William Mills Ivins papers, 1878-1964

The file on European travels contains letters of introduction to curators and collectors, miscellaneous notes, and expense records for museum business. Files on gifts and loans refer to those from WMI's personal collection to the museum. Metropolitan Museum Studies files include records of the Editorial board meetings, 1927-1936; circulation records, 1933; general records, 1931; Vol 4 and 5, 1933-1935; correspondence with and about contributors, including Burroughs, Alan, Cooke, Walter W.S., Cumont, Diamond, W., Dinsmore, William B., Frick, Colin G., Jacobsthal, Lewis, W.S., Morgan, John Hill, Panofsky, Erwin, Planiscig, L., Richter, Gisela A.M., Tietze, Hans, Updike, D.B., and Wehle, H; and rejected articles. Printed matter does not include exhibition catalogs from the museum.

Genealogy, notes on family history, and clippings about Ivins/Mills/Perrine families, and Ivins/Yard/Swift families.

Letters from relatives include those from Barbara Ivins [daughter]; Emma Yard Ivins [mother]; Florence Wyman Ivins [wife]; James Sterling Yard Ivins [brother]; Katharine Ivins [sister]; Margaret Ivins Holmes [sister]; Sarah Ivins [neice or cousin]; William M. Ivins, Sr., [father]; William T. Mills [grandfather]; Annie Perrine [cousin]; Loraine Wyman Painter [sister-in-law]; Walter C. Wyman [father-in-law]; and Addie Yard [grandmother].

Records concerning the estate of Ivins' estate include obituary, memorials and tributes; letters of condolence, A-Z (addressed to Barbara); and Ivins Collection of Prints and Illustrated Books, sales records and auction catalogs.

Barbara Ivins (1913-), daughter of William M. Ivins, Jr., and Florence Wyman Ivins, was the donor of the William M. Ivins, Jr. Papers. She is sometimes addressed as Barbi, Bubbles, Bubsey. Letters found here include those from Florence Wyman Ivins [mother]; Katharine Ivins [aunt], undated; and William M. Ivins, Jr., [father].

Emma Yard Ivins (1857-1940) was the mother of William M. Ivins, Jr. She was an amateur photographer whose work was exhibited at the turn of the century. She was active in the woman's suffrage movement from circa 1900 to 1915. She was sometimes addressed as Nem or Bammie.

Correspondence between William M. Ivins, Jr., and his mother, Emma Yard Ivins, is extensive and wide-ranging. Included are letters from boarding school, c. 1890-1897, with childhood memorabilia such as grade reports, homework papers, a silhouette, and printed programs from school concerts and athletic events. His letters written while an undergraduate at Harvard, 1897-1901, and during his European trip of 1901-1902, reflect a growing interest in art. During some periods, mother and son corresponded almost daily. He frequently wrote in detail about progress with work, news of the museum, opinions about art, and activities of friends and colleagues, as well as commenting on daily life at home.

Material relating to the woman's suffrage movement includes letters from Susan B. Anthony, with a photographic portrait and a printed silhouette. Also included are letters from Ida Husted Harper and Anna H. Shaw. In addition, there is miscellaneous printed matter and undated impressions of the suffrage movement in England by an author unknown.

Miscellaneous records include Christmas lists; constitution and by-laws of the Wednesday Afternoon Club, with lists of officers and programs since its establishment in 1888; a certificate from the Woodrow Wilson Foundation; and clippings about Emma Yard Ivins.

Letters from relatives include those from James S. Y. Ivins [son]; Katharine Ivins [daughter]; Margaret Ivins Holmes and Jonathan Holmes [daughter and grandson]; Sarah Mills Ivins [mother-in-law]; William M. Ivins, Jr. [son]; and William M. Ivins, Jr., and Florence Wyman Ivins [son and daughter-in-law].

Florence Wyman Ivins was the wife of William M. Ivins, Jr., and an illustrator, primarily of children's books, and a painter of children's portraits. Many of her letters to family members are illustrated with pen and ink drawings or watercolors. She was addressed as Flossie of Flo.

Letters from family and friends include those from Emma Yard Ivins [mother-in-law]; Katharine Ivins [sister-in-law]; Sarah Ivins; William M. Ivins, Jr. [husband]; Margaret Orr; Margaret Wind; Helen and Herbert Winlock; Wyman Family [letters from FWI to her father and sister].

Artwork includes a sketchbook, Southold [L. I.], from the summer of 1922, containing watercolor and pencil sketches of local scenery, Barbara, WMI, Jr., Loraine Wyman, and Paderewski. Also found here are portraits of William M. Ivins, Jr, (2), Bruce Rogers, and Marion Stone; miscellaneous prints and drawings; Christmas and other greeting cards designed by FWI, circa 1910-1937, including a 1937 New Year's greeting, "A Parable of Artists and Art Critics" by Hans Christian Andersen, illustrated by FWI with calligraphy by WMI, Jr.

Miscellaneous material includes notes about E.S. [Elizabeth Sears?]; a flyer advertising children's portraits by FWI, with snapshots of children [used for paintings?]; a marriage announcement and related clippings, 1910; and Wyman family obituaries, including FWI.

Writings include childhood reminiscences and principles of art instruction at Brearly School.

Katharine Ivins (circa 1888-) was the sister of William M.Ivins, Jr. A music teacher, she lived with mother in the Yard family home, in Freehold, N.J. She was addressed as Kate or Katti.

Letters from relatives include those from Barbara Ivins [niece] Florence Wyman Ivins [sister-in-law]; Margaret Ivins Holmes [sister]; and William M. Ivins, Jr. [brother]. Writings include an essay [school homework], and a notebook, including childhood reminiscences with mention of mother's photography, schooling etc.

Margaret Ivins Holmes, (1882-1954), sister of William M. Ivins, Jr., lived in Freehold, N.J. and ran an antique store there with her husband, William Holmes. She was addressed as Margie or Peggy. Letters from relatives include those from Florence W. Ivins [sister-in-law]; William M. Ivins, Jr. [brother]; and William M. Ivins, Sr. [father].

William M. Ivins, Sr., (1851-1915), father of William M. Ivins, Jr., was a lawyer and politician and was addressed as Will. He spent a great deal of time in Europe and South America as a corporate lawyer. In 1905, he ran unsuccessfully for mayor of New York City. Business correspondence includes a letter from Mme. Blavatsky, with clippings and photographic portrait. Letters from relatives include those from Emma Yard Ivins [wife]; Katharine Ivins [daughter]; Margaret Ivins Holmes [daughter]; Sarah Mills Ivins [mother]; William M. Ivins, Jr. [son]; Annie Perrine [cousin]; James S. Yard [father-in-law]. Miscellaneous material includes biographical notes; clippings by and about WMI Sr., including an obituary; and miscellaneous notes copied from an unidentified publication.

The Ivins Family photographs represent many processes from tintypes to silver gelatin prints. A number were taken by accomplished amateur photographer Emma Yard Ivins of her children, circa 1890-1905; a few of her children are purported to be the work of Gertrude Kasebier (possibly an acquaintance of Emma Yard Ivins?).

Architecture photographs mainly consist of photographs of colonial architecture, apparently taken by William M. Ivins circa 1930-1940. These are unidentified, except for location, and arranged by state. Also included are a few scenes of Europe from the same period, featuring buildings.

Miscellaneous photographs include those used as illustrations for How Prints Look and pictures of the Alberti Model for On the Rationalization of Sight (which may have been used to illustrate other writings, as well). The subseries also includes additional subjects such as a view of the Swarthmore College campus [Barbara's alma mater] and painting conservation [Metropolitan Museum of Art?].