James Britton papers, circa 1905-1984, bulk 1905-1935

(Apel, Marie: 52; Atwood, William E.: 50, 53, 56, 62-69, 67-70, 88, 90; Baker, Bryant: 51, 56, 62, 83, 88, 92; Bayley, Frank [Copley Gallery]: 70, 101-102; Bellows, George: 84; Bernstein, Teresa: 38, 50-55, 69, 80, 90-105; Boucher, Dr.: 3, 103-106; Brush, Franklin: 56, 63, 97, 105-7, 137; Coburn, F. W.: 62, 67, 92; Copley, John: 29, 50, 61-2, 65, 70, 73, 77-8, 86, 102-3, 108, 113-117; Downes, W. H: 28; DuBois, Guy Pene: 85, 91; Duveneck, Frank: 53, 86; Hassam, Childe: 97; Haydn, Josef; Nuni [sic], Ann: 88, 91, 110, 124, 137-8; Sargent, John Singer: 38, 52, 72; Sloan, John: 40, 52, 54, 68-9, 85, 93-4; Twachtman, John: 89; Valencampf, John: 51, 56, 67, 70, 91, 109, 119; Vose, Robert: 5-. 62, 118)

(Anderson, Oscar: 28; Apel, Marie: 44, 47, 57, 97-99; Armistice, 64-8, 76; Babcock, E. C.: 85, 90, 102-3, 112, 117, 123, 127; Bellows, George: 41-6, 187; Bernstein, Teresa: 44-6, 58-9, 63, 80-4, 90-2, 104, 133; Copley, John Singleton: 57, 81-2, 106, 109-12, 121-2, 129; Detweiller, F. 97, 119, 123-5, 130-4; Dickinson, S.E.: 48, 90, 125-7, 133; DuBois, Guy Pene: 40, 89-91; Henri, Robert: 46, 98; Higgins, Eugene: 45-6, 60, 84, 136-7; Knoedlers: 136, 180-1; Kraushaar, John: 42; Kress: 42-3; Kuehne, Max: 42; Lever, Beatrice Sinclair: 42, 47, 57, 86, 123-4; Oliver, Jean N.: 44, 9203, 127; Sloan, John: 29, 64, 77-8, 99-100, 137; Townsend, J.B.: 42, 47-50, 57-8, 84, 86, 97, 100, 104, 106, 136)

(Art Review International: 1, 59; Babcock, E.C.: 28, 41, 49, 73, 80; Bartlett, Paul: 65, 90, 109; Beal, Gifford: 28, 61, 70; Beaux, Cecilia: 54, 69, 119; Cox, Kenyon: 7, 97; Dickinson, S.E.: 40-1, 51, 56-8, 63-4, 70, 73-6, 91, 93; Expressionists: 50, 73; Granville, Smith: 38, 46, 68-9, 100-2; Griffin, Walter: 65, 71, 99-100; Henri, Robert: 53-4, 115-117; Judson, Alice: 5-6, 38-9, 41, 60, 64, 96-7; Lever, Beatrice Sinclair: 26, 33, 36, 61, 69; Luks, George: 48, 56, 85, 87-8, 117; McBride, Henry: 31, 92, 102-3; Merrick, Lula: 50, 69, 73, 96, 117; Murphy, J. Francis: 39, 42-3, 66-8, 84, 95, 100; Nave, Captain Royston: 41, 51, 57-8, 64, 76, 91-7, 107-8; Prendergast, Maurice: 50, 57, 71, 89; Weir, J. Alden: 43, 46; Young, Mahonri; 34, 70)

(Art News, 73; Art Review International: list; Eilshemius, Louis: 89)

(Apel, Marie: 40, 70; Bayley, Frank: 4-5, 59; Daniel, Charles: 39, 42; Dickinson, S.E.: 36, 40, 64, 70-1; DuBois, Guy Pene: 72; Duveneck, Frank: 57; Flagg, Charles Noel: 41, 54; Griffin, Walter: 58; Hassam, Childe: 55; Higgins, Eugene: 3-5, 12; Kent, Rockwell: 33, 43; Knoedlers: 115; Lawson, Ernest: 35-6, 56; Macbeth, Robert: 8-9; Marin, John: 39; Price, F. Newlin: 42, 72; Ray, Man: 57; Twachtman, John: 13, 16, 56-7, 61; Yeates, John B.: 65-6)

