The Winterthur Library

 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:         Swain, Charles V.                                                      

Title:               Charles V. Swain Papers

Dates:             1947-2007

Call No.:         Col. 798

Acc. No.:        06x136; 07x107; 08x44; 09x26

Quantity:        15 boxes, 4 volumes

Location:        8 B 1-2, 4, 6

 

 

 

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

 

Charles V. Swain, Jr., (“Bud”) was born on February 6, 1914, in Sarasota, Florida, to Charles V. Swain and Louise McDaniel Swain.  He spent his youth there, but after the death of his father, his mother traveled north, settling in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, by 1940.  He attended the Marion Military Institute, the University of Florida, and the Ringling School of Art.

 

By the time Charles was a teen, he had developed a strong interest in the arts, ultimately pursuing the profession of interior designer.  In addition, he embarked on a lifelong passion for collecting, particularly Americana.  While he embraced many different media in his collecting - furniture, rugs, silver, paintings and several categories of Asian art (he was a founding member of the International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society) - pewter was his principal interest.  It was in this realm that he became best known.  His interest in pewter, principally American but also English, eventually led him to membership in the Pewter Collectors’ Club of America, to which he belonged for half a century, and also The Pewter Society, based in England.  His enthusiasm for pewter drove him to collect and study it avidly.  By the time of his death on September 14, 2006, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, he had built what many consider to be one of the largest and finest private collections of American pewter in the United States.  His involvement in the Pewter Collectors’ Club of America eventually led to his becoming assistant editor and then editor of the PCCA Bulletin, posts he held from 1962-1973. 

 

As editor of the Bulletin and subsequently, he published influentially on the subject.  He also corresponded with many luminaries in the world of American pewter and others internationally on English and continental European pewter.  Consequently, his name and references to his collection appear widely in numerous publications on the subject.  A two-volume catalogue (one each for American and English material) of his pewter collection was privately printed in 2003.  Charles Swain acquired a number of objects in his collection from his friend John Ruckman.

 

John Fell Ruckman (1901-1965) was born, lived and died in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.  He was from a long line of Ruckmans who lived in that area, most of whom were quite well to do but retiring, so they never appeared prominently in political, economic or social records.  John graduated from Swarthmore College and attended Columbia University in New York, but before graduating from the latter returned to the family farm just outside Doylestown to live his entire adult life with his parents Anna Trego Fell and John Horner Ruckman.  John was an active and intelligent collector of many things, having the money and leisure to pursue his interests.  His most serious collecting areas were American pewter and Chinese arts, particularly snuff bottles.  His interest in these areas brought him in contact with Charles V. Swain.  The two men eventually became fast friends and shared their enthusiasm for collecting until John’s death.  Ruckman served as editor of the Pewter Collectors’ Club of America Bulletin from 1962-1965.

 

 

SCOPE AND CONTENT

 

This body of papers including not only those generated by Charles V. Swain, but also some by his good friend and fellow collector John Fell Ruckman, document their interest, involvement and influence in the field of collecting American pewter and to a somewhat lesser extent, its English counterpart.  The collection includes correspondence with fellow collectors, including Ledlie Laughlin and Melvyn Wolf; invoices; catalogs from pewter dealers; catalogs of museum collections; photographs of pewter pieces; and index cards listing Swain’s and Ruckman’s pewter pieces, with information about provenance and price.  The photographs are of pieces from various collections, not just those owned by Swain and Ruckman.  Some were gathered for publication.  A number are not labeled.  Additional photos are found with correspondence.  As well, the collection includes publications, membership lists, and other information from the Pewter Collectors’ Club of America and The Pewter Society (of England).  Medallions and buttons from the Pewter Collectors’ Club of America and a linen tea towel decorated with pictures of American pewter are found.  The collection also includes a copy of the two volume catalog of Charles Swain’s collection.  A very few items pertain to Chinese snuff bottles.

 

Also part of the collection are miscellaneous Ruckman family papers and student art projects completed by Swain.  Charles Swain’s art and drawing projects include color charts, lettering exercises, designs for posters and magazine covers, room elevation drawings, room layouts, prints, and shop class drawings.  As well, there are photos of his Pewter Room (taken circa 1965), a business card for his interior decorating firm, a Japanese woodblock print, and postcards of Winterthur Museum.

