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Finding Aid for the Helen Clay Frick Papers, Series VII: Frick Art Museum, 1929-1994, undated (bulk 1965-1984) HCFF.2.7
Part of the Frick Family Papers
Table of Contents
- Summary Information
- Biographical Note
- Scope and Content Note
- Arrangement
- Administrative Information
- Related Materials
- Controlled Access Headings
- Collection Inventory
-
Subseries I. Correspondence, 1965-1981, undated
-
Subseries II. Events and Publications, 1970-1994, undated
-
Subseries III. Construction, 1967-1970, undated
-
Subseries IV: Virginia E. Lewis Files, 1929, 1953-1984, undated
-
Subseries V. Miscellaneous Printed Material, 1969-1985, undated
-
Oversize A
-
Oversize B
-
Oversize D
Summary Information
- Repository
- The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives10 East 71st Street
New York, NY, 10021
archives@frick.org
© 2014 The Frick Collection. All rights reserved. - Creator
- Frick, Helen Clay, 1888-1984.
- Title
- Helen Clay Frick Papers, Series VII: Frick Art Museum
- ID
- HCFF.2.7
- Date
- 1929-1994 (Bulk, 1965-1984)
- Extent
- 9.1 Linear feet (14 boxes)
- Abstract
- Helen Clay Frick, daughter of industrialist and art collector Henry Clay Frick, founded the Frick Art Museum in Pittsburgh in 1970. These files document construction of the museum building, and events, publications, and programming during the early years of the institution.
Preferred Citation
Helen Clay Frick Papers, Series VI: Frick Art Museum. The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives.
Biographical Note
Helen Clay Frick, daughter of industrialist and art collector Henry Clay Frick and Adelaide Howard Childs Frick, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1888. She was educated by a Swiss governess until her family moved to New York in 1905, and then attended the Spence School, graduating in 1908. Helen Clay Frick displayed interest in the fine arts from an early age, and compiled a catalog of her father's art collection as early as 1909. Following her father's death in 1919, she founded the Frick Art Reference Library in New York, and supported the activities of the Fine Arts Department at the University of Pittsburgh. She served as a trustee of The Frick Collection from 1920-1961.
In the early 1960s, Helen Clay Frick commissioned the Henry Clay Frick Fine Arts Building on the University of Pittsburgh campus. This building held a library, lecture hall, exhibition spaces, and a cloister containing copies of Italian frescoes commissioned from the Russian painter Nicholas Lochoff. Helen Clay Frick loaned many objects from her own collection of art for display, and hand-picked certain members of the department's staff, including librarian Virginia Lewis and art historian Walter Read Hovey. By 1967, however, Helen Clay Frick began to disagree with certain aspects of the administration of the department. Unable to resolve their differences, Helen Clay Frick removed her personal property from the building and severed her longstanding ties with the University.
Still wishing to share her personal art collection with the people of Pittsburgh, Helen Clay Frick established the Frick Art Museum on the grounds of Clayton, her childhood home. The museum, designed by the Pittsburgh architectural firm of Thomas C. Pratt & Associates, was opened to the public in 1970, with Virginia Lewis as its first director. It is now part of Pittsburgh’s Frick Art & Historical Center.
Scope and Content Note
These papers consist of correspondence, publication records, guest books, architectural drawings, programs, pamphlets, clippings, and other printed material pertaining to the founding and early years of the Frick Art Museum. These materials document the construction of the museum building, the acquisition, loan, and care and display of art objects, publication of two books drawing on museum holdings, programming such as concerts, lectures, and films, and events surrounding the opening of the museum in 1970 and the dedication of two trees in honor of Helen Clay Frick’s parents in 1980. Materials are arranged in the following five subseries:
Subseries I: Correspondence, 1965-1981 and undated, consists largely of files compiled by Helen Clay Frick’s secretary, Julia B. Egan, discussing the purchase, loan, display, reproduction, restoration, and appraisal of art objects, as well as staff, building matters, and general administration of the Frick Art Museum. Also included in the secretary’s files are regular letters from museum director Virginia Lewis with updates on museum activities. Other correspondents represented in this subseries include attorneys David B. Buerger and William F. Knox, Walter Read Hovey, former head of the Henry Clay Frick Fine Arts Department at the University of Pittsburgh, and Helen Clay Frick’s longtime employee Walter Cooley. One file in this subseries gives details about a small bequest to the museum from Helen Clay Frick’s cousin, Marianne Rea Hamilton.
Subseries II: Events and Publications, 1970-1994 and undated, contains files regarding lecture, concert, and film series, as well as events surrounding the opening of the museum in 1970 and tree dedication ceremony in 1980. Materials also include newsletters, guest books, and publication files for The Arts in Changing Societies: Reflections Inspired by Works of Art in the Frick Art Museum, Pittsburgh, Five Lectures by Walter Read Hovey (1972), and Treasures of The Frick Art Museum (1975).