(Blakelock, R.A: 27, 42-3, 46; Borglum, Gutzon: 20; De Valera, Eamon: 1, 11; Dougherty, Paul: 3, 17; Hassam, Childe: 28; Little, Phillip: 3, 89; Young, Mahonri: 3, 17, 20, 28)

(Ainslie, George: 66, 94; Aitken, Robert J.: 38-40, 44, 46; Bellows, George: 52, 73; DuBois, Guy Pene: 62; Duveneck, Frank: 67; Flanagan, John: 38-9, 61-2; Groll, Albert: 61-2, 79; Hafner, Charles: 38, 80; Innes, George: 66; Kronberg, Louis: 3-4, 83; Milch Galleries: 3; Pennell, Joseph: 44; Prendergast, Maurice: 53; Reynolds, Sir Joshua: 15-6; Roosevelt, Theodore: 104; Twachtman, John: 39, 45, 48-9, 67; Walcott, Albert: 12, 15, 51, 79, 83; Weir, J. Alden: 62, 83, 87-9; Zorach, William: 86)

(Bartlett, Paul: 1, 34-5; Dickinson, S.E.: 5, 32-3; Dudensing: 40, 46; Flagg, Charles Noel: 41, 45; Granville, Smith W.: 4; Levy, John: 2, 43; Macbeth, Robert: 37; Palmer, Erastus: 10; Sloan, John: 46; Society of American Artists: 11-27; Vanderbilt, Gertrude: 4; Walcott, Albert: 94-6; Weir, J. Alden: 1, 4; Young, Howard: 33)

(Art Review International; Beaux, Cecilia: 2; Bellows, George: 8; Bowdoin, W.G.: 2; Carroll, John: 20-4; Cortissoz, Royal: 9; Frazen, August: 33; Gay, Edward: 26, 31, 33; Groll, Albert: 8, 15; Henri, Robert: 25; Higgins, Eugene: 8, 23; Hunt, William Morris: 35, 37; Johnson, Eastman: 19; Laurens, Jean Paul: 21; McBride, Henry: 11; Murphy, J. Francis: 17-8, 33; Price, F. Newlin: 13; Rittenberg, Henry: 7; Robinson, Theodore: 1, 13, 15; Ringuis, Carl: 9; Vinton, F.P.: 1; Vonnoh, Robert: 7; Weir, J. Alden: 2, 13)

(Barry, James: 84; Blakelock, R.A.: 37; Dickinson, S.E.: 1-4; Groll, Albert: 1-2; Hafner, Charles Andrea: 1, 14; Hoppin, Charles A.: 14, 23-4; Judson, Alice: 13; Luks, George: 37; Nave, Captain Royston: 3-4, 13-4, 23; Nelson, W.H.: 14-5; Norton, Clara: 13; Regnault, Henri: 21; Shee, Sir Martin A: 11-2; Wallace, Ruth: 3, 55, 77; )

(Aitken, Robert J.: 7-8, 20, 43; Babcock, E.C.: 60, 108; Bellows, George: 43; Bunce, W. Gedney: 6, 120; Cole, Thomas Casilear 77, 120, 123, 126, 131, 136; Cross, Amy: 116; Damrosch, Helena: 134; Downey, Chris: 29; DuBois, Guy Pene: 117; Eakins, Thomas: 111; Ennis, George Pierce: 131; Foster, Ben: 107; Gay, Edward: 45, 58; Giles, Howard: 107; Goldthwait, Anne: 82; Hafner, Charles Andrew: 1, 44, 55, 57, 60, 63 ,67, 77, 90-2, 120, 129-30, 133; Hassam, Childe: 25, 80-2, 119; Higgins, Eugene: 6, 9, 20, 23, 108-109; Inman, Henry: 87; Kimbel, Richard: 123-4, 131, 169; Manning, Rose: 92, 124; Metcalf, Willard: 43, 81; Stuart, Gilbert: 85; Valenfampf, Theo: 16; Vanderlyn, John: 87; West, Benjamin: 85)