 

Included with the Ruckman papers are trade cards, hand-written Valentines, Christmas cards, rewards of merit, calling cards, embroidery patterns, fashion plates and other pictures, stock certificates for the Centre Bridge Company (to build a bridge over the Delaware River), and a few tickets.  One of the Valentines includes a pencil sketch entitled “Woman’s Right,” depicting a woman in a bloomer outfit kneeling before a man, presumably making a marriage proposal as the Valentine was sent in 1852, a leap year.  A receipt book was kept by John Ruckman to document his guardianship of the Soliday children from 1833-1850.  Also found are poetry by John Fell Ruckman and letters written to him, chiefly by his mother, while he was at Columbia University.  Also included is a group of papers documenting an 18th century Philadelphia tea table which belonged to Ruckman’s ancestors, was willed to Charles Swain, and which was sold at auction in 2007.  A friendship album for Sarah Ruckman and a circa 1876 scrapbook round out this part of the collection. 

           

 

ORGANIZATION

 

The papers are in two series.  Series I documents Charles V. Swain and John Fell Ruckman’s collections and also contains Swain’s personal papers.  This series is arranged by subject: correspondence; invoices; dealers’ catalogs; museum catalogs; papers from pewter societies; photographs; catalog cards; and medallions and buttons.  Series II is Ruckman family materials, including personal information about John Fell Ruckman.

 

 

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

 

The materials are in English.

 

 

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

 

Collection is open to the public.  Copyright restrictions may apply.

           

 

PROVENANCE

           

All accessions are gift of Don Fennimore, nephew of Charles V. Swain, Jr.

A collection of photographs, apparently all used in the catalog of the Swain collection, were transferred from DAPC in 2017 and added to this collection.

 

 

ACCESS POINTS

 

People:

            Swain, Charles V. – Art collections.

            Ruckman, John Fell – Art collections.

            Maris, Sarah Ruckman, circa 1810-1892.

            Ruckman family.

 

Topics:

            Centre Bridge Company.

            Collectors and collecting – Pennsylvania.

Pewter Collectors’ Club of America.

            Pewter Society.

            Pewter – United States – Private collections.

            Pewter – United States – Collectors and collecting.

            Pewter – Great Britain – Private collections.

            Pewter – Great Britain – Collectors and collecting.

            Pewter – Collectors and collecting.

            Pewter – Private collections.

            Snuff boxes and bottles – Collectors and collecting.

            Valentines.

            Leap year.

Women’s rights.

Art – Study and teaching.

Commercial art.

Bridges.

Buttons.

Embroidery – Design.

Guardian and ward – Pennsylvania.

Friendship.

 

Autograph albums.

Calling cards.

Currency.

Drawings.

Poems.

Scrapbooks.

Stock certificates.

Tickets.

Trade cards.

Students.

           

 

Additional author:

            Ruckman, John Fell.

           

 

 

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

 

Location: 8 B 1-2, 4, 6

 

 

Box 1: Correspondence

 

Folder 1:          Correspondence, 1939, 1959-1969

 

Folder 2:          Correspondence, 1970-1972

 

Folder 3:          Correspondence, 1973-1979

 

Folder 4:          Correspondence, 1980-1989

 

Folder 5:          Correspondence, 1990-1994

 

Folder 6:          Correspondence, 1995-1999

 

Folder 7:          Correspondence, 2000-2005

 

 

Box 2: Correspondence; Swain’s pewter catalog

 

Folder 1:          Correspondence, no date

 

Folder 2:          Correspondence: about dispute with a church over ownership of a flagon, 1969-1975 (acc. 08x44)

 

Folder 3:          Correspondence: letters from C. Swain

 

Folder 4:          Correspondence: about pewter candlesticks

 

Folder 5:          Correspondence and photos: Will porringers

 

Folder 6:          Correspondence, photos, and article: Will flagons

 

Folder 7:          Correspondence: letters to and from John Ruckman, 1947-1965

 

Folder 8:          Correspondence: not with Swain or Ruckman

 

Folder 9:          Swain’s pewter catalog: printing expenses and announcement of publication

 

Folder 10:        Swain’s pewter catalog: errata letter and replacement photos; extra pages

 

Folder 11:        Swain’s pewter catalog: foreword

 

Folders 12-13: Swain’s pewter catalog: orders

 

Folder 14:        Repairs to pewter

 

 

 

Box 3:

 

Folder 1:          Repairs to pewter: Robert A. Smoot

 

Folder 2:          invoices addressed to Swain, 1959-1990s

 

Folder 3:          bills addressed to John Ruckman

 

Folder 4:          lists of pewter with values or prices

 

Folder 5:          Dealers: business cards and ads

 

Folder 6:          Dealers’ catalogs: B

 

Folder 7:          Dealers’ catalogs: F-H

 

Folders 8-9:     Dealers’ catalogs: Jacobs, Carl and Celia (also correspondence)

 

 

Box 4:

 

Folder 1:          Dealers’ catalogs: L-W (except Charles Montgomery)

 

Folder 2:          Dealers’ catalogs: Montgomery, Charles

 

Folder 3:          Dealers’ catalogs: Williams, Thomas D. and Constance R.

