The Winterthur Library

The Winterthur Library

The Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera

Henry Francis du Pont Winterthur Museum

5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware 19735

302-888-4600 or 800-448-3883

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION

Creator: Fennimore, Donald L.

Title: Don Fennimore research papers

Dates: 1970-2018

Call No.: Col. 865

Acc. No.: 10x2, 14x19, 2018x46

Quantity: 21 boxes, 2 folders

Location: 10 C 1-4

BIOGRAPHICAL STATEMENT

Don Fennimore is curator emeritus at Winterthur Museum, where he was in charge of metal objects. He was born in 1941 in Troy, New York, but grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Randolph-Macon College in 1964, majoring in economics. After service in the United States Air Force, he received his master’s degree through the Winterthur Program in Early American Culture in 1971. His master’s thesis was entitled “Elegant Patterns of Uncommon Good Taste: Domestic Silver by Thomas Fletcher and Sidney Gardiner.” Upon graduation, he began his career at Winterthur Museum, and stayed there until his retirement 34 years later. In that time, he established his reputation for expertise in metal work, lectured widely, and wrote several books and many articles for the leading magazines on the subject. His museum exhibits focused on metals, folk art, and Pennsylvania German art. Having started his professional career in the museum field with a thesis about Fletcher & Gardiner, it was perhaps fitting that he ended his professional career in the museum field with a grand exhibit showcasing their work, “Silversmiths to the Nation,” co-curated with Ann Wagner, his successor as metals curator at Winterthur.

Don continued with his interest in antiques even after retirement. He, together with Frank Hohmann, researched clocks made by members of the Stretch family of Philadelphia and by members of the Claggett family of Newport, Rhode Island. Their efforts resulted in the books Stretch: America’s First Family of Clockmakers (published by Winterthur Museum in 2013) and Claggett: Newport’s Illustrious Clockmakers (published by Winterthur in 2018).

As a boy, Don often visited his uncle Charles (“Bud”) Swain, who was a collector of beautiful and historical objects, and was especially noted for his pewter collection. Uncle Bud shared his enthusiasms for and stories about the items he acquired with his nieces and nephews. During his talks, Don often yearned to be playing outside, but Uncle Bud’s interests eventually began to rub off on him. Uncle Bud encouraged Don in his growing interest in antiques, and this encouragement and interest led Don to apply to the Winterthur graduate program. Don and his Uncle Bud worked together to develop the latter’s collection, and Don wrote a two-volume catalog detailing the objects in his uncle’s pewter collection.

SCOPE AND CONTENT

Don Fennimore’s research papers primarily focus on three topics: the work of Fletcher & Gardiner, an important Philadelphia silversmith partnership of the early 19^th century; the Stretch family of Philadelphia clockmakers; and three 18^th century clockmakers in Newport, Rhode Island (William Claggett, James Wady, and Thomas Claggett); however, other topics, such as pewter and furniture are also covered. Included in Series I are the notes and correspondence generated by Don Fennimore when he was researching his master’s thesis on Fletcher & Gardiner, and additional notes and correspondence generated by the development of his final museum exhibit, and its accompanying catalog, “Silversmiths to the Nation,” which showcased the work of the partners. Another large section of the collection contains photographs of furniture and items made from pewter, silver, and copper alloys. Regretfully, not all pieces are identified. As well, the collection includes some miscellaneous notes and correspondence, primarily relating to furniture and metals. One folder pertains to furniture made by John Henry Belter. Several folders hold photocopies of bills documenting the furnishing of homes in Philadelphia, three owned by members of the Cadwalader family, as well as bills addressed to various owners of “Loudoun,” a residence in Germantown. Modern copies of circa 1900 photos of two of the Cadwalader homes are also part of the collection.

Series II of the collection contains notes and photographs about the clocks made by members of the Stretch family, Peter (1670-1746), Thomas (1697-1765), and William (1701-1748), who worked in Philadelphia in the 18^th century. Many of these clocks were featured in Fennimore’s and Hohmann’s book about the Stretch family, but there is also information about clocks which were not included, either because the current owner could not be located or because the clock’s existence was made known to Fennimore only after the publication of his book. A little information about the family is also found, including copies of wills of several generations of the Stretch family.