(Clivette, Merton: 48-50; Cole, Thomas Casilear: 82, 85; Cooney, John: 6, 9-10 28, 39; Detweiller, F: 6, 20-1, 37, 54-5, 77-8, 80-2, 85-7; Donner, Herman Montago: 18; Dorr, C.H.: 102; Dudensing: 88; Eakins, Thomas: 21; Fiedler, Max: 17; Frazen, August: 23; Hafner, Charles Andrew: 14, 20, 25, 73; Hassam, Childe: 10; Kitson, Henry Hudson: 66-7; Levy, John: 61-3; McBride, Henry: 22; Merrick, Lula: 29; Potter, Nathan D.: 5, 20, 27, 30-2, 27-8, 42-5, 69-74, 86; Rio, Anita: 11; A.P. Ryder: 1, 13; Vezin, Charles: 65-6; Wallace, Cornelia: 7-8, 19, 26, 30, 46, 85, 87; Young, Mahonri: 24)

(Barile, Xavier: 29; Bellows, George: 14; Brandegee, Robert B.: 24; Crews, Floyd: 22; Daniel, Charles: 16; Escobal: 42; Haverty, J.J.: 17-21; Higgins, Eugene: 14-5; Inukai, Kyohei: 16, 39, 42; Kronberg, Louis: 23; McCormick, William B.: 16-7; Myers, Jerome and Ethel: 14; Pennell, Joseph: 15; Ranger, Henry W.: 63; Stevenson, Gordon: 33; Vezin, Charles: 24)

(Ainslie, George: 9, 28, 33; Belcher, Hilda: 29; Burrows, Carlyle: 10, 31, 72; Chase, William M.: 3; Cheney, Russell: 18; Daniel, Charles: 3; Detweiller, F.: 14, 49, 52, 81, 88-9; Donohue, William Howard: 49; Dreier, Katherine: 89; Ennis, George Pearse: 9; Frazen, August: 36-40; Gaspard, Leon: 90-1; Granville-Smith, W.: 9; Gruppe, Charles P.: 40, 43; Hardie, Robert Gordon: 51; Hooker, J.: 105, 107; Inukai, Kyohei: 4, 8-9, 18, 20, 34-5, 40-1, 82, 88, 90-100; Judson, Alice: 9-90; Keller, Deane: 94, 103; Lawson, Ernest: 64; Luks, George: 4; Macbeth, Robert: 85; Manning, Rose: 54-9, 63; McBride, Henry: 93; McManus, James G.: 74, 105; Miller, Charles Townsend Abercrombie: 16; Morse, S.F.B.: 79; Nuni, Grove: 95; Pierpont, J.: 12, 20; Potter, Nathan D.: 20, 91, 101; Stuart, Gilbert: 50; Szopory, Baron Imre: 8, 83; Vose, Robert: 91; Young, Mahonri: 72, 92)

(Crews, Floyd: 1; Detweiller, F.: 5; Keller, Deane: 3; Muller, Michael: 3-4; Potter, Nathan D: 3-7)

(Copley, John Singleton: 1-2; Palmer, Erastus: 1; Shurtleff, Roswell M.: 1)

(discusses George Bellows and Childe Hassam exhibiting at Macbeth Galleries; the death of George Bellows; visits Dwight William and Mrs. Tryon in New York Ciry, discusses the Freer Gallery of Art at length; travels to Kraushaar Galleries to see paintings by Sloan and Bellows.)

(Britton participates in the First Exhibition of the Charter Members of the New Society of American Artists; list of members of the New York Portrait Society; exhibition at Babcock Galleries in April; New Society of Artists Committee meeting; list of portraits by year and sitter)

(attends a meeting of the New Society of American Artists at the studio of George Lobens with George Pease Ennis, Bruce Crane of the Salmagundi Club who nominate Ernest Blumenschein to join the committee; discusses Kyokei Inukai; discusses Babcock Galleries' poor treatment of artists; meets Milton Avery; talks of Opus)

(travels to Knoedler's and meets Jim Weiland; goes to Metropolitan Museum of Art with son Jerome; attends a George Bellows memorial exhibition; descrition of the New Britain Institute with a list of artists represented; visits James Goodwin McManus's studio; discusses "The Chess Players" by Robert Bolling Brandegee; talks with Frank Rehn; sees Frederick Detweiller; list of pictures over which to "make a big ex" (35); visits Louis Comfort Tiffany; list of portraits by others of which Britton wanted copies for inspiration and admiration (90-91) )