 

Folder 4:          Auction catalogs

 

 

Box 5:

 

Folder 1:          loans to museum exhibits

 

Folder 2:          appraisal of Swain’s American pewter collection, 1979

 

Folder 3:          Cotterell papers held by Worshipful Company of Pewterers

 

Folder 4:          catalogs of private collections

 

Folder 5:          list of pewter, with photos [pewter may belong to J. Burchard]

 

Folder 6:          catalogs of museum collections

 

Folder 7:          museum exhibit catalogs

 

Folder 8:          pewter

 

Folder 9:          pewterers

 

Folder 10:        pewterers: Will family [includes papers by Swain]

 

 

Box 6: tea towel; Pewter Collectors’ Club of America

 

Folder 1:          tea towel decorated with drawings of American pewter, by Stricklands, for Kay Dee Handprints, Hope Valley, Rhode Island

 

Folder 2:          PCCA Bulletin

 

Folder 3:          PCCA Newsletter

 

 

Box 7: pewter societies, etc.

 

Folder 1:          PCCA: meetings, regional meetings, workshops

 

Folder 2:          PCCA: member lists

 

Folder 3:          PCCA: miscellaneous items, membership cards, correspondence

 

Folder 4:          PCCA: Bulletin mock-ups and galley proofs

 

Folder 5:          The Pewter Society: correspondence

 

Folder 6:          The Pewter Society: constitution; membership lists

 

Folder 7:          The Pewter Society: meeting notices and minutes of meetings

 

Folder 8:          The Pewter Society: Journal of the Pewter Society

 

Folder 9:          The Pewter Society: library lists

 

Folder 10:        The Pewter Society: Newsletter, no. 1, 8, 11, 23-25

 

Folder 11:        The Society of Pewter Collectors: member list, journal, meeting notices and minutes, 1967-1968

 

Folder 12:        International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society

 

 

Box 8: photographs

 

Folders 1-2:     Photos: Swain collection

 

Folder 3:          Photos: Swain and Ruckman collections

 

Folder 4:          Photos: Will family pewter in Swain collection

 

Folder 5:          Photos: pewter, possibly part of Swain collection

 

Folder 6:          Photos: pewter photographed outdoors (possibly part of Swain collection)

 

Folder 7:          Photos: Meyerson collection

 

Folder 8:          Photos: Munday collection

 

Folder 9:          Photos: pewter from other collections

 

Folder 11:        Photos: Will family pewter in other collections

 

Folder 12:        Photos: pewter (unlabeled photos)

 

 

Box 9: photographs

 

Folder 1:          Photos: pewter (unlabeled photos)

 

Folder 2:          Photos: Chinese pewter mugs

 

Folder 3:          Photos: Henry Will bowl and attributed Leddel bowl

 

Folder 4:          Negatives: mostly Will family pewter

 

Folder 5:          Negatives: Ruckman collection

 

Folder 6:          Negatives

 

Folder 7:          Negatives and slides

 

Folders 8-10:   Photos: Pewter

 

Folder 11:        Photos: pewter pieces from various collections, appear to have been used for publication

 

Folder 12:        Photos: snuff bottles

 

Folder 13:        Photos and negatives: used in an article by Swain on Will’s crowned X mark

 

Folder 14:        Photos: used to illustrate article by Swain, “Three Flagons Attributed to John Will,” The Magazine Antiques, May 1972

 

Folder 15:        Photography bills

 

 

Box 10:

 

Catalog cards for Ruckman pewter collection

 

Catalog cards for Swain pewter collection

 

Loose catalog cards

 

Two pewter medallions for the Pewter Collectors’ Club of America

 

Pewter medallion: obverse: “Alderman Staples, P.M., Lord Mayor, 1885-86,” with coat of arms; reverse: “cast in the procession, 9th Nov. 1885, Brown & Englefield, pewterers, 112-113 Gt. Saffron Hill”

 

A set of pewter buttons with the logo of the Pewter Collectors’ Club of America

 

 

Box 11: Charles V. Swain papers (acc. 07x107)

 

Folder 1:          business card: Charles V. Swain Associates

 

Folder 2:          student project: design and color notebook

 

Folder 3:          student project: color charts

 

Folder 4:          student project file folders

 

Folder 5:          Commercial Art class notebook

 

Folder 6:          advertisements for Mayfair Shades

 

Folder 7:          photos: ads for Israel Sack, Inc. and John S. Walton, Inc.

