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  3. Series 1:James McNeill Whistler Collection, 1863-1906, circa 1940

James McNeill Whistler collection, 1863-1906, circa 1940

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Series 1:James McNeill Whistler Collection, 1863-1906, circa 1940
0.2 Linear feet
Box 1

Letters, invitations, telegraphs and cards from Whistler are arranged alphabetically by recipient, either in individual named folders or grouped by letter. These are followed by letters from others. The pamphlet Wilde v. Whistler, the note from The Beach at Selsey Bill, and exhibition catalogs can be found at the end of the series.
DescriptionContainerSelect
From Whistler to Frederick H. Allen, circa 1892-1893 June 6
(reports that Sheridan Ford has left Paris for New York under an assumed name and is anxious that the "shocking scoundrel" not "slip through the very clever fingers of the New York Police.")
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From Whistler to Correspondents, B, circa 1890s
(correspondents include Carolline Van H. Bean, Miss Bird, and W.H.J. Boot)
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From Whistler to J. W. Beck, 1892 July 13
(handwritten copies of letter from and response to, J. W. Beck insulting the Royal Academy's president Sir. Frederick Leighton and stating his belief that "no previous desire on his part ever to deal with work of mine, has prepared me with the proper sort of acknowledgment. No! no Mr. Beck-"Once hung-twice Sky!")
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3
From Whistler to C. B. Bigelow, 1891 Oct. 5
(mentions the advance he gave to Sheridan Ford that was was never returned and refers to Ford's upcoming prosecution in Antwerp, Belgium)
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From Whistler to Katharine de Kay Bronson, circa 1880, circa 1896
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From Whistler to Dr. Swan Burnett and Mrs. Burnett (Frances Hodgson Burnett), 1883
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From Whistler to Mr. Dubourg, circa 1890
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From Whistler to Katherine Bayard Heyward, circa 1890
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8
From Whistler to George Washington Custis Lee, circa 1879
(draft of a letter recommending the sculptor Joseph Boehm for the commission of an equestrian statue of Lee's father Robert E. Lee. Whistler and G. W. Custis Lee had been cadets at West Point when Robert E. Lee had been the Academy's superintendent. Letter closes with "Let me recall myself to your recollection as an old West Point comrade who has never forgotten the high opinion all held of yourself and the veneration we had of your Father.")
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From Whistler to George Lucas, 1863 Mar. 16
(states he is sending the "White Girl" to the Paris exhibition. "I have set my heart upon this succeeding, as it would be a crusher for the Royal Academy here..." He asks Lucas to meet the painting and deliver it)
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From Whistler to W. Nicholson, circa 1890
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From Whistler to Correspondents, P, circa 1890-1894
(includes letter to William Patten regarding being an agent for Whistler's paintings; see also letter from Voglein to Patten)
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From Whistler to Herbert Charles Pollitt, 1896-1897
(includes card on mourning stationary postmarked 12 days after the death of his wife Beatrix, thanking Pollitt for "kind expressions")
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From Whistler to Correspondents Illegible/Unidentified, circa 1880s-1902
(includes 1902 letter probably to rare prints dealer Frederick Keppel)
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From Christine Anderson to Herbert Charles Pollitt, 1897 October
(October letter from secretary of the "The Company of the Butterfly" to one of it's first clients requesting that Pollitt send a check "for the baby you so brilliantly carried off...")
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From W. Nicholson to Herbert Charles Pollitt, 1897
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From Voglein to William Patten, 1890 Dec. 14
(letter asking Patten to be an agent for Whistler's paintings; see also related Whistler letter to Mr. Patten)
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17
Note from The Beach at Selsey Bill, circa 1884
(Whistler note with butterfly signature found pasted on the back of "Beach at Selsey Bill" stating that the "rag of canvas" was "never meant to be signed"; also a printed note stating Whistler's request that "the public should be warned against the possible purchase of a picture in no way representative, and in its acutal condition absolutely worthless.")
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Wilde v. Whistler: Being an Acrimonious Correspondence on Art Between Oscar Wilde and James A. McNeill Whistler, Pamphlet, 1906
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Exhibition Catalogs
Nocturnes, marines & chevalet pieces: small collection kindly lent by their owners, London, Goupil Gallery, 1892
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Etchings by James McNeill Whistler, Boston, St. Botolph Club, 1894
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Etchings and Dry Points by Whistler Recently Acquired and Etchings and Lithographs by Whistler (annotated), New York, H. Wunderlich & Co., 1905, 1907
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Etchings and Lithographs of James McNeill Whistler, Chicago, Art Institute of Chicago, 1907
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Whistler Exhibition, New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1910
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At the Piano Painted by James McNeill Whistler, New York, Scott & Fowles, circa 1940
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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.