Subseries III: Construction, 1967-1970 and undated, includes clippings, correspondence, photographs, samples, and plans and drawings documenting aspects of construction at the Frick Art Museum. See note regarding related materials below for additional architectural plans.
Subseries IV: Virginia E. Lewis Files, 1929, 1953-1984 and undated, contain the personal files of Miss Lewis, founding director of the Frick Art Museum. These files include book catalogs and prospectuses, correspondence, travel itineraries, clippings, and biographical information, and provide details about Lewis’ academic career and professional life prior to joining the Frick Art Museum. They also document her professional memberships and local recognition she received from the Pittsburgh community. To a lesser extent, they provide insight into day to day activities at the museum. Most of the information about daily museum operations in this subseries can be found in the letters of Mary Alice Connors, Lewis’ secretary, who wrote frequently during Lewis’ absences from Pittsburgh. Additional material regarding daily activities at the museum can be found in Subseries I: Correspondence.
Subseries V: Miscellaneous Printed Material, 1969-1985 and undated, contains clippings about the Frick Art Museum, brochures about the care of museum and library collections, a directory for the Shadyside Presbyterian Church, and duplicate offprints of Helen Clay Frick’s essay on Jean Antoine Houdon’s bust of Madame Houdon, originally published in The Art Bulletin in September 1947.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged in the following subseries:
Subseries I: Correspondence, 1965-1981, undated
Subseries II: Events and Publications, 1970-1994, undated
Subseries III: Construction, 1967-1970
Subseries IV: Virginia E. Lewis Files, 1929, 1953-1984, undated
Subseries V: Miscellaneous Printed Material, 1969-1985, undated
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
These records are open for research by appointment under the conditions of The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives Access Policy. For all inquiries or to schedule an appointment, please contact the Archives Department at archives@frick.org.
Provenance
Gift of the Helen Clay Frick Foundation, 2015.
Processing Information
Arranged and described by Julie Ludwig, 2014, with funding from the Helen Clay Frick Foundation.
Related Materials
Related Materials
Additional architectural materials relating to the Frick Art Museum can be found within the Frick Family Papers - Maps and Plans in this repository. A list of these materials is given below.
Thomas C. Pratt and Assoc., architects. Site plan for Frick Art Museum, 5 May 1968.
Proposed renovations to Frick Art Museum (Sheet A1), 12 March 1985.
Site plan for Frick Art Museum showing new conduit between Clayton, greenhouse, and gardener's house, 10 March 1981.
Schafer & Slowik, architects. Proposed renovations to Frick Art Museum and Frick Carriage Museum, 12 March and 29 March 1985.
Schafer & Slowik, architects. Proposed renovations to the Frick Art Museum (proposed apartment, revisions A and B), 12 March 1985.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Frick Art Museum (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Genre(s)
- Correspondence.
- Photographs.
Personal Name(s)
- Frick, Helen Clay, 1888-1984.
- Hovey, Walter Read, 1895-
- Lewis, Virginia E., 1907-1995.
Subject(s)
- Art museums--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh.
Collection Inventory
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| Box | Folder | Date | ||
| 1 | 1 |
Bequest of Marianne Rea Hamilton
Scope and Contents note
|
1977-1978 | |
| 1 | 2 |
Buerger, David B [attorney]
Scope and Contents note
|
1970 | |
| 1 | 3 |
Cooley, Walter F., Jr.
Scope and Contents note
|
1971 | |
| 1 | 4 |
Hovey, Walter
Scope and Contents note
|
1977 | |
| 1 | 5 |
Knox, William F. [attorney]
Scope and Contents note
|
1970 | |
| 1 | 6-8 |
Lewis, Virginia E.
