Frick Art Reference Library Records

Helen Clay Frick Research Files on Italian Art, 1920–1933

Typed and handwritten research notes, black-and-white photographs, printed material, some correspondence, and extensive artist bibliographies produced by Helen Clay Frick in her research on Italian sculpture and painting, primarily to annotate photograph mounts in the Frick Art Reference Library Photoarchive.

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Frick Art Reference Library Diaries, 1920–1974

Two diaries and loose notes containing entries on Library events, including visitors of note, acquisitions of photographs and books, building construction, and Miss Frick’s activities. Entries also document staff matters, both professional and personal.

Frick Art Reference Library Central Correspondence — Artists, 1921–present

Library correspondence with American artists regarding requests for photographs of their works for the photo archives.

Frick Art Reference Library Central Correspondence — Book Dealers, 1920–present

Library correspondence with over 350 book dealers and publishers documenting the development of the Library’s research collection. Correspondence mainly consists of book orders and search requests by the librarians and responses by book dealers concerning order fulfillment and billing information.

Frick Art Reference Library Central Correspondence — Dealers, 1920–present

Library correspondence with domestic and international art dealers, mainly concerning the acquisition of photographs, sales catalogs, and exhibition catalogs for the Library. Additionally, many letters document the exchange of information on the attribution, provenance, subject identification, and location of particular works of art.

Frick Art Reference Library Central Correspondence — Libraries, 1922–present

Library correspondence with libraries and historical societies, mainly concerning routine administrative matters. Additionally, the correspondence documents the Library’s attempts to establish the Photoarchive collection through requests for photographs, provenance and location of works of art, etc.

Frick Art Reference Library Central Correspondence — Museums, 1920–present

Correspondence files documenting the Library’s exchange of information with museums, historical societies, art associations, and universities, mainly concerning routine administrative matters, though many also treat the attribution and provenance of works of art.

Frick Art Reference Library Central Correspondence — Photographers, 1920–present

Correspondence with photographers and photographic agencies regarding the acquisition of photographs for the Library’s collection, either through the purchase of existing photographs or the photographing of works of art.

Clotilde Brière Records, 1921–1970

Correspondence, shipment records, and receipts documenting Mme. Brière’s procurement of books, periodicals, sales catalogues, and photographs for the Library in her position as representative for the Library in France and Holland.

Helen Clay Frick Records — Correspondence with Staff, 1921–1983

Correspondence of Frick Art Reference Library founder and director Helen Clay Frick with staff, primarily the head librarians, during her absences from the Library. Contains discussions of administrative and personnel matters, and summaries of the Library’s daily activities and events.

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