Harold Weston papers

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Harold Weston papers

1894-1978

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw912c19da0-1e91-45ea-b15f-b3d423b2a075

The papers of modernist painter and activist Harold Weston (1894-1972) date from 1894 to 1978 and measure 24.3 linear feet. The papers focus on Weston's painting career and his involvement with humanitarian and artistic causes. Found are biographical materials, correspondence, personal business records, association and organization records, commission and project files, materials relating to Weston's book <emph render="italic">Freedom in the Wilds</emph>, writings, artwork, printed materials, two scrapbooks, and photographs. The papers document his involvement with the Committee to Defend America, Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, Food for Freedom, the International Association of the Plastic Arts, National Countil on the Arts and Government, National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council for the Arts, Reconstruction Service Committee, and the YMCA in Baghdad. Biographical materials include biographical sketches and resumes, including a short biography written by Faith Weston in 1969. There are records from his school years at Exeter Academy and Harvard University that include yearbooks, report cards, scholarship information, <emph render="italic">Harvard Lampoon</emph> materials, and a diploma from Harvard. Also found are materials relating to Faith Weston, membership cards, memorials information, passports and travel papers, and wedding wishes. Correspondence from Harold Weston dates from his school years up until his death in 1972. In letters to his family, Weston discusses his education; his travel and activities in the Middle East during World War I; the Adirondacks; convalescense in France in the mid-1920s; his immediate family life; and exhibitions. Also found are holiday cards designed and printed by Weston. The majority of correspondence is with his father S. Burns Weston, mother Mary, sister Esther, brother Carl, Faith Weston and the Borton family, children Barbara, Bruce, and Haroldine, and others. Also found are letters between Weston and friend Theodore Sizer and Duncan Phillips of the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C. Personal business and financial records relating to Weston's exhibitions include delivery receipts, agreements, hand-drawn gallery plans for exhibitions, lists of exhibitions, framing invoices, legal information, pricelists, records of sales, and lists of works of art. Galleries with which Weston held exhibitions, sold, or lent works of art include Boyer Galleries, Corcoran Gallery, the Gallery in Paoli, Montross Gallery, the Phillips Collection, and Studio House Galleries. Records relating to Harold Weston's memberships and involvement with professional associations and service organizations are from the Adirondack Trail Improvement Society, the Committee to Defend America, Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, Food for Freedom, International Association of the Plastic Arts/International Arts Association, National Countil on the Arts and Government, National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, Reconstruction Service Committee, and the Young Men's Christian Association, Baghdad. The files include correspondence, financial records, meetings and membership information, notes, organizational history, photographs, printed materials, programs and activities records, speeches, and writings. Files that document Weston's <emph render="italic">Building the United Nations</emph> and the Treasury Relief Project sponsored "Procurement Building Murals" are found within the Commissions and Project files series. The files include correspondence, financial information, legal documents, photographs of the works of art and research photos, and printed materials. Correspondence of note includes letters written by Lewis Mumford, Duncan Phillips, Eleanor Roosevelt on behalf of Weston's <emph render="italic">Building of the United Nations</emph> and letters from Leonard Carmichael, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Letters from Olin Dows of the Treasury Relief Art Project are within correspondence relating to the "Procurement Building Murals." Also found are preliminary sketches of the murals. The <emph render="italic">Freedom in the Wilds</emph> series contains materials relating to the book which combined Weston's autobiography with a history of the Adirondack Mountain Reserve. Additional writings and notes are by Harold Weston and others, and include articles, poetry, notes, speech notes and speeches, and lists. Harold Weston's articles include "Persian Caravan Sketches" published in 1921 discussing his travels throughout the Middle East. Other articles are written by Duncan Phillips, Paul Rosenfeld, Barbara Weston, and Faith Weston. Also found are postcards annoted with notes by Harold Weston about his travels. Artwork inlcudes sketches, etchings, copperplates, and woodcuts. There are copperplates entitled "Shroud" and of the series <emph render="italic">Building the United Nations</emph> for the Harvard Alumni bulletin in 1957; an untitled etching by Weston; sketches including those from Baghdad and watercolor sketches; a woodcut of the 1924 Weston holiday card; and scattered unsigned sketches probably not by Weston.Printed materials include calendars with notations; clippings; exhibition catalogs and announcements for Weston's exhibitions dating from 1922-1976 and for others; gallery tags or labels for paintings shown in exhibitions; reproductions of illustrations for the <emph render="italic">Harvard Lampoon</emph> and full issues from 1911-1916; materials relating to the Harvard production of <emph render="italic">Henry IV</emph>, for which Weston designed the sets; reproductions of works of art by Weston and by others; school seals; and various art related publications. There are two scrapbooks compiled by Faith Weston about her husband. The first contains materials relating to Weston's activity with the International Association of the Plastic Arts Conference of 1963, including a letter and photograph of President John F. Kennedy. The second scrapbook dates from 1977 and consists of general clippings relating to Weston's career, dating from 1917 to 1952 with additional materials added by Faith in 1977. Photographs are of Weston, family members, exhibitions and installations, and works of art by Weston and others. There are also numerous photographs of Weston's travel through the Adirondacks, the Middle East, Europe, and India. Also found are glass plate negatives of works of art painted in France between 1926-1930; scattered glass plate negatives of Baghdad and the Middle East; glass plates belonging to S. Burns Weston of the Adirondacks, circa 1900; and approximately 100 lantern slides of the various Middle Eastern cities and ruins - probably used by Weston to illustrate his talks given in the 1920s.

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Archives of American Art

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SNAC Resource ID: 6630777

Archives of American Art

Related Entities

There are 23 Entities related to this resource.