(discusses industry versus art in America; a draft of "Art and New Business"; list of works of art in Waterbury, CT by Britton; second annual exhibition of the New Society of American Artists; discusses the Connecticut Academy; the relationship between painting and writing)

(consists of notes on Copley and Haydn and Beethoven; list of Copley portraits of British and Americans painted in England; notes on Copley at the Royal Academy)

("notes on the literature of American Art"; has an exhibition at M. Knoedler and Co. Galleries; information about his Copley book; notes on Pyle and Stewart; suggests creating a Mark Twain group portrait; a list of books by W.M. Howells; list of woodcuts by Britton organized by date; notes on Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven; visits Kraushaar Galleries and the Morgan Museum; visits with Norwegian artist Lars Thorsen; discusses the pub culture of Hartford, CT; list of woodcuts by Walter Eitel; talks with Frank Gay of the Wadsworth Athenaeum; talks of Borglum and Caffin in Hartford reminisences)

(sells book on Copley; visits Walter Eitel and Frederick Detweiller; list of portraits painted by Hartford artists or of Hartford sitters; list of paintings--various; a draft of a letter to Edwin Valentine Mitchell and one to F. Detweiller; Mr. Bartlet, an engraver visits; gives an interview for The Republican with Miss Cullen; a list of books with Howell's; goes to Morgan Museum and cannot find his portrait of Charles Flagg; talks of his father Captain J. Britton; invited to exhibit at the Women's Club of Hartford with Maud Monnier--includes a list of paintings possible for exhibition; commentary on Hartford Philharmonic Orchestra; discusses "The Banquet of the Presidents" and his intent for the painting)

(talks with Father Andrew Kelly; lists of sales from the Women's Club Art Committee exhibitiion wiht a description of the event; talks of his portrait of Inukai; complaints of those considered "Rich Hartford"; visits Morgan Museum exhibitions including French, Italian, and Mexican paintings; draft of "The Battle of American Art" (53); sees an exhibition of Higgins etchings; a draft of a letter to Phillip Hardy; list of ideas for "Modern Life" series; two lists of paintings: for patrons in Hartford and of subjects residing in Hartford or the vicinity; a list of old paintings received from storage; comment on New York Tribune announcing the publication of the Copley book; a list of paintings to exhibit at Women's Club in November; pressures Morgan Museum for more paintings to cover all American Art movements and time periods; list of visitors to visit the Women's Club exhibition; a list of portraits for Britton to see or write about; comments on business during the depression)

(list of visitors to the Women's Club exhibtion, November 3, 1930; draft of a letter to Charles A Goodwin wiht a list of artists that should be represented at the Wadsworth Athenaeum; discusses Max Weber portrait; describes how he varnishes his paintings; a sketch of his studio space; essays entitled "Men's Mission" and "Women's Mission"; talks of Connecticut Shore Art Guild summer exhibition and a list of possible exhibtions; a price list from an exhibtion at Folsom Gallery in New York City)

(essay entitled "Dialog in a Portrait Painter's Studio"; contains an essay by Caroline Britton concerning Christian Science and prayer of Man and God; lists of portraits based on the age of the painting; commentary on European versus American artists; begins to discuss his health problems; a review of Jane Eyre and Shirley; a list of sales to Father Kelly; death of Maud Monnier; writes for the catalog for the Edith Stevens memorial exhibition; visit from Max and Mrs. Bengs; describes the role of Hartford's Cheney family in Prohibition; expresses frustration over having one of his woodcuts produced without permission; old friend Russel Northman commits suicide)

(vivid commentary on the effect of the Depression on the Britton family and the country in general; talks of Guy Pene du Bois; a critique of the American Intelligensia and their lack of focus on American Art(12); talks of Socialism in America at length-20; talks of Edith Stevens and her suicide; describes legal troubles and that a judge ruled his paintings as collateral; comments on suicide during Depression; discusses Father Kelly's art collection and his new O'Keeffe works; a description of the Presidents within "The Presidents Banquet"; discusses the election of Franklin Roosevelt; gives commentary on Irish politics; having difficulty with his wife; a list of paintings with Father Kelly; discusses falling out with Father Kelly because Britton will not convert to Catholicism)