Series III of the collection contains notes and photographs about the clocks made by Newport, Rhode Island clockmakers William Claggett (1694-1748, although other sources give slightly different fates), James Wady (born circa 1706, died 1759), and Thomas Claggett (approximately 1730-1797). The notes correspond to the checklist of clocks found in the Fennimore and Hohmann book about these clockmakers. Biographical information about the men, especially about William Claggett, is also included.

ORGANIZATION

Accession 10x2 comprises Series I. Much of this material pertains to the silversmiths Fletcher & Gardiner. The photographs in Boxes 6-12 are arranged by size: large (Boxes 6-8), small (Boxes 9-10), medium (Boxes 11-12).

Accession 14x19, the papers related to the Stretch book, are in Series II. The organization reflects the order in which they were received.

Accession 2018x46, the papers related to the Claggett book, are in Series III. These materials pertain to the clocks recorded in the checklist on pages 239-248 of that book.

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS

The materials are in English.

RESTRICTIONS ON ACCESS

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

PROVENANCE

Gift of Donald L. (Don) Fennimore.

ACCESS POINTS

People:

Belter, John Henry, 1804-1863.

Fletcher, Thomas, 1787-1866.

Gardiner, Sidney.

Stretch family.

Stretch, Peter, 1670-1746.

Stretch, Thomas, 1697-1765.

Stretch, William, 1701-1748.

Claggett, Thomas, approximately 1730-1797.

Claggett, William.

Wady, James, -1759.

Topics:

Fletcher & Gardiner.

Bedrooms - Photographs.

Copper alloys - Photographs.

Dining rooms - Photographs.

Fireplaces - Photographs.

Furniture - Photographs.

House furnishings - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Interior decoration - Photographs.

Living rooms - Photographs.

Pewter - Photographs.

Silver - Photographs.

Clocks and watches - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Clocks and watches – Photographs.

Clocks and watches – Rhode Island – Newport.

Research notes.

Curators.

Clockmakers - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia.

Clockmakers – Rhode Island – Newport.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE COLLECTION

Location: 10 C 1-4

Series I: accession 10x2

Series I: Box 1: note cards with research notes for thesis on Fletcher & Gardiner

Series I: Box 2:

Folder 1: Thesis: additional research notes

Folder 2: Thesis research: correspondence, 1970-1971

Folder 3: Thesis: “Elegant Patterns of Uncommon Good Taste: Domestic Silver by Thomas Fletcher and Sidney Gardiner”

Folder 4: Fletcher genealogy

Folder 5: Fletcher & Gardiner: articles about them and “Silversmiths to the Nation” exhibit

Folder 6: Fletcher & Gardiner: coins

Folder 7: Fletcher & Gardiner: insurance documents (copies)

Folder 8: Fletcher & Gardiner: later notes

Folder 9: Fletcher & Gardiner: miscellaneous notes

Folder 10: Fletcher & Gardiner: notes for exhibit (folder 1 of 2; continues in next box)

Series I: Box 3:

Folder 1: Fletcher & Gardiner: notes for exhibit (folder 2 of 2; continued from box 2)

Folder 2: Fletcher & Gardiner: Order of Our Lady of Guadalupe

Folder 3: Fletcher & Gardiner: reproductions of drawings for exhibit

Folder 4: “Silversmiths to the Nation”: exhibit proposal

Folder 5: Fletcher, Thomas: images of him

Folders 6-8: Fletcher & Gardiner: photos of silver (folders 1-3 of 4; continues in next box)

Series I: Box 4:

Folder 1: Fletcher & Gardiner: photos of silver (folder 4 of 4; continued from previous box)

Folder 2: Fletcher & Gardiner silver: baptismal basin; bracelets; cake baskets; candelabrum (notes for Silversmiths to the Nation exhibit)

Folder 3: Fletcher & Gardiner silver: compotes; cream jug; cruet frame; dinner service; fish server