Waldron Phoenix Belknap, Jr., and his mother, Rey H. Belknap, contributed to this collection of papers. Waldron was an investment banker and later an architect, but was also interested in American painting and his ancestry. His research interests were carried on by his mother after his untimely death.

Waldron P. Belknap, Jr., was born in New York City on May 12, 1899, the son of Waldron Phoenix Belknap and Rey (Hutchings) Belknap. His father was a banker and a sportsman. As a boy, the younger Waldron attended St. Paul's prep school in Concord, New Hampshire, where he graduated magna cum laude. He entered Harvard in 1916; there he was active in clubs and studied business and accounting, with an emphasis on banking. After graduating in 1920, Belknap returned to New York City and became an investment banker while also maintaining his interest in architecture. Eight years later, he resumed studies at Harvard and received his M.A. in architecture in 1933. Belknap set up his practice in Boston, Massachusetts. From 1939 until 1943, he was active in the Allied Relief Fund. Once the United States entered the war, he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Air Corps in England.

Belknap's active duty ended in August 1944 due to illness; he returned to civilian life in Boston. Belknap continued his activities as a member of the American Institute of Architects, local architects associations, several social clubs, a fellow and life member of the New-York Historical Society, and a hereditary member of the Society of the Cincinnati. He died in Boston on December 14, 1949.

Much of Belknap's time was devoted to the study of his family's history and American portrait painting. (In the 1600s, the Belknaps left Holland and settled in New Amsterdam and the Hudson River Valley.) Regarding painting, which included portraits of his ancestors, he delved into the backgrounds of both the artist and sitter. Belknap's thesis was that English mezzotints served as prototypes for American painters. Since his work was unfinished at the time of his death, his mother carried on his research.

This collection of papers includes research and genealogical notes, photographs of European cities taken during the 1930s, and correspondence. The notes concern many American artists and various New England families. The photographs show public buildings and architectural detail of pre-war Europe. There is also a typescript of part of Charles Willson Peale's diary of 1817 and a rough draft and galleys of a book that Belknap was writing, entitled American Colonial Painting.

In addition, the collection contains correspondence of Rey H. Belknap concerning the establishment of a memorial to her son's work. There are also papers that Mrs. Belknap generated in an effort to carry on her son's research. Mrs. Belknap's papers actually constitute almost half of this collection.

The papers are in 32 boxes, with oversized materials in a folder in a map case drawer. There is no particular order to the collection, although roughly the papers are organized as follows: photographs and negatives, research notes on artists and portraits, drafts of Belknap's book American Colonial Painting, genealogical notes, and miscellaneous notes and papers, with correspondence scattered throughout.

None

Copyright restrictions may apply

Gift of Rey Hutchings Belknap.

Gift of Rey Hutchings Belknap.

OVERVIEW OF THE COLLECTION Repository code: DeWint File name: col130.xml Abstract: Waldron Phoenix Belknap, Jr., collected notes on his family genealogy and on American portrait painting, a subject about which he was writing a book. After his death, his mother Rey Hutchings Belknap continued his research projects. Extent: 13 linear feet Date range: 1861-1960 Related materials: Language: English Winterthur Museum, Garden, and Library Joseph Downs Collection of Manuscripts and Printed Ephemera Winterthur, DE 19732 (302) 888-4853 Waldron Phoenix Belknap Family Papers 1861-1960 Creator: Waldron Phoenix Belknap (1899-1949) Title: Family Papers Dates: 1861-1960 Call No.: Col. 130 Acc. No.: [unknown] Quantity: 32 boxes, 1 map case drawer Location: 23 A-B, and Map Case C, Drawer 6