This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.
The collection documents the financial transactions of Richard Codman while he was living in Paris, France representing the firm of John & Richard Codman. The collection primarily consists of account books ("memoire des ouvrages"), bills, and some correspondence relating to the interior decoration and furnishing of his houses(s) in Paris. There is a folder, which contains genealogical information from a later relative of Richard Codman. Additionally, included in the collection is one letter, in English, from Richard Codman informing a family member of the death of their brother John Codman III in 1803. The letter details the division of John Codman's wealth among his living family members.
ca. 1790s-1820s
This collection is available for use by appointment in the Department of Drawings & Archives, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University. For further information, please email avery-drawings@library.columbia.edu.
Source of acquisition--Material removed from the Odgen Codman collection (accession number 1000.009).
Columbia University Libraries, Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library
Richard Codman (1762-1806) born in Boston, MA, was a descendent (fifth generation) of the Codman family that settled in Martha's Vineyard, MA having left Surrey, England in 1637. Richard's brother, John Codman III (1755-1803), was a successful merchant. In 1791, the two brothers joined as business partners and established the shipping firm John and Richard Codman. Elizabeth Redmond writes in "The Codman Collection of Pictures" that "Richard soon moved to France where he adopted a high style of living, entertaining lavishly in two chateaux and a house in Paris, all richly furnished. The partnership of John and Richard Codman was dissolved by the always more prudent John in 1798 'for fear of war.' Meanwhile, Richard had become embroiled in new financial schemes, speculating in currency, real estate and other commodities in revolutionary France's chaotic economy. By 1799 Richard was ruined financially, necessitating John's going to Europe to extricate him from his debts; in 1802 Richard left France for South America, returning later to the United States.".
Richard Codman was the great uncle of American architect, Ogden Codman (1863-1951). Ogden Codman's great grandfather was John Codmann III.
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
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| Genre/Form | ||
|---|---|---|
| Account books | CLIO Catalog | ArchiveGRID |
| Subject | ||
| Families -- Massachusetts -- Boston | CLIO Catalog | ArchiveGRID |
| Interior decoration | CLIO Catalog | ArchiveGRID |