Scope and Contents note
|
1971-1981 | |
| 1 | 9-15 |
Secretary's file
Scope and Contents note
General correspondence files compiled by Helen Clay Frick's secretary, Julia B. Egan. Topics include the purchase, display, reproduction, and loan of art objects, as well as staff, building matters, and general administration. |
1966-1974 | |
| 2 | 1 |
Secretary's file, continued
Scope and Contents note
|
1974-1977 | |
| 2 | 2-4 |
Secretary's file re: paintings
Scope and Contents note
Topics include purchase, restoration, and appraisal of paintings. |
1965-1973 | |
| 2 | 5 |
Thank you cards
Scope and Contents note
|
undated | |
|
|
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|
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| Box | Folder | Date | ||
| 2 | 6 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - Typescript
|
circa 1972 | |
| 2 | 7 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - Original manuscript sent to printer
|
circa 1972 | |
| 2 | 8 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - Carbon of copy sent to printer
|
circa 1972 | |
| 2 | 9 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - Captions for illustrations
|
1972 | |
| 2 | 10 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - First proof
|
circa 1972 | |
| 2 | 11 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - Second proof
|
circa 1972 | |
| 2 | 12 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - Third proof
|
circa 1972 | |
| 2 | 13 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - Fourth proof
|
circa 1972 | |
| 3 | 1 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - Fifth proof
|
circa 1972 | |
| 3 | 2 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - Miscellaneous proofs and notes
|
1972 | |
| 3 | 3 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - Publisher's dummy
|
circa 1972 | |
| 3 | 4 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - Page proofs
|
circa 1972 | |
| 3 | 5 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - Photographs (figures 1-7)
|
circa 1972 | |
| 3 | 6 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - Photographs (figures 8-25)
|
circa 1972 | |
| 3 | 7 |
The Arts in Changing Societies - Photographs (figures 26-45)
|
circa 1972 | |
| 3 | 8-9 |
Concerts - Frick Art Museum Concert Series
Scope and Content Note
Includes brochures for the season and programs for individual concerts. |
1970-1977 | |
| 4 | 1 |
Concerts - Harp concert by Marcela Kozikova and Lucile Johnson
|
1973? | |
| 4 | 2-7 |
Concerts - Special concert by Byron Janis
Scope and Content Note
Includes correspondence, guest lists, invoices, clippings, acceptances, regrets, and thank you notes. |
1974-1975 | |
| 4 | 8 |
Film series
Scope and Contents note
|
1971 | |
| 4 | 9-10 |
Frick A See newsletters
Scope and Contents note
|
1971-1980 | |
| 5 | 1 |
Frick A See newsletters, continued
Scope and Contents note
|
1981-1985 | |
| 5 | 2-5 |
Guest books
Scope and Contents note
|
1970-1984 | |
| 6 | 1-3 |
Guest books, continued
Scope and Contents note
|
1985-1987, 1994 | |
| 6 | 4 |
Lecture series
Scope and Contents note
|
1971-1975 | |
| 6 | 5 |
"Madame Jean Antoine Houdon" by Helen C. Frick
Scope and Contents note
Offprint from The Art Bulletin, September 1947. Duplicate copies housed at the end of the collection. |
undated | |
| 6 | 6 |
Museum opening - General correspondence re: opening events
Scope and Contents note
|
1970 | |
| 6 | 7 |
Museum opening - Invitations
Scope and Contents note
|
1970 | |
| 6 | 8 |
Museum opening - Acceptances and regrets to inaugural concert
Scope and Contents note
|
1970 | |
| 6 | 9 |
Museum opening - Acceptances and regrets to museum preview
Scope and Contents note
|
1970 | |
| 6 | 10 |
Museum opening - Acceptances to neighbors' preview
Scope and Contents note
|
1970 | |
| 6 | 12 |
Museum opening - Regrets to private opening
Scope and Contents note
|
1970 | |
| 6 | 11 |
Museum opening - Acceptances to private opening
Scope and Contents note
|
1970 | |
| 7 | 1 |
Museum opening - Regrets to private opening, continued
Scope and Contents note
|
1970 | |
| 7 | 2 |
Postcards
Scope and Contents note
|
undated | |
| 7 | 3 |
Scrapbooks
Scope and Contents note
|
1970-1979 | |
| 7 | 4-6 |
Treasures of the Frick Art Museum - Manuscript drafts
Scope and Contents note
Two scrapbooks containing programs, brochures, tickets, invitations, and photographs |
1975 | |
| 7 | 7 |
Treasures of the Frick Art Museum - Preparatory material re: captions and illustrations
Scope and Contents note
|
1975 | |
| 7 | 8 |
Treasures of the Frick Art Museum - Preparatory material re: text, etc.
Scope and Contents note
|
1975 | |
| 7 | 9 |
Treasures of the Frick Art Museum - Publisher's dummy
Scope and Contents note
|
1975 | |
| 7 | 10 |
Treasures of the Frick Art Museum - Page proofs
Scope and Contents note
See: Oversize A. |
1975 | |
| 7 | 11 |
Treasures of the Frick Art Museum - Publication announcement
Scope and Contents note
|
1975 | |
| 7 | 12 |
Treasures of the Frick Art Museum - Thank you letters
|
1975 | |
| 7 | 13 |
Tree Dedication Ceremony - Invitations, guest lists, replies, and thank yous
Scope and Contents note
|
1980 | |
| 8 | 1 |
Tree Dedication Ceremony - Address by Bishop Austin Pardue
Scope and Contents note
|
1980 | |
|
|
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|
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| Box | Folder | Date | ||
| 8 | 2 |
Clippings
Scope and Contents note
|
1968-1969 | |
| 8 | 3 |
Correspondence - A.J. Clemente Corp.
