Due to the variety of material, this series is the largest in the collection. Most of it pertains to research material collected by Jeanne Kleinfield towards the publication of her book The Diaries 1871-1882 of Samuel P Avery [Sr.], Art Dealer (Arno Press, 1979). However, several remarkable items can be found early within the series: Henry Ogden Avery's business card in pristine condition; a set of diaries by Samuel Putnam Avery Sr., and two scrapbooks compiled by Samuel Putnam Avery Jr. between 1902 and 1920. Notably within the scrapbooks are photographs of Avery Hall (Columbia University) in construction, dated to 2011; along with a set of floorplan sketches for a summer home built for the YWCA of Hartford with money donated by Samuel Putnam Avery Jr.
Item X1 Scrapbook, 1902-1915, 1902-1915
Scrapbook by Samuel Putnam Avery Jr, from the years 1902 to 1915. It accounts for newspaper clippings, correspondence, photographs, and ephemera regarding the philanthropic impact of SPA Jr. Some of the institutions represented in the scrapbook include: Brooklyn Museum/Institute, Wadsworth Atheneum, Brookings Institute, New York Public Library, Columbia University (Avery Hall/Library), Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Memorial University, Camp Dudley, and the Art Institute of Chicago. Remarkably there are some photographs dated to October 1911 of Avery Hall in the midst of construction.
Item X2 Scrapbook, 1915-1919, 1915-1919
Scrapbook by Samuel Putnam Avery Jr, from the years 1915 to 1919. It accounts for newspaper clippings, correspondence, photographs, and ephemera regarding the philanthropic impact of SPA Jr. Some of the institutions represented in the scrapbook include: Brooklyn Museum/Institute, Wadsworth Atheneum, New York Public Library, Columbia University (Avery Hall/Library), Lincoln Memorial University, Camp Dudley, the National Arts Club, Colonial National Bank (Hartford, CT), and the Young Woman's Christian Association of Hartford. Remarkably there are some floor plan sketches for the YWCA Summer House funded by SPA Jr and detailed correspondence of the celebration of the Avery Medal at Columbia University.
Box 2 Folder 1 Henry Ogden Avery, Business Card
Pristine Condition
Box 2 Folder 2 Avery Family Diaries, Samuel Putnam Avery Sr, 1889
Diary of Samuel Putnam Avery Sr. from June 29th until October 1st, 1889. Saddle-stitch notebook without a cover, identified to SPA by handwriting and content of the diary.
Box 2 Folder 2 Avery Family Diaries, Alice or Emma Welcher, 1926
Diary of Alice Lee Welcher or Emma Parker Avery from November 16th until November 24th, 1926. A single page for August 31st of that same year is included. Content of the diary mostly accounts for a trip to Europe, principally Italy. Amy Ogden Welcher is often referenced in the entries, occasionally as sister.
Box 2 Folder 3 Avery Family End of Life Papers, Financial Documents, 1919-1921
Two sets of documents pertaining to the financial dealings of Samuel Putnam Avery Jr's estate after his death; 1) A list of claimants and debtors of the SPA Jr estate 2) a handwritten number of pages outlining the recipients of money after SPA Jr's death, likely written by him in 1919 and 1920.
Box 2 Folder 3 Avery Family End of Life Papers, Newspaper Clips, 1920-1979
Newspaper clippings related to the passing of a numerous Avery Family members: six clips regarding SPA Jr's 1920 passing; three clips accounting for SPA Jr's impact in Hartford dated to 1956, one clip for the obituary of Emma Welcher [Avery] dated to 1979.
Box 2 Folder 4 Henry Ogden Avery, Condolence Notice, 1890
Condolence note sent from the Archaeological Institute of America (New York) to the Avery Family commemorating the death and contributions of Henry Ogden Avery.
Box 2 Folder 5 Samuel Putnam Avery Jr, Ledger, 1910
Ledger of Charitable contributions from Samuel Putnam Avery Jr to a variety of organizations in the year 1910
Box 2 Folder 6 Auction Catalogs, 1911
Two copies of "The Robert Hoe Collection: Fourth Afternoon's Sale, Saturday February 18th, 1911" auction catalog. "SPA" initials at top corner for one catalog. Both catalogs are heavily annotated, one with names and prices; likely the sale price of the item at the auction and individual who purchased it.
Box 2 Folder 7 Avery Family Bookplates, 1873
Set of original prints for Bookplates of the Avery family: seventeen copies of Samuel Putnam Avery Sr; two for Samuel Putnam Avery Jr; two of the Avery Library Bookplate; two commemorative bookplates for the death of Ellen Walters Avery.
Box 2 Folder 8 Jeanne Kleinfield Research Files, 1972-1982
Documents pertaining the publication and reception of Jeanne Kleinfield's 1979 book The Diaries 1871-1882 of Samuel P Avery [Sr.], Art Dealer: Speech notes for a presentation of book research at the MET, dated to November 20th, likely 1979; 1972 letter to Kleinfield from unknown sender; list of books presumably purchased under the "Avery Fund" at Columbia University's Teachers College; copy of The Oxford Art Journal (1982) Vol 5., No 1, with an article by Jeanne K. Welcher (and Madeleine Fidell Beaufort) on art purchasing in New York towards the end of the 19th century; copy of PLA Report (1980) Vol 7. No 1, with a review of The Diaries... in it; Copy of The Bulletin of the New York Public Library (May 1969) Vol 73., No. 5, with an article by Jeanne Kleinfield titled "A Survey of the Scholarship on John Evelyn."
