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Frederick William MacMonnies papers, 1874-1997

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Contents and Arrangement

The collection is arranged as 10 series:

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  • To request an appointment to view materials, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reading Room" button. Please note, you will receive the full box.
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Series 1: Biographical Material , 1886-1921
(Box 1; 5 folders)

Biographical material consists of a student card to the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, a certificate of registration as an American Citizen, the wills of MacMonnies and his second wife, Alice, and a biographical note by Alice MacMonnies.
Description Container Select
École des Beaux-Arts Student Card, 1886
1
1
Certificate of Registration of American Citizen, 1913
1
2
Frederick William MacMonnies' Will, 1915
1
3
Alice MacMonnies' Will, 1915
1
4
Biographical Notes by Alice MacMonnies, 1921
1
5
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Series 2: Diary , 1884-1885
(Box 9; 1 folder)

MacMonnies' diary describes his first sailing to Europe, daily activities during his first year of study in Paris and Munich, and descriptions of travel in Italy.
Description Container Select
Diary, 1884-1885
9
1
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Series 3: Correspondence , 1880-1971
(Box 1; 0.6 linear feet)

Correspondence includes letters exchanged between MacMonnies and colleagues including George Grey Barnard, Paul Bion, and John Flanagan. There is one letter each from Daniel Chester French, Archer M. Huntington, Charles F. McKim, and Frances Davis Millet. There are also letters from MacMonnies to his second wife Alice and to his daughters, Berthe Hélène (Betty) and Marjorie MacMonnies. There are scattered letters from Helen Gordon Glenn, Rita Lydig, and a telegram to Alice from General John J. Pershing, a former suitor.
Description Container Select
Correspondence, undated
1
6
Letters to Helen Gordon Glenn, undated
1
7
Correspondence, 1884
1
8
Correspondence, 1885
1
9
Correspondence, 1890-1894
1
10
Correspondence, 1895
1
11
Correspondence, 1896
(2 folders)
1
12-13
Correspondence, 1897
(2 folders)
1
14-15
Correspondence, 1898
1
16
Correspondence, 1900-1901
1
17
Correspondence, 1903
1
18
Correspondence, 1904-1910
1
19
Correspondence, 1911
1
20
Correspondence, 1912-1913
1
21
Correspondence, 1914
(5 folders)
1
22-26
Correspondence, 1915
(10 folders)
1
27-36
Correspondence, 1916
(3 folders)
1
37-39
Correspondence, 1917
(5 folders)
1
40-44
Correspondence, 1918
1
45
Correspondence, 1919
1
46
Correspondence, 1921-1924
1
47
Correspondence, 1925
1
48
Correspondence, 1926
(3 folders)
1
49-51
Correspondence, 1927
(2 folders)
1
52-53
Correspondence, 1928-1929
1
54
Correspondence, 1930-1932
1
55
Correspondence, 1933-1934
1
56
Correspondence, 1935-1936
1
57
Correspondence, 1937
1
58
Correspondence, 1938
1
59
Correspondence, 1939
1
60
Correspondence, 1940-1971
1
61
Letters from MacMonnies to his Daughters, 1908-1932
(12 folders)
1
62-73
Letters from Mary Fairchild MacMonnies Low, 1900-1940
1
74
Letters to and from Will Hicok Low, 1880-1928, undated
(2 folders)
1
75-76
Letters from Maggie MacMonnies Courant and Juliette Courant, 1910-1921
(2 folders)
1
77-78
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Series 4: Personal Business Records , 1874-1931
(Box 1; 6 folders)

Personal business records include deeds for land in Long Island, New York, certificates of copyright for MacMonnies' art work, a rental agreement for and inventory of MacMonnies' studio in Giverny, France, and miscellaneous receipts.
Description Container Select
Deeds for Land, 1874-1890
1
79
Copyright Certificates, 1895-1896
(2 folders)
1
80-81
Rental Agreement for Property in Giverny, 1914
1
82
Inventory of Contents of MacMonnie's House in Giverny, 1926
1
83
Miscellaneous Receipts, 1914-1931
1
84
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Series 5: Project Files , 1891-1935
(Box 1, 9-10; 27 folders)

Project files for the Fountain Barge of State at World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the Princeton Battle Monument, the Marne Battle Memorial, and statues General George B. McClellan, and Civic Virtue contain letters, photographs, and printed material including clippings, brochures, blue prints, and a book The Princeton Battle Monument. There is also a sheet of preliminary sketches for the statue General George B. McClellan.
Description Container Select
Fountain Barge of State at World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1891-1935
(5 folders; oversized Material Housed in Box 9)
1
85-89
Statue General George B. McClellan, 1903-1907
(2 folders)
1
90-91
Princeton Battle Monument, 1908-1927
(10 folders)
1
92-101
Statue Civic Virtue, 1914-1935
(5 folders)
1
102-106
Marne Battle Memorial, 1929-1935
(5 folders; oversized Material Housed in OV 10)
1
107-111
Two Oversized Photographs of the Fountain Barge of State at World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893,
(from Box 1, Folder 88)
9
5
Three Oversized Blueprints for the Marne Battle Memorial, 1928,
(from Box 1, Folder 109)
OV 10
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Series 6: Art Work , 1910-1914
(Box 1, 8-9; 1.1 linear feet)

