Letter from E. P. Richardson (1902-1985), first director of the Archives of American Art, to artist Rockwell Kent (1882-1971), June 15, 1959. Rockwell Kent Papers. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell Kent, 1969 and 1971.
Richardson asks Kent to consider donating his papers to the Archives. Kent responded, "...I am naturally flattered by your interest...But, being still alive and intending to leave everything of mine to my wife, I am disinclined to make any decision about my 'remains' at this time."
Letter from Rockwell Kent (1882-1971) to Butler Coleman, the Archives' New York regional collector, May 1, 1969. Archives of American Art acquisition files.
In 1969, Kent lost his home in a fire. The Archives of American Art salvaged his papers, though they had been under six feet of water.
Kent wrote, "We wish that the whole house, with all its now irreplaceable contents had been sent to the Detroit Archives." Later, he gave this ringing endorsement: "In letters to other artists I am occasionally asked for my advice as to what they should do with their records. My advice is...'offer them to the Archives of American Art.'"
Archives of American Art brochure, 1958, showing damage from the fire at Kent's home in 1969. Rockwell Kent Papers. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Rockwell Kent, 1969 and 1971.
Letter, June 10, 1953, from painter Reginald Marsh (1898-1954) to Lawrence Fleischman (1925-1997), who founded the Archives of American Art with E. P. Richardson. Lawrence and Barbara Fleischman Papers. Gift of Lawrence and Barbara Fleischman, 1954-2000.
Marsh provides the "artist's conception" of his painting Eyes Tested (1944) in the Fleischman collection.