(visit from Henry Nord; discusses Roosevelt's election; talks of problems with his relationships with Father Kelly and wife, Caroline; reflections on the art scene in New York City-57; list of data on "The Presidents Banquet"; death of Tom Brabazon; looting and petty theivery during the Depression)

(contains many details of the poor economic conditions and the effect on society and his own familial relationships; Socialist and Communist activities of his wife; discusses attempted shooting of Roosevelt in Florida; visit from Tom Supples, a baseball player; financial conditions of museums in Hartford; discusses the Beer Bill and the end of Prohibition and the Bank Holiday; recollections of Ida Tarbell; a list of paintings lost-93)

(many notes on classical music and composers; discussion of the new beer after Prohibition; suffers from ill health and talks of the activities of his children; visits from the son of E.C. Potter, sculptor)

(contains many sketches; discusses Civil War photography; a sketch of a surgery done by his brother-in-law Dr. Boucher; list of paintings; discusses the job market for post-high school students; list of paintings owned by Father Kelly; descriptions of landscape paintings and comments on painting over old canvases-54; list of paintings owned by Walter Eitel and E.V. Mitchell)

(discusses article about Father Kelly's art collection in The Transcript; essay "Modernism Blows Up"; talks of the quality of paper available in America-9; concern with his copyright over images; anger of the patronage of Father Kelly; observations on New York City and the effects of Prohibition; Knights of Columbus activities in Connecticut)

(notes on Copley's "Death of Chatham"; essay "New Art Modernism"; reminisences of Hartford Art Institute and Art League; list of American portraits for potential exhibition; list of Copley reproductions owned by Britton; proposal for a political party called The Heroes-51; draft of a letter to the Hartford Courant concerning "Cure d'Ars")

(comments on children's activities and schooling; copies music of Beethoven and Haydn; talks of Roosevelt's presidency; discusses having prints made from engravings with Father Kelly)

(death of George Luks; Tom Spellacy as the mayor of Hartford; futher discusses Socialist and Libertine activities of Caroline)

(Father Kelly holds exhibition at the Andrea Art Gallery in Hartford; writes on the difference between professional and amateur artists; copy of a letter to Father Kelly; reelection of President Roosevelt; memo "Petition of Artist for a Break")

(discusses political and social situations in Germany; talks about Katherine Hepburn's family in Connecticut; letter to Father Kelly concerning prices of works of art)

(Caroline elected as an honorary member to the local labor union of textile workers; talks of Civil Works Administration and government sponsored art; discusses Juliana Force closing Whitney Museum for fear of violance; moves in with sister due to family troubles; issues with Father Kelly's patronage; Britton family is evicted and forced to find a new place to live)

(draft of a letter to Father Kelly; outlines his problems with Father Kelly-23; discusses racial tension in the South; death of Frank B. Gay; sketches; discussion of "The Presidents Banquet")

(mostly sketches and artworks including color)

(troubles with his family concerning his disagreement with wife's affiliation with labor unions; Jerome has an exhibition; Mr. Monnier dies; Caroline urges workers of Cheney Mills to join labor unions; draft of a letter to Tom Spellacy)

(this diary was recycled twice and is therefore difficult to read--it was used by Jerome as a school book, by Britton in 1930, then Britton returned to it in 1934; essays from 1930 "Everybody to Work" "Untitled Play"; essay from 1934 "Truce and the Pope"; concerning Senator John Blackwell; sketch of paintings-113)

(memoranda concerning prints for publication; list of possible purchasers of Roosevelt painting; sketches; list of paintings to be duplicated or printed; discussion of Huey Long)

(discusses Roosevelt's cabinet and Huey Long; draft of letters to Detweiller; death of Augustus Lukeman, sculptor; sketches; talks of the Andrea Art Guild turning into a Catholic lending library; recalls time spent with Cecilia Beaux in 1909)

(moves into sister's home due to health probelms; list of people in the Connecticut State Offices along with salaries and locations; sketches; list of potential portrait subjects and landscapes)

(talks of "foreign policy" of the Morgan Museum; letter by Joanna Boucher for school; letter to Senator Blackwell; sketches; inscriptions of books on composers; proposal for a Copley Society in Connecticut; form letter for solicitation of Roosevelt painting)

(list of members of the Copley Society of America, 1908; sketches; list of trustees and members of the Museum Arts Committee; draft of letter to the editor of the Herald addressed to Democrats)