Francis Davis Millet and Millet family papers

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Francis Davis Millet and Millet family papers

1858-1984

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9ece93e39-d928-448d-839a-d94230a7dc56

The Francis Davis Millet and Millet family papers measure 3.3 linear feet and are dated 1858-1984, with a few scattered early eighteenth-century items, such as legal documents and printed matter. The bulk of the material dates from 1858 to 1955. Found are biographical materials, diaries/journals, family letters, notes and writings, art work, printed matter, miscellaneous records, and photographs documenting Millet's wide-ranging artistic and writing career and personal life, including his death aboard the <emph render="italic">Titanic</emph>. Also of interest are approximately twenty ink caricatures attributed to John Singer Sargent.Biographical material consists of biographical and genealogical notes; also, memorial resolutions, invitations, and programs with several related items tipped in. Diaries/journals for the period 1858-1911 (16 vols., plus excerpts and transcripts) record Civil War experiences, the Russo-Turkish War, travels throughout Europe, to the northwest United States and Alaska, the Orient, and Panama.Letters from F. D. Millet to his family date from his years at Harvard, art training in Antwerp, residence in Italy, and service as a correspondent during the Russo-Turkish War. Millet's letters include a few received from friends and associates, original letters sent by Millet to others, along with typescript copies of incoming letters. Also included is a file of letters addressed to Millet and others concerning the purchase and restoration of the Grange, his Broadway studio. There are four letters from Millet to his girlfriend Velma Marie Morse and scattered letters to Velma's father, A.P. Morse, and Fred Chapman. Photocopies of letters from sister Kathleen Millet to her friend Margherita describe her brother's adventures during the Russo-Turkish War, and include an account of his wedding. His sister Lucia Millet's letters to her family were written while she was in England living as a member of her brother's household, and are rich with details of Frank's daily life, work, travels, friends, and the American colony in Broadway. The letters of Lily Millet consist mainly of condolence messages sent upon the death of her husband, but also include letters from Samuel L. Clemens, Henry James, Ellen Terry [Carew], Charles Dudly Warner, her children, and others.Included in the collection are Millet's extensive research notes about costumes and artifacts of various historical periods and locations that served as reference for details in his murals. Also included are his notebooks about Italian art, Bulgarian history and costume, and the Philippines. Writings by Millet consist of articles, short stories, lectures and speeches. Writings about him include texts by various relatives (all but one are unpublished). The most extensive written piece is by niece Hilda Millet Booth and son John [Albert] Parsons Millet, and is accompanied by early drafts, notes, and related correspondence.Art work by Millet includes twelve volumes of sketchbooks dating from his student days in Antwerp through 1896, along with loose sketches, drawings, and two watercolors. Most were executed while traveling, and include landscapes, building, and local peoples. Works by other artists include 20 caricatures drawn in ink, attributed to John Singer Sargent.Among the printed matter are newspaper articles by F. D. Millet, along with clippings about or mentioning him, reproductions, exhibition catalogs and announcements. Of interest are Vienna Exposition memorabilia, and a full length biography, <emph render="italic">Soldier of Fortune: F. D. Millet, 1846-1912</emph> by granddaughter Joyce A. Sharpey-Schafer. Miscellaneous records include drawings sketches, notes, printed matter, and photographs relating to the Abbot's Grange in Broadway that served as Millet's studio.Photographs of people include F. D. Millet, his father Asa Millet with granddaughter Kate, and Mary Anderson. Photographs of works of art are by Millet and other artists.

Archives of American Art

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6630632

Archives of American Art

Related Entities

There are 11 Entities related to this resource.

Sharpey-Schafer, Joyce A.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6kp8sjq (person)

Millet, Francis Davis, 1846-1912

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65m67q5 (person)

Painter, author, war correspondent, and illustrator. From the description of Letter : Washington, D.C., to [Edward E.] Ayer, 1910 Dec. 3. (Newberry Library). WorldCat record id: 38860956 Artist. From the description of Letter of Francis Davis Millet, 1912. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79454555 The American painter, draftsman, lithographer, muralist and writer Francis Davis Millet was born in Mattapoisett, Mass. He served in the Union army in 1864, and ...

Booth, Hilda Millet.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6f19qdp (person)

Millet, John A. P. (John Alfred Parsons), 1888-1976

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sn11gk (person)

James, Henry, 1843-1916

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6765dm0 (person)

James was an American novelist, short story writer, critic and dramatist. From the description of Henry James transcripts of letters to others, 1873-1915. (Harvard University). WorldCat record id: 612731792 From the guide to the Henry James transcripts of letters to others, 1873-1915., (Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University) Henry James was born in New York, NY, in 1843. During his lifetime, he was a literary and art critic (writing for Natio...

Booth, Hilda Millet

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sk4m51 (person)

Sargent, John Singer, 1856-1925

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xg9s4r (person)

Florence 1856-1925 London. From the description of Portrait of Mrs. J.P. Morgan, Jr. (nee Jane Norton Grew, 1868-1925) [painting]. [ca. 1905] (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270906593 Anglo-American painter. From the description of Letters, 1881-1916. (Getty Research Institute). WorldCat record id: 81028068 Sargent was an American-born painter who lived and worked in France, England and elsewhere. From the description of [Letter] Sunday, 33, T...

Sharpey-Schafer, Joyce A.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63s3thg (person)

Abbey, Edwin Austin, 1852-1911

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68p8xxh (person)

E. A. Abbey was a painter. Born in Philadelphia, he was self-taught and initially employed in a wood engraver's shop. In 1872, Abbey began working as an illustrator for Harper's. He also painted murals, including those for the Boston Public Library and Pennsylvania Capitol. From the description of Letter, 1874 November 26 : to L. Prang. (Winterthur Library). WorldCat record id: 84665753 Abbey was an American artist and illustrator who moved to England in 1878 and remained th...

Titanic (Steamship)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zk9cf5 (corporateBody)

The RMS Titanic was a British passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, after colliding with an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. Of the 2,224 passengers and crew aboard, more than 1,500 died, making it one of the deadliest commercial peacetime maritime disasters in modern history. It was the largest ship afloat at the time it entered service....

Millet, Francis Davis and Millet family

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6v255c5 (person)

During his lifetime, Francis Davis Millet (1846-1912), always known as Frank, was a prominent artist who was well known for murals that contained exactingly accurate historical details. His broad-ranging career included work with worlds' fairs in Vienna, Chicago, Paris, and Tokyo as a juror, administrator, mural painter/decorator, or advisor. In addition, Frank Millet was a newspaper writer who published short stories and enjoyed adventures as a war correspondent during the Russo-Tu...