Francis Davis Millet and Millet family papers, 1858-1984, bulk 1858-1955

Millet, Francis Davis, b. 1846 d. 1912
Painter, Muralist, Author
New York, N.Y.

The papers of Francis Davis Millet in the Archives of American Art were digitized in 2006 from 8 reels of microfilm. The papers have been scanned in their entirety, and total 6,964 images.

Funding for the digitization of the microfilm of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.

Collection size: 3.2 linear ft.

Collection Summary: The Francis Davis Millet and Millet family papers measure 3.25 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 Titanic. Also of interest are approximately twenty ink caricatures attributed to John Singer Sargent.

Biographical/Historical Note: Francis Davis Millet (1846-1912) was a painter and muralist from Washington, D.C., New York, N.Y., and England. Millet established an artists' colony with close friends John Singer Sargent, Henry James, and Edwin Abbey in the village of Broadway, Worcestershire. He played a major role in the founding of the American Federation of the Arts, was extensively involved in the World Columbian Exposition, worked on the Fine Arts Commission in Washington, D.C., during the terms of presidents Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. Millet went down with the Titanic, April 15, 1912.

Materials filmed on reels 5903-5907 were donated in 1974 by Charles S. Millet, grandnephew of F.D. Millet; in 1975 by John A. P. Millet, son of F.D. Millet; in 1977 by Frank D. Millet, grandson of F. D. Millet; in 1987 by Joyce A Sharpey-Schafer, granddaughter of Francis Davis Millet; and in 1996 by David M. Emerson, Millet's grand-nephew. Charles S. Millet lent material filmed on reels 849 & 1080 in 1974-1976. Four photographs on reel 440 were originally placed in AAA's Photographs of Artists Collection One; they were subsequently scanned and placed with the Millet papers. Four letters and three envelopes donated 2003 by Frank D. Millet and Millet's granddaughter, Mrs. Josephine Millet Flynn and her husband Harry L. Flynn, and two additional letters donated by Frank D. Millet in 2006, one of which (Oct. 20, 1887 letter) was lent for filming on reel 5460, frames 422-437, along with a transcript of the letter, by Peter Engstrom in 1998.

How to Use this Collection

• Read the Finding Aid for this digitized collection
• The microfilm of this collection was digitized in 2007 and is available via the Archives of American Art's website. The collection is also available on 35 mm microfilm reels 5903-5907 at Archives of American Art offices, and through interlibrary loan.
• Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
• For more information on using the Archives’ resources, see the FAQ or Ask Us.

Also in the Archives

• Francis Davis Millet letters to Miss Ward and Ticknor, [undated]
• Image Gallery items from other collections related to Millet, Francis Davis

Related Materials

Charles S. Millet loaned photographs, biographical information, and miscellaneous items for microfilming in 1974 on reel 849. In 1976, he loaned an album of photographs of F. D. Millet's murals in the Baltimore Customs House, with related printed matter for microfilming on reel 1080. After microfilming, the materials were returned to Charles S. Millet.
Found within the holdings of the Archives of American Art are several collections related to Francis Davis Millet, including five letters from Millet to Miss Ward and "Ticknor" and a collection of Francis Millet Rogers research material regarding Francis Davis Millet. The Philip Martiny papers contains two group photographs that include F. D. Millet. A letter describing a visit to Millet's studio is among the William Cushing Loring Papers. The American Academy in Rome records include documents created by F. D. Millet in his capacity as Secretary from 1904-1907 and as Chief Administrator in Rome, 1911-1912.