Artwork consists of two sketchbooks and sketches for planned sculpture projects Beauty and Wisdom for the New York Public Library, Edith Gould with Goat, Hamlet for Edwin Booth memorial, and a Utica, New York drinking fountain.
Description Container Select
Sketchbook 1, undated
(2 folders)
1
112-113
Sketches, undated
(Oversized Material Housed in Box 9)
1
114
Plaster Casts of Sketches for Planned Sculpture Projects, 1910-1914, undated
8
Oversized Sketchbook 2, undated
9
2
Oversized Sketch, undated,
(from Box 1, Folder 113)
9
3
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Series 7: Writings , 1912-1917
(Box 2; 12 folders)

Writings consist of a manuscript by MacMonnies concerning the adverse effects modernity was having on beauty in art, a typescript concerning George Grey Barnard's statue of Lincoln, family anecdotes by Berthe Hélène MacMonnies, reminiscences by René de Quélin who also apprenticed in Saint-Gaudens' studio, dietary advice for Mrs. MacMonnies, and miscellaneous poetry. Of special interest are Mary Fairchild MacMonnies Low's memoirs in which she describes her early life, her first encounter with MacMonnies, and their life together in Paris and Giverny, including a visit from Stanford White and his wife.
Description Container Select
Manuscript Concerning the Loss of Beauty in Art through Modernity by Frederick MacMonnies, 1912
2
1
Typescript Concerning George Grey Barnard's Statue of Lincoln, 1917
2
2
Memoirs by Mary Fairchild MacMonnies Low, undated
(6 folders)
2
3-8
Family Anecdotes by Berthe Hélène MacMonnies, undated
2
9
Autobiographical Account by René de Quélin, undated
2
10
Dietary Advice for Mrs. MacMonnies, 1913
2
11
Miscellaneous Poetry, undated
2
12
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Series 8: Mary Smart's Research Files , 1908-1997
(Box 2-6, 9; 4.2 linear feet)

