Emmet Family
New York, N.Y., Stockbridge, Mass. (Show Bio)Emmet family papers, 1792-1989 (bulk 1851-1989)
9.5 linear ft. (partially microfilmed on 15 reels)
Reel(s): 4486, 4544, and 4754-4766
Biographical material; diaries; correspondence; notes; writings; business records; scrapbooks; art work; subject files; printed material; photographs; a videotape; and artifacts.
REELS 4754-4766: Biographical material, 1881-1981, includes family trees and biographical accounts. "Sedgemere Diary," 1855-1881, contains a clipping on Robert Emmet and entries by William Jenkins Emmet and Rosina Emmet Sherwood, including illustrations and her comments about William Merritt Chase's art class. Another diary, 1891-1933, contains sporadic entries by Julia and Rosina, including an account of the painting of Rosina's daughter by Cecilia Beaux.
Correspondence, 1792-1985, consists of letters between family members, primarily Julia and her daughters. Other correspondents include Cecilia Beaux, Henry James, Ellen "Bay" Emmet Rand, and Rosamond Sherwood. Topics include the Emmets' experiences while studying art in Paris, Rosina's presentation at Queen Victoria's court, Lydia's work at the Columbia Exposition, Jane's friendship with John Singer Sargent, portrait painting activities, the troubles of their friend Susy Metcalfe's marriage to Pablo Casals, and the activities of Rosina's son, playwright Robert Emmet Sherwood and friends Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne.
The collection also contains 2 address books; an address book/account, 1878-1883, kept by Rosina; 2 illustrated notebooks, one by Jane; miscellaneous lists, notes and writings; a contract, 1899, for the reproduction of Lydia's work; 3 account books, 1880-1945; a scrapbook, 1895, containing 5 drawings, reproductions of art work, opera programs, and photographs; drawings, watercolors, and sketchbooks by Julia, Rosina, Lydia, Jane, Bay, Libby LeRoy, and Elizabeth "Lybba" Emmet Morgan;
photographs and a clipping concerning Rosina's winning of Louis Prang Co. Christmas card competition; a file on the exhibition "The Emmets: A Family of Women Painters" held at the Berkshire Museum, 1982, containing letters, writings, registrarial records, photographs, clippings, and audio cassettes, 1947-1983; clippings, 1889-1982; exhibition catalogs, 1872-1989; reproductions of art work; the book "Out of Town" (1896) by Rosina; and photographs of family members, including Robert Emmet Sherwood as a young man, friends Richard Harding Davis, Frederick MacMonnies, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, and of art work.
REEL 4486: A scrapbook kept by Rosina, containing drawings in pencil, India ink and watercolor pasted on paper, undated and 1870-1875. Images consist of portraits of children, scenes from Emmet family life, and visits to West Point, Newport, and Southampton. One page which was not filmed contains 2 portraits of Henrietta and views from Southampton.
REEL 4544: Travel scrapbook by Rosina, 1876-1877, containing portrait sketches, drawings of her dogs, genre scenes and travel views; and photographs of travels, friends, actors, and the ship "Scythia."
UNMICROFILMED: A videotape (VHS), "The Emmets; Portrait of A Family" (1988), produced by Nancy B. Doyle; and artifacts, including an optical device and samples of 11 family members' hair.
Location of Originals: Travel scrapbook, Reel 4544: Original returned to Mrs. Earl Maize, daughter of lender R. Douglas Cochrane, after microfilming.
Donated 1988-1991 by Rosamond Sherwood, daughter of Rosina Emmet Sherwood, and her estate, via Douglas Cochrane, executor and Rosamond's nieces, Virginia Sherwood and Julia Shipway. One sketchbook was microfilmed on reel 4486 as a loan and was subsequently donated; another was microfilmed on reel 4544 and returned to Cochrane's daughter, Mrs. Earl Maize, after microfilming.
How to Use this Collection
- Patrons must use microfilm copy.
- Microfilm reels 4486, 4544, and 4754-4766 available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
- Please read the Finding Aid for more detailed information on this collection.
- Selected images of documents in this collection are online.
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