 

Folder 8:          photos: furniture and portraits

 

Folder 9:          photos: Charles Swain Pewter Room, ca. 1965 [see also Box 12]

 

Folder 10:        photos: school house purchased by Charles Swain

 

Folder 11:        postcards of Winterthur Museum

 

 

 

Box 12: Charles V. Swain papers (acc. 07x107) – oversize box

 

Folder 1:          photo of Pewter Room, ca. 1965 [see also Box 11]

 

Folder 2:          Japanese woodblock print

 

Folder 3:          diplomas and certificates, 1929, 1931

 

Folder 4:          junior high school shop drawings, 1928

 

Folder 5:          drawing pad with sketches and paintings

 

Folder 6:          room layouts, cross sections, etc. [probably class assignments]

 

Folder 7:          portfolio of room plans

 

 

Box 13: Charles V. Swain papers (acc. 07x107) – oversize box

 

Folder 1:          student project: drawings of picture mouldings

 

Folder 2:          prints by Swain [linoleum prints?]

 

Folder 3:          student projects: lettering exercises, color chart, miscellaneous sketches

 

Folder 4:          student projects: tracings

 

Folder 5:          student projects: room elevation drawings

 

Folder 6:          student projects: posters, magazine covers

 

Folder 7:          miscellaneous prints, includes a print of Napoleon by N. Currier (these items probably came from Ruckman family)

 

Folder 8:          wallpaper sample

 

 

Box 14: Swain pewter catalog (files transferred from DAPC)

 

Folder 1:          Swain catalog: American pewter: information sheets

 

Folders 2-7:     Swain catalog: American pewter: photographs, A-S

 

 

Box 15: Swain pewter catalog (files transferred from DAPC)

 

Folders 1-3:     Swain catalog: American pewter: photographs, T-Y and anonymous

 

Folder 4:          Swain catalog: British pewter: information sheets

 

Folders 5-7:     Swain catalog: British pewter: photographs, A-V and anonymous

 

 

 

Volumes on shelf :

 

American Pewter: The Charles V. Swain Collection

 

British Pewter: The Charles V. Swain Collection

Series II: Ruckman family materials

 

 

Box 1: Ruckman family materials (acc. 07x107)

 

Folder 1:          Blank cards (for calling cards or other purposes), one embossed by Dobbs

 

Folder 2:          bookplate for George Washington [probably a reproduction]

 

Folder 3:          box lids with pictures (19th century): two women, one with stringed instrubment; woman on terrace with lyre and dog; man kneeling next to woman, with “Vue d’un chateau en Italie” pasted on reverse

 

Folder 4:          calling cards for J. H. Ruckman and R. K.[?] Ruckman; with watercolor drawing on back of that for J. H.; the R. K.[?] card is embossed

 

Folder 5:          copybook (blank), stereotyped by L. Johnson & Co., Philadelphia; poem on back cover: “Eliza and Jane”

 

Folder 6:          currency: ten cent bank note, in poor condition

 

Folder 7:          book: Eliot, George.  Bits of Burnished Gold.  Compiled by Rose Porter.  New York: Anson D. F. Randolph & Co., 1888. 

                        Name written inside: Frances H. Ruckman

[fragile – handle with care; in WinterCat]

 

Folder 8:          embroidery patterns of fruit, acorns, and flowers, initialed M.M.R. or with name Mary W. Fell

                                    [Mary Watson Trego (1818-1893) married Joshua Fell (1814-1879) in 1842.  M.M.R. was possibly Mary Miller (1812-1863), who married William D. Ruckman (1804-1868, but a more extensive search of the Ruckman family tree might uncover other candidates.]

 

Folder 9:          fashion plates, 1840s-1880s

 

Folder 10:        engravings, pictures, and drawings, chiefly 19th century

 

Folder 11:        poetry by John Fell Ruckman

 

Folder 12:        receipt book of John Ruckman as guardian for Clarissa Ann Solliday and Joseph Solliday, 1833-1850

 

                        [The receipt book also spells the surnames as Sollady and Sollidy.  The records pertain to the children of Samuel Solliday (1792-1830) and his wife Mary Fretz (1799-1872) of Bucks County.  Clarissa Ann lived 1826-1897 and Joseph lived 1824-1913.]

 

Folder 13:        remembrances and little gifts, 1843 and undated 19th century (two watercolors and a cross-stitch on perforated paper; the name R.[?] K.[?] Ruckman is on the back of one item; one of the items has a rhyming couplet on it: “If pin or knife should hand or face offend/ Go little case thy kind assistance lend.”)