This series consists of research notes compiled by Mary Smart for her biography of MacMonnies A Flight with Fame, including photocopies of letters, notes, typescripts, clippings, miscellaneous printed material and scattered photographs copied from published sources or taken by Smart of art works and locations from MacMonnies' life. The Mary Foote file and the Stanford White file contain photocopies of letters from MacMonnies. The Will Hicok Low file contains photocopies of letters dated 1885-1903 from Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
Description Container Select
American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, 1976-1977
2
13
Angels, 1969
2
14
Archives of American Art Correspondence, 1979-1997
(10 folders)
2
15-24
Atlanta, undated
2
25
Atlantic Crossings, undated
2
26
Bacchante and Infant Faun, 1980-1997
(7 folders)
2
27-33
George Grey Barnard, undated
2
34
Paul Bartlett, undated
2
35
Beaux Arts, undated
2
36
Cecilia Beaux, 1995
2
37
Eugène Berteaux, undated
2
38
Paul Bion, undated
(2 folders)
2
39-40
Edwin Booth, undated
2
41
Bronxville, 1990
2
42
Brooklyn Things, 1970-1993
(4 folders)
2
43-46
John Mason Brown, 1937-1970
2
47
Butler Family, 1970
2
48
Henry White Cannon, 1968-1969
2
49
Chicago Fair (World's Columbian Exposition), 1971-1976
(3 folders)
2
50-52
Civic Virtue, 1966-1987
(3 folders)
2
53-55
Denver, 1975
(2 folders)
2
56-57
René de Quélin, undated
2
58
Thomas Wilmer Dewing, undated
2
59
Diana, 1986
2
60
William de Leftwich Dodge, undated
(2 folders)
2
61-62
Emmet Family, 1968-1982
(3 folders)
2
63-65
Book The Epicurian, 1971
2
66
Faun with Heron, 1976-1995
(2 folders)
2
67-68
Finances, 1971
2
69
James Wall Finn, 1970-1994
(3 folders)
2
70-72
Mary Foote, circa 1990s
2
73
Mary Foote, circa 1990s
2
74
Daniel Chester French, 1975-1992
(2 folders)
2
75-76
Alfred-Jean Garnier, 1979
2
77
Charles Dana Gibson, undated
2
78
Giverny, 1968-1992
(3 folders)
2
79-81
Giverny, 1968-1992
(3 folders)
3
1-3
Helen Gordon Glenn, 1976-1988
(7 folders)
3
4-10
Gramercy Park, 1966
3
11
Karl Gruppe, undated
3
12
Nathan Hale, 1969-1977
(3 folders)
3
13-15
Hallowell Painting, 1976-1994
3
16
Thomas Hastings, 1935
3
17
History of Sculpture and Art, 1969-1995
(3 folders)
3
18-20
The Horse Tamers, 1974
3
21
Evelyn West Hughan, 1969
(2 folders)
3
22-23
Indianapolis I, 1908-1995
3
24
Indianapolis II, 1969-1979
3
25
Jones Family, undated
3
26
Gozo Kawamura, undated
3
27
Elijah R. Kennedy, undated
3
28
Thomas Lamont, 1990-1994
3
29
Library of Congress Doors, 1980
3
30
Charles Lindbergh, 1972-1978
3
31
DeWitt M. Lockman 1927 Interview of MacMonnies (Annotated Photocopies), undated
(3 folders)
3
32-34
Mary Fairchild MacMonnies Low, 1970-1990
(9 folders)
3
35-43
Will Hicok Low, undated
(4 folders)
3
44-47
Will Hicok Low and Julienne Low, 1971
(2 folders)
3
48-49
Rita Lydig, undated
(2 folders)
3
50-51
MacMonnies' Ancestors, 1969-1990
3
52
MacMonnies' Childhood, 1969
3
53
MacMonnies' Descendants, 1971
(3 folders)
3
54-56
MacMonnies' Obituaries, 1971
3
57
MacMonnies' Grave, 1967-1969
3
58
Notes Concerning MacMonnies' Letters to his Daughters, undated
(8 folders)
3
59-66
Notes Concerning MacMonnies' Letters to his Daughters, undated
(4 folders)
4
1-4
MacMonnies Typescript "The Beautiful Arts of Painting and Sculpture" (Annotated Photocopy), undated
4
5
Berthe Hélène MacMonnies, undated
4
6
Frank MacMonnies and his Granddaughter Joan Huber, 1970-1995
(2 folders)
4
7-8
Maggie MacMonnies and Juliette Courant, 1969
(3 folders)
4
9-11
Marne Battle Memorial, 1962-1989
(3 folders)
4
12-14
Marne Battle Memorial Rededication as Statue of Fraternity, 1987-1989
(4 folders)
4
15-18
General George B. McClellan, undated
(2 folders)
4
19-20
Charles F. McKim, undated
(3 folders)
4
21-23
Models, undated
4
24
Claude Monet, 1978-1995
(Oversized Material Housed in Box 9)
4
25
New York Distinguished Visitors' Medal, 1970-1972
4
26
New York Public Library Fountains, 1977
4
27
Herman Niemeier, undated
4
28
Paintings, 1983
(4 folders)
4
29-32
Courtlandt and May Palmer, 1970
4
33
Pan of Rohallion, 1935-1974
(2 folders)
4
34-35
Paris, 1974
4
36
Pax Victrix, undated
4
37
Miss Pelzer, 1970
4
38
Perseus and Andromeda, undated
4
39
Victor Peter, undated
4
40
Peters Family, undated
4
41
Poetry, undated
4
42
Princeton Battle Monument, 1972-1984
(7 folders)
4
43-49
Prison Ship Martyr's Monument, 1983
4
50
Edmondo Quattrocchi, 1965-1966
4
51
Auguste Rodin, 1970-1981
4
52
Theodore Roosevelt, undated
4
53
John H. Roudebush, undated
4
54
Augustus Saint-Gaudens, 1971-1990
(8 folders)
4
55-62
Salons, undated
4
63
John Singer Sargent, 1988
4
64
Janet Scudder, 1971
(3 folders)
4
65-67
Sculpture - Early, undated
4
68
Sculpture Honor and Awards, 1970-1992
(6 folders)
4
69-74
Sculptures - Medallions, 1969-1972
(3 folders)
4
75-77
Sculpture - Not Done, 1948
4
78
Sculpture - Other, 1971
4
79
Sculpture - Portraits (Busts, Statues, and Reliefs), 1958-1988
(2 folders)
4
80-81
Sculpture - Statuettes, 1976-1986
4
82
Shakespeare, 1993
5
1
Jacob H. Shiff, undated
5
2
Henry Warner Slocum, undated
5
3
Societies, undated
5
4
Frank Squier, undated
5
5
James S. T. Stranahan, undated
5
6
Lorado Taft, undated
5
7
Myron C. Taylor, 1954-1993
5
8
Mary Laurence Tonetti, 1975-1977
(2 folders)
5
9-10
Utica Fountain, 1971
5
11
Sir Henry Vane, 1987
5
12
Venus and Adonis, 1971
5
13
Versailles, undated
5
14
Washington Arch, undated
(3 folders)
5
15-17
Benjamin West, undated
5
18
West Family History, undated
(4 folders)
5
19-22
West Point Battle Monument, 1970-1976
(2 folders)
5
23-24
James McNeill Whistler, 1977-1994
(4 folders)
5
25-28
Stanford White, 1966-1981
(3 folders; oversized Material Housed in Box 9)
5
29-33
General John Blackburne Woodward Monument, undated
5
34
Writings - Critical, undated
5
35
Yearly Summaries, undated
(6 folders)
5
36-41
Material Concerning MacMonnies Through 1885, undated
5
42
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1886-1887, undated
5
43
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1891, undated
5
44
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1892, undated
5
45
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1893, undated
5
46
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1894, undated
5
47
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1895, undated
5
48
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1896, undated
5
49
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1897, undated
5
50
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1898, undated
(2 folders)
5
51-52
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1899, undated
5
53
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1900, undated
5
54
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1901, undated
5
55
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1902, undated
5
56
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1903, undated
5
57
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1904, undated
5
58
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1905-1907, undated
5
59
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1908-1909, undated
5
60
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1910, undated
(2 folders)
5
61-62
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1911, undated
5
63
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1912, undated
5
64
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1913, undated
5
65
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1914, undated
5
66
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1915, undated
5
67
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1916, undated
5
68
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1917, undated
5
69
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1918-1919, undated
5
70
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1920-1922, undated
5
71
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1925, undated
5
72
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1926, undated
5
73
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1927-1929, undated
6
1
Material Concerning MacMonnies in 1931-1936, undated
6
2
Material Concerning MacMonnies After 1937, undated
6
3
Miscellaneous Notes, 1977-1988
(9 folders; oversized Material Housed in Box 9)
6
4-12
Miscellaneous Copies Used in Book, 1995
(4 folders)
6
13-16
Miscellaneous Copies For Possible Use in the Book, 1901-1995
(5 folders)
6
17-21
Bibliography of Other Sources Used by Mary Smart But Not Listed in Book, 1966-1989
(5 folders)
6
22-26
Oversized Calendar Containing Photographs of Monet's House at Giverny, 1993,
(from Box 4, Folder 25)
9
4
Oversized Clippings Concerning Stanford White, 1966-1981,
(from Box 5, Folder 33)
9
4
Two Oversized Calendar Pages, 1981,
(from Box 6, Folder 1)
9
4
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Series 9: Printed Material , 1896-1996
(Box 6-7; 13 folders)

