Chester Dale papers, circa 1883-2003, bulk 1920-1970

This series includes inventories of the Chester Dale collection and houses documents related to the appraisal and disbursement of Dale's estate.

Several iterations of the collection inventory list artwork in the collection alphabetically by artist and include details such as artist, title, execution and purchase dates, provenance, exhibition history, size, reproduction details, and press coverage. Only the first of the two main inventories includes prices, as indicated on the original cover. There are two additional inventories in which artwork is grouped by auctions, sales, and gifts, including sales at Parke-Bernet Galleries and Plaza Art Gallery.

Lists of artwork are from various sources and include a list of American pictures, two lists of gifts from the Dale collection, and a list of Dale's collection on loan to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Receipts include a 1930 receipt for artwork purchased by Mary Bullard and a "list of pictures belonging to Mary Bullard" with prices. There are receipts for individual artwork purchased from various galleries, which document the purchase of works by Cezanne, Cassatt, Dufy, Picasso, and others. Also found is a receipt for the sale of Salvador Dali's portrait of Dale from Carstairs Gallery.

Records documenting the disbursement of Dale's will to various art institutions include lists, legal documents, and related correspondence.

Also found is a guest book which provides a list of visitors to the Chester Dale collection at his residence on 79th Street, New York, New York, which lists dates, names, and sometimes occasions for the visit.

The priced and unpriced inventories have been labeled numbers 1 and 2 respectively for clarity. Folders are arranged alphabetically by type of record.

This series has been digitized in entirety, with the exception of duplicates.