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The Archives were established in 1997 to preserve, organize, and make accessible the institutional records of The Frick Collection and the Frick Art Reference Library, as well as the manuscript collections and photographs, relating to the history of art that were donated to the Library over time. In 2001, the Helen Clay Frick Foundation placed the papers of the Frick family on deposit at The Frick Collection and Frick Art Reference Library, nearly doubling its archival holdings. The addition of the Frick family's personal papers complements the institutional records of the Collection and the Library and helps to shed light on the transition from the private interests of the family to their public legacy.
The Frick Collection and Frick Art Reference Library Records
The Frick Collection and Frick Art Reference Library records consist of correspondence and memoranda, photographs, architectural records, minutes, ledgers, financial and legal documents, printed material, scrapbooks, film, and audio recordings documenting the founding and administration of both institutions. The Frick Collection records date from the construction of the Frick residence in 1913, with the majority of the records dating from 1931. Records document the Collection's programs of lectures, symposia and concerts, building construction and renovation projects, exhibitions and art acquisitions. One series of Henry Clay Frick's art-collecting files, dating from 1881 to 1919, are also part of the records. The Frick Art Reference Library records, which date from Helen Clay Frick's founding of the Library in 1920, document acquisitions, photo expeditions, lectures, collaborative projects, and staff research on art history. Please note that some institutional records of the Collection and Library are restricted.
Manuscript Collections
Manuscript collections consist of files on art research, gallery records, photographs of artists, and artists' correspondence. Subjects documented in the art research files include the sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon, and early American art, most notably portraits of George Washington. Records of the American Art Association and Peter Davidson Gallery contain photographs of works, correspondence, sales records, and inventories. A series of Library correspondence with artists, and manuscript letters dating from 1596 to 1905 form the collection of artists' correspondence.
Papers of the Frick Family
The papers of the Frick family date from the 1880s to the 1980s and consist of correspondence, photographs, diaries, financial records, printed material, and architectural records documenting the lives of Henry Clay Frick, his wife Adelaide, and their children, Helen Clay Frick and Childs Frick. These materials give unprecedented insight into the history of the Frick family and members of their circle, such as Pittsburgh astronomer John Brashear; former attorney general, senator, and secretary of state Philander Chase Knox; and banker/philanthropist Andrew W. Mellon. The collection also documents the family's art-collecting and philanthropic endeavors, ranging from museums and education to hospitals and parks.
Access to the Archives
Requests for permission to view archival records must be submitted to the Chief of Archives and Records Management. Archival materials can be used in the Reading Room of the Library by appointment during normal operating hours. Researchers are required to fill out an Application for Access to Archives and are expected to abide by other rules that are standard practice when using original materials.
For the Archives Access Policy and sample forms for archival access and reprographic services for archival materials, please click on the following links. The documents are available below in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF file format). Adobe® Acrobat® Reader is required to view the documents. If it is not installed on your computer, download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader Software.
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