Box 2 Folder 8 Jeanne Kleinfield Research Files, 1867 World's Fair Files, 1977
Research files on Samuel Putnam Avery Sr.'s Involvement in the 1867 World Fair in Paris as a delegate for the United States. These transcripts are typed up and appear to be delivered to Jeanne Kleinfield on November 1977
Box 2 Folder 8 Jeanne Kleinfield Research Files, Book Draft, circa 1978
Draft for the introduction of reception of Jeanne Kleinfield's 1979 book The Diaries 1871-1882 of Samuel P Avery [Sr.], Art Dealer; annotated by pencil; draft of section titled "Letters from Americans to S.P. Avery."
Box 2 Folder 9 National Endowment for the Humanities Report and Files, 1975
National Endowment for the Humanities Report compiled by Madeleine Fidel Beaufort in 1976 regarding the grant received in 1975. Along with the report there are two documents providing an introduction to the life of Samuel Putnam Avery Sr. Presumably co-written by both Fidel Beaufort and Jeanne K. Welcher
Box 2 Folder 10 Ruth Sieben-Morgen Master Thesis, 1942
"Samuel Putnam Avery (1822-1904), Engraver on Wood; a Bio-bibliographical Study" Master's Thesis submitted for the degree in Masters of Science in the Faculty of Library Sciences at Columbia University in 1940, with revisions added in 1942.
Box 3 Folder 1 Printed Material, 1892
Four private libraries of New York: a Contribution to the History of Bibliophilism in America (1892). inscribed "Presented to Mr S Oettinger with the Regard of Samuel P. Avery, May-1897"
Box 3 Folder 2 Printed Material, Genealogical Books, 1890-1917
In Memoriam Henry Ogden Avery: Died April 30, 1890 (two copies); Some Account of the Park Family and Especially of the Rev. Joseph Park (1705-1777) and Benjamin Parke (1801-1882) (1917).
Box 3 Folder 2 Ellen Walters Avery Items, 1890-1893
Collections of letters and newspaper clippings regarding Ellen Walters Avery prior to her death (1861-1893)
Box 3 Folder 3 Research Material on Benjamin Parker Avery, 1869-1969
Set of original correspondence and research material on Benjamin Parker Avery (1828-1875), brother of Samuel Putnam Avery Sr, who died unexpectedly in Peking, China as a minister to the United States. Original correspondence of BPA, In Memoriam articles and booklets, illustrations, newspaper clippings, articles written by BPA, and research material address to Emma P. Welcher are included in the file.
Box 3 Folder 4 Other Objects, 1881
Wedding Gift Registry for Fanny Falconer Avery and Manfred Philester Welcher Wedding in 1881, small bounded notebook; Three sets of reserved copper plates for the Avery Family Monograph and SPA Sr's Business cards.
Box 3 Folder 5 Avery Family, Various Catalogs, 1893-2002
10 Catalogs for various exhibitions and auctions related to the Avery family: Catalogue of the Ellen Walters Avery Collection of Books (1897), includes a handwritten list of books added to the collection between 1906 and 1907; The Henry Ogden Avery Memorial Library of architecture and the allied arts at Columbia University (1903); The S.P. Avery collection of prints and art books in the New York Public Library (1904); The Collection of Spoons made by Mrs. S. P. Avery, 1867-1890 (1899); French & English Furniture & Decorations Auction Catalog from the Collection of Samuel P. Avery Jr (1945), annotated by pencil; Samuel P. Avery, 1822-1904: Pioneer American Art Dealer (1979), two copies; Bookbinding as a Fine Art Exhibition Catalog (1979), held at Watkinson Library, Trinity College; Souvenirs of a Veteran Collector: the Samuel Putnam Avery collection at the New York Public Library (2002); Samuel P. Avery 1822-1904, Print Collector Catalog, date and provenance unknown.
Box 3 Folder 6 Other Research Journals, 1902-1932
Three periodicals accounting for some history regarding the Avery Family, it is unclear if these were collected contemporary to the family's own historicizing efforts, or if compiled by Jeanne Kleinfield (archive creator); The American Painter (January 1902) Vol XXXIII, No. 5, only the article on SPA Sr. and cover of the issue, delicate condition; The Survey (October 2, 1915) Volume XXXV, No 1., Samuel P Avery Medal showcased, delicate condition; Sons of the American Revolution Magazine (July 1932), Volume XXVII, No.1, provides biographical note on Lester Groome Welcher (SPA Sr.'s Grandson).
Box 4 Printed Materials, 1875-1925
Set of bounded printed material related to the Avery Family: In Memoria Benjamin Parke Avery (1875); Californian Pictures in Prose and Verse (1875); Works on Bookbinding, Practical and Historical (1903); Editorials and Resolutions in Memory of Samuel Putnam Avery (1905); The Warren, Little, Lothrop, Park, Dix, Whitman, Fairchild, Platt, Wheeler, Lane and Avery Pedigrees of Samuel Putnam Avery, 1847-1920 (1925); Some Account of the Park Family and Especially of the Rev. Joseph Park (1705-1777) and Benjamin Parke (1801-1882) (1917).