWith Legg, Elijah, 1771-1826. person
associatedWith Levin, Harry, 1912-1994 person
associatedWith López-Rey, José. person
associatedWith Louise Phelps Kellogg person
correspondedWith Lucien Goldschmidt, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Mahoney, Dorothy Louise, 1902- person
correspondedWith McElwain, Alexander, 1897- person
associatedWith Muʻizzī, Amīr ʻAbd Allāh Muḥammad, b. 1048 or 9. person
associatedWith Nash, Frederick, 1782-1856, person
associatedWith Newell, Peter, 1862-1924. person
correspondedWith Ossorio, Alfonso, 1916-1990 person
associatedWith Paul A. Freund person
correspondedWith Pirie, Robert S. person
associatedWith Platt, Dan Fellows, 1873-1938. person
associatedWith Randolph Greenfield Adams person
associatedWith Rogers, Bruce, 1870-1957. person
associatedWith Ruzicka, Rudolph, 1883-1978. person
associatedWith Ryskamp, Charles, person
associatedWith Sachs, Paul J., 1878-1965 person
associatedWith Sachs, Paul J. (Paul Joseph), 1878-1965. person
associatedWith Santayana, George, 1863-1952. person
correspondedWith Sarton, George, 1884-1956 person
associatedWith Smith, Charles (Charles William), b. 1893. person
correspondedWith Smith, Myron Bement, 1897-1970 person
associatedWith Updike, Daniel Berkeley, 1860-1941. person
correspondedWith Warde, Frederic, 1894-1939. person
associatedWith Wolpe, Berthold, person
associatedWith Wyatt, Leo, d. 1981. person
associatedWith Zóbel, Fernando. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Cambridge MA US
Subject
Book collectors
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1898-03-14

Death 1984-11-09

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6md9r1h

Ark ID: w6md9r1h

SNAC ID: 87235682