Harvard University

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64n9x97 (person)

Harvard College was founded by a vote of the Great and General Court of Massachusetts on October 28, 1636 that allocated “400£ towards a schoale or colledge.” Subsequent legislative acts established the Board of Overseers, but it was the Charter of 1650 that created the Harvard Corporation as the College's primary governing board and defined its composition and authority. The College Charter became a contentious target for College officials, the Massachusetts Governor and General C...

Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6c649b1 (person)

Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the longest-serving First Lady throughout her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s four terms in office (1933-1945). She was an American politician, diplomat, and activist who later served as a United Nations spokeswoman. A shy, awkward child, starved for recognition and love, Eleanor Roosevelt grew into a woman with great sensitivity to the underprivileged of all creeds, races, and nations. Her constant work to improve their lot made her one of the most loved–...

Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors

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Art organization; New York, N.Y. From the description of New directions in American painting and sculpture, 1960 Apr. 13. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122502730 Art association; New York, N.Y. Founded 1940 as an alternative to the Artists' Congress. From the description of Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors records, 1940-1975. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122291598 ...

Weston, Harold, 1894-1972

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62808st (person)

Correspondence to Lewis Mumford from Harold Weston and his wife, Faith Weston. From the description of Letters, 1938-1985, n.d., to Lewis Mumford. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 155879509 Harold Weston (1894-1972) was an American painter and humanitarian. From the guide to the Harold Weston Papers, 1916-1971, (Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries) Harold Weston (1894-1972) was a painte...

Rosenfeld, Paul, 1890-1946

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sj1sc9 (person)

Paul Leopold Rosenfeld (1890-1946), author and critic, edited Seven Arts 1916-18, was music critic for Dial 1920-27, and was co-editor of the American Caravan 1927-36. He wrote articles, published seven collections of essays, and published an autobiographical novel, "The Boy in the Sun" (1928). From the description of Paul Rosenfeld papers, 1910-1963 (inclusive). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702131683 American music and art critic, editor, translator. From the ...

Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Education Department

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Phillips, Duncan, 1886-1966

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64b3784 (person)

Dows, Olin, 1904-1981

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66975cf (person)

Olin Dows (1904-1981) was a painter and arts administrator; he primarily lived and worked in Rhinebeck, New York. Dows was born in Irvington-on-Hudson, NY. He graduated from Harvard University in 1926 and also studied at the Yale School of Fine Arts. In 1935 he was appointed director of the Treasury Relief Art Project, funded by the Works Progress Administration. In 1938 he painted a series of murals for the post office in Rhinebeck, NY, and in 1941 painted murals for the post office in Hyde Par...

New York State Council on the Arts

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tx79bf (corporateBody)

The position of executive director has been held by the following individuals: Laurence Roberts (1960-1961); John H. MacFadyen (1961-1964); John B. Hightower (1964-1970); Eric Larrabee (1971-1975); Kent Barwick (1975-1976); Robert A. Mayer (1976-1979); Theodore Striggles (1979-1980); Mary Hays (1980-1995); Al Berr (April, 1995-August, 1996); and Nicolette B. Clark (1996-present). From the description of Executive Director's subject and correspondence files, 1960-2001. (New York State...

International Association of Art. United States Committee.

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Adirondack Trail Improvement Society

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6450dfk (corporateBody)

The Adirondack Trail Improvement Society was founded in 1897 under the direction of Dr. Felix Adler and incorporated in 1950. From the description of Adirondack Trail Improvement Society papers, ca. 1897, 1937-1975. (New York State Historical Documents). WorldCat record id: 155461727 ...

Phillips Collection

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66f8xdr (corporateBody)

Weston, Faith

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6w79mgf (person)

National Council on the Arts and Government.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6vb6tzs (corporateBody)

Sizer, Theodore, 1892-1967

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64b3kgz (person)

Society named after Horace Walpole (1717-1797), founded in 1910 to promote the study and appreciation of British art. From the description of Walpole Society papers, 1934-1967. (Boston Athenaeum). WorldCat record id: 550528065 Theodore Sizer was born on March 19, 1892 in New York City. He received a B.S. degree from Harvard in 1915. He worked in the import-export business from 1915 until 1922 and served as a first lieutenant in the Army in World War I. He was curator at the ...

Harvard Lampoon (Organization)

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Carmichael, Leonard, 1898-1973

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6st7zpf (person)

Leonard Carmichael (b. Nov. 9, 1898, Philadelphia, Pa.–d. Sept. 16, 1973), American educator and psychologist, was Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution from 1953 to 1964. From the description of Carmichael, Leonard, 1898-1973 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10582949 Leonard Carmichael was a psychologist, but was also active in research in zoology and biology. From the description of Papers, ca. 1917-1973. (American Philosophical Soc...

Food for Freedom, Inc.

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World War II civilian relief organization, directed by Harold Weston. From the description of Records of Food for Freedom, Inc., 1942-1947. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 71131144 Organizational History Food for Freedom, Inc., was founded in 1943 by Harold Weston (1894-1972), a modernist painter who devoted his work during the World War II period to combating hunger among refugees in Europe and Asia. He lobbied Eleanor Ro...

Montross Gallery

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Art gallery at 550 5th Avenue, New York, N.Y. From the description of Montross Gallery exhibition catalogs, 1908-1926. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122291732 ...

National Endowment for the Arts

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Mumford, Lewis, 1895-1990

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6s18205 (person)

American writer. From the description of Correspondence with Alfred S. Dashiell, 1931-1940. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 51846130 Carl Zigrosser and Lewis Mumford were life-long friends with shared interests in the arts, society and politics. From the description of Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1925-1971, n.d. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 155902319 Sir Patrick Geddes was a Scottish biologist, sociologi...

Studio House (Phillips Memorial Gallery)

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