Scope and Contents note
|
1968-1969 | |
| 8 | 4 |
Correspondence - Lacewell, L.K.
Scope and Contents note
|
1969 | |
| 8 | 5 |
Correspondence - Pratt-Schafer-Slowik
Scope and Contents note
Enclosed schematic drawings removed to Oversize D. |
1967-1970 | |
| 8 | 6 |
Perspective study from Reynolds Street
Scope and Contents note
See: Oversize D |
1967 | |
| 8 | 7 |
Photographs
Scope and Contents note
|
1969 | |
| 8 | 8 |
Plans and drawings
Scope and Contents note
Includes preliminary elevations, sections, and floor plans. |
1967-1969, undated | |
| 8 | 9 |
Rotunda plan and elevations
Scope and Contents note
See: Oversize D |
1968 | |
| 8 | 10 |
Samples
Scope and Contents note
See: Oversize A |
1969 | |
| 8 | 11 |
Wainscoting for Gallery 3, Sheet #F-2 [2 copies]
Scope and Contents note
See: Oversize D |
1969 | |
| 8 | 12 |
Watercolor sketch of entrance to French Room
Scope and Contents note
See: Oversize A |
undated | |
|
|
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|
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| Box | Folder | Date | ||
| 8 | 13 |
Book lists, catalogs, and prospectuses
Scope and Contents note
|
1972-1979 | |
| 9 | 1-2 |
Book lists, catalogs, and prospectuses, continued
Scope and Contents note
|
1980-1984 | |
| 9 | 3 |
Clippings
Scope and Contents note
|
1953, 1978, undated | |
| 9 | 4 |
Correspondence - Connors, Mary Alice ("Mac")
Scope and Contents note
|
1970-1977 | |
| 9 | 5 |
Correspondence - Ketchum, Inc.
Scope and Contents note
|
1981 | |
| 9 | 6-9 |
Correspondence - Personal
Scope and Contents note
|
1967-1984 | |
| 10 | 1 |
Kaufmann's Salute to Virginia E. Lewis
Scope and Contents note
|
1974-1978 | |
| 10 | 2 |
Monday Luncheon Club
Scope and Contents note
|
1968-1973 | |
| 10 | 3 |
Pre-Frick Art Museum materials
Scope and Contents note
Curriculum vitae, personal history statements, applications, clippings, etc. |
1929, 1957-1963 | |
| 10 | 4 |
Samples of material
Scope and Contents note
|
undated | |
| 10 | 5 |
Time-Life Books, Inc.
Scope and Contents note
Re: reproducing "View of Pittsburgh from the Salt Works on Saw Mill Run, 1838" |
1982 | |
| 10 | 6 |
Trip to Europe
Scope and Contents note
|
1974 | |
| 10 | 7 |
Trips to Italy
Scope and Contents note
|
1976, 1984 | |
|
|
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|
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| Box | Folder | Date | ||
| 10 | 8 |
National Fire Protection Association brochures
Scope and Contents note
Protection of Library Collections Protection of Museum Collections |
1969 | |
| 10 | 9 |
Newspaper clippings
Scope and Contents note
|
1970-1985 | |
| 10 | 10 |
Shadyside Presbyterian Church directory
Scope and Contents note
|
1973-1974 | |
| 10 | 11-12 |
Duplicates - "Madame Jean Antoine Houdon" by Helen C. Frick
Scope and Contents note
Offprint from The Art Bulletin, September 1947. |
undated | |
|
|
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|
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| Box | Folder | Date | ||
| 1 | 1 |
Treasures of The Frick Art Museum
Scope and Contents note
Page proofs |
1975 | |
| 1 | 2 |
Watercolor sketch of entrance to French Room
Scope and Contents note
|
undated | |
|
|
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|
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| Box | Folder | Date | ||
| 1 | 1 |
Newspaper clippings
Scope and Contents note
|
1970, 1985 | |
| 1 | 2 |
Scrapbook
Scope and Contents note
Contains programs, brochures, invitations, and photographs |
1970-1974 | |
| 2 | 1 |
Scrapbook, cont'd.
Scope and Contents note
|
1974-1979 | |
|
|
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|
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| Box | Folder | Date | ||
| 1 | 1 |
Construction - Correspondence - Pratt-Schafer-Slowik (Schematic drawings)
Scope and Contents note
|
1967 | |
| 1 | 2 |
Construction - Perspective study from Reynolds Street
Scope and Contents note
|
1967 | |
| 1 | 3 |
Construction - Rotunda plan and elevation, Sheet #A-10 [4 copies]
Scope and Contents note
|
1968 | |
| 1 | 4 |
Construction - Wainscoting for Gallery 3, Sheet #F-2 [2 copies]
Scope and Contents note
|
1969 | |
|
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