The
The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and
Printed Ephemera
Henry
Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, DE 19735
302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883
OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION
Creator: Fosdick, James William, b. 1858.
Title: Letters
Dates: 1899-1935
Call No.:
Acc. No.: 80x186
Quantity: 35 items
Location: 9 C 3
BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT
James William Fosdick was an
American mural painter, craftsman, and writer, born in
SCOPE AND CONTENT
Collection contains 34 letters addressed to James W. Fosdick between 1899-1935. Most are from such noted artists as John La Farge, Frank W. Benson, Edwin Blashfield, J. Mortimer Lichtenauer, Chester Loomis, and F.D. Millet. Letters describe painting techniques or contain personal news about exhibitions and/or family matters. Other letters, including the ones from La Farge, pertain to Fosdick's work as secretary of the Mural Painters during La Farge’s tenure as its president. An additional item is an article Fosdick wrote for the New York Times as president of the American alumni of the Académie Julian; it concerned a celebration in honor of Gari Melchers.
ORGANIZATION
In alphabetical order by surname of letter writer.
LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS
The materials are in English, with the exception of one letter in French.
RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS
Collection is open to the public. Copyright restrictions may apply.
PROVENANCE
Purchased from N. D. Scotti.
ACCESS POINTS
People:
La Farge, John, 1835-1910.
Benson, Frank Weston, 1862-1951.
Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936.
Millet, Francis Davis, 1846-1912.
Loomis,
Lichtenauer, J. Mortimer.
Melchers, Gari, 1860-1932.
Topics:
Mural Painters.
Artists - Autographs.
Mural painting and decoration, American.
Art – Exhibitions.
Letters.
Artists.
Painters, American.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION
Location: 9 C 3
Note: all accession numbers begin with 80x186; all letters except .31
are addressed to Mr. Fosdick
Folder 1:
.1 from John W. Alexander,
.2 Carroll Beckwith, New York City, May 14, 1901; the picture is a fine one but doubts it is an original Titian; should display it and solicit the opinions of others in the art world
.3 Carroll
.4 Frank W. Benson,
.5 Edwin H. Blashfield,
.6 Edwin H. Blashfield,
.7 Edwin H. Blashfield,
.8 Edwin H.
.9 Edwin H. Blashfield, South Dennis, Cape Cod, Mass., July 6, 1933; with envelope; has been feeling feeble, but the letters urging him to do a show have been cheering; Gigi has built a fine studio for me – the best I’ve had since I left Paris; still painting some every day, but can no longer climb to do mural work
.10 Hugh H. Breckenridge, alias “Breck,” Philadelphia, Philadelphia, no date, but envelope postmarked December 1, 1934; thanks for letter; has moved to Philadelphia; hopes to see Fosdick in Gloucester next summer
.11
.12 C. D. Gibson,
.13 Alfred C. Haddon, Cambridge, [England?, but return address on envelope is Sugar Hill, N.H., and envelope is postmarked New York,] June 13, 1899; with envelope; found his letter upon his return from New Guinea and Borneo; see his article about charring designs (called poker-work in England) as practiced in those places; please send anything Fosdick has written on the subject of this type of work
.14 John La Farge, New York City, Friday, May 9; may not be able to attend meeting as am unwell – will come if feel better; would like to be part of discussion about the Hall of Records
.15 John La Farge,
.16 John La
.17 John La Farge,
.18 John La
.19 John La Farge, Newport, Rhode Island, June 5, 1900; the lists of committees was sent to someone else by mistake; wanted Mr. Blashfield’s comments; mentions their children
.20 John La Farge,
.21 John La Farge,
.22 John La Farge, no place, 13th; about business relating to the Mural Painters society
.23 John La Farge, [
.24 John La Farge, no place, no date; sends a business question on a separate piece of paper; will get some autographs for Mrs. Fosdick
.25 John La Farge, no place, no date; about business relating to Mural Painters society
.26 Jules Lefebvre, Paris, March 6, 1908, to Gentlemen; letter in French; English translation filed with it; about a meeting of the American students who had studied at the Academie Julian in Paris
.27 J. Mortimer Lichtenauer, New York City, November 10, 1902, addressed to Fosdick as Chairman, Subcommittee on Decoration; will send a picture to the upcoming exhibition
.28 Chester Loomis,
.29 George W. Maynard,
.30
.31 J. William Fosdick, President, American Alumni of the Paris Julian Academy, to the editor, New York Times, December 6, 1932; a tribute to Gari Melchers, about his studies at the Academie Julian
.32 F. D. Millet, New York City, February 12; just returned from trip South; has nothing to contribute [to an exhibition]
.33 H. Siddons
.34 Frederick C. Shields,
.35 Rose [illegible],
Name index to
Academy of Arts &
Letters .9
Alexander, John W. .1
Architectural League .27, .28, .33
Beckwith, Carroll .2, .3
Benson, Frank W. .4
Blashfield, Edwin H. .5-.9, .19, .25
Breckenridge, Hugh H. (“Breck”)
.10
Burroughs, Bryson .11, .19
Carnegie Hall .9
Century Club .23
Darley(?) &
Fosdick, Mrs. .24
Gibson, C. D. .12
Gigi .9
Goodfriend, Mrs. .3
Grand Central Galleries .9
Haddon, Alfred C. .13
Hambley, Mr.
[carpenter] .9
Hotel Gotham .12
Howell (or Howells) .7
Kittie .9
LaFarge, John .14-.25, .34
Lamb, Mr. .14, .19, .22
Lefebvre, Jules .26
Lichtenauer, J.
Mortimer .27
Loomis,
Maynard, Geo. W. .21, .29, .34
Melchers, Gari .30, .31
Millet, F. D. .32
Mowbray, H. Siddons .18, .33
National Society of
Craftsmen .35 [envelope]
Rose [surname
illegible] .35
Shields, Frederick C. .34
Society of Mural Painters
.5-.6, .15, .22, .25
[note: many other letters mention meetings or committees,
but don’t give the names of the organizations; it is possible these references
are also to the Society of Mural Painters]
Willett .6
Titian .2