Printed material includes clippings, a brochure concerning reproductions issued by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and a copy of Mary Smart's book A Flight With Fame.
Description Container Select
Clippings, undated
6
27
Clippings, 1896-1902
6
28
Clippings, 1903
6
29
Clippings, 1904-1906
6
30
Clippings, 1907-1909
6
31
Clippings, 1912-1913
6
32
Clippings, 1914
(2 folders)
6
33-34
Clippings, 1921-1936
7
1
Clippings, 1937
7
2
Clippings, 1941-1946
7
3
Brochure of Reproductions Issued by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1936
7
4
Biography of MacMonnies A Flight With Fame by Mary Smart, 1996
7
5
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Series 10: Photographs , 1889-1911
(Box 7, 9; 8 folders)

Photographs are of Frederick MacMonnies seated in front of the clay model of his statue General Henry Warner Slocum, and of MacMonnies with second wife Alice Jones in Lucerne, Switzerland immediately following their wedding. There are also photographs of family members including his parents, his first wife Mary Fairchild MacMonnies at the easel, his children, exterior views of his studio,a unique image of a horse being posed for use as a model for The Horse Tamers, and of art work.
Description Container Select
Photographs of Frederick MacMonnies, 1900-1910
7
6
Photographs of MacMonnies Family Members, 1901-1909
(2 folders)
7
7-8
Photographs of the Exterior of MacMonnies' Studio, undated
7
9
Photograph of a Horse Used as a Model for Sculpture The Horse Tamers, 1894
7
10
Photographs of Art Work by MacMonnies: Sculpture, 1889-1911
(Oversized Material Housed in Box 9)
7
11-12
Photographs of Art Work by MacMonnies: Paintings, 1901-1902
7
13
Five Oversized Photographs of Sculpture by MacMonnies, 1889-1911,
(from Box 7, Folders 11-12)
9
5
Oversized Photograph of Mural by Mary Fairchild MacMonnies Low, 1893
9
5

Make a Request

  • To request an appointment to view materials, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reading Room" button. Please note, you will receive the full box.
  • To request reproductions, make your selections using the checkboxes and click the "Reproduction" button.