 

Folder 14:        rewards of merit, 1834-1842 and no date, chiefly handwritten, not printed;

 

                        Rewards given to

Charlotte Elizth. Ruckman, Buckingham, 11 mo 1834;

T. Ruckman, given by E. S. Fell, 12 mo 1841 (printed);

Thomas Ruckman, propriety of conduct, Solebury 11 mo 1842;

Susan Parry, Bucks County, no date;

Matilda Ruckman, from Elizabeth S. Fell, no date

 

Folder 15:        Ruckman, John Fell – letters, chiefly from his mother, 1923-1924

 

Folder 16:        stock certificates for Centre Bridge Company, for building a bridge over the Delaware River near Mitchell’s and Howell’s ferries, 1813, signed William Mitchell, president, and  Aaron Eastburn, treasurer

 

Folder 17:        tickets: Young Men’s Association, first annual ball, New Hope, Penn. (1854);

 picnic at Paul’s Grove in Bucks County (1857; given to Thomas Ruckman and sister);

Haseltine Art Galleries, Philadelphia (1872)

 

Folder 18:        trade cards and labels, primarily of Philadelphia businesses; the Lone Star of Texas is drawn on the back of an ad for Leary’s Cheap Book Store of Philadelphia

 

Folder 19:        Valentines and Christmas cards, 1849-1852, and undated19th and 20th centuries

                        Note: one Valentine includes a pencil sketch entitled “Woman’s Right,” depicting a woman in a bloomer costume kneeling before a man; this Valentine was sent in 1852, a leap year

 

Folder 20:        Williams’ map of New York, 1830, with “The Stage, Canal, and Steamboat Register,” 1831

 

 

Box 2: Ruckman tea table and photos (acc. 09x26)

 

Folder 1:          Ruckman, John Fell: inventory and appraisement of personal property, 1965

                        [Note: the Philadelphia tea table which was auctioned in 2007 is listed on page one, the third item from the bottom of the page, “antique mahogany tea table, Chippendale period…”]

 

Folder 2:          Maris family: letter, photos of portraits, genealogy of Ruckman family

 

Folder 3:          Ruckman house, Lahaska, Penn., ca. 1900, stair hall, featuring Lambert family chairs (18th century carved side chairs, with claw and ball feet; photo also depicts some other furniture, pictures on wall, curtains covering doors, light fixtures)

 

Folder 4:          Philadelphia tea table report, 1997 (with photos)

 

Folder 5:          Northeast Auctions catalog, Aug. 3-5, 2007, and correspondence about auction

[the Maris/Ruckman Philadelphia tea table is featured on p. 154-155]

 

 

 

Oversize photo and rolled print on shelf:

 

Parlor in home of George and Sarah Maris, Philadelphia, ca. 1880.  The Philadelphia tea table auctioned in 2007 is against the wall, to the left of the mantel, partially hidden behind a rocking chair.  Also in the room is a Federal side chair, a small 18th century stand, Victorian furniture, portraits and other paintings, light fixtures, long horns (from cattle), and assorted knickknacks and decorative items.

 

                        [Although the photo is labeled as being the Maris home in Philadelphia, in fact, the George and Sarah Ruckman Maris lived in Bucks County.  Sarah Ruckman (circa 1810-1892), was the daughter of Rebecca Horner and John Ruckman (b. 1777).  The friendship album in this collection may well have been hers.  George G. Maris (1810-1887) was the son of Rachel Ross and Richard Maris.]

 

 

“Panorama of Philadelphia and Centennial Exhibition Grounds,” published by H. Bachmann, Phila., [1876]

 

                        ROLLED AND TORN – HANDLE WITH CARE AND WITH ASSISTANCE

 

 

Volumes on shelf :

 

Friendship’s Record, album of Sarah Ruckman, Bucks County, Jan. 1, 1828, with hand decorated title page.  Album contains poems written by Sarah’s friends, mostly from Philadelphia and Bucks County, 1828-1831, mostly signed with first names or initials only, some with decorative drawings; one includes writing in Hebrew.  (acc. 07x107)

 

            [Presumably the Sarah Ruckman to whom this album belonged was the person born 1810, daughter of Rebecca Horner and John Ruckman.  This Sarah married George Maris, and she died in 1892.]

 

Scrapbook, with name Anna written on inside front cover.  Includes pictures cut from magazines, plus scrap, mostly of animals and flowers.  Stamped on back cover of the album: “pat. March 1876.” (acc. 07x107)