Finding aid to the Christian William (Bill) Miller photographs and papers, 1886-1989
Coll2012-003
Phillip Garcia and Kyle Morgan
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
909 West Adams Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007
(213) 821-2771
askone@usc.edu
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Christian William (Bill) Miller photographs and papers
creator:
Miller, Christian William (Bill)
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2012-003
Physical Description:
49.2 Linear Feet
30 photograph binder boxes + 9 flat archive boxes + 6 records boxes + 3 archive cartons + 1 mapcase drawer.
Date (inclusive): 1886-1989
Abstract: The collection comprises the photographs, papers, and artwork created, inspired, or collected by Christian William Miller,
1886-1989. As an avid photographer and model, Miller moved through the New York gay social scene of the 1940s and 1950s, interacting
with noted gay artists. The bulk of the collection consists of photographs documenting this social life as well as his travels,
activities, family, and friends.
Scope and Contents
The collection comprises the photographs, papers, and artwork created, inspired, or otherwise collected by Christian William
Miller, 1886-1989. The photographs document his travels in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean; his beach and social life,
especially in and around Fire Island, New York; the Sunstone estate in Reading, Vermont; and St. Croix; nudes of Miller and
others; and general images of friends and family. Images include those of Gore Vidal, Monroe Wheeler, Glenway Wescott, and
Somerset Maugham. Formats include photographic prints, negatives, contact strips and sheets, and 35mm slides.
The papers consist of Miller's correspondence and personal papers. The bulk of the letters are between Miller and his mother,
but also comprise letters to friends and lovers, including correspondence with George Hoyningen-Huene, W.H. Auden, Glenway
Wescott, Paul Cadmus, Noel Coward, and George Gallowhur. The personal papers contain various documents pertaining to his family,
work, military service, modeling, education, and travel. The artwork consists primarily of Miller's drawings and sketches,
but also comprises pieces done with Miller as the subject, including a sculpture of his head.
Biography
Christian William Miller was born William Henry Miller on August 7, 1921, in Newark, New Jersey. Miller attended the Franklin
School of Professional Arts in New York City from 1938-1941, majoring in advertising design. From 1939-1941 he began his career
in design with stints at Datzenbach & Warren, Brunschwig & Fils, and Lord & Taylor. During the years 1942-1946, Miller was
enlisted in the United States Maritime Service Coast Guard Reserve. He was assigned to a research project in 1942 by the Air-Sea
Agency, helping to design a device to make sea water drinkable. Miller also designed an inflatable chair that is now in the
collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. In May 1951, Miller officially changed his name to Christian William Miller.
Miller was known in the 1940's New York gay social scene as being one of the most beautiful men in the world. This status
made him the acquaintance, companion, and occasional model and muse of such luminaries as George Platt Lynes, Paul Cadmus,
W. H. Auden, Somerset Maugham, Alfred Kinsey, Glenway Wescott, Monroe Wheeler, Noel Coward, Philip Wheelwright, and George
Hoyningen-Huene. As an avid photographer himself, he extensively documented his social life and travels around the world.
Miller died on July 5, 1995.
Separated materials
Separated to the ONE Archives journal and pamphlet collections:
Athletic Model Guild, Bulletin 50 (February 1, 1956);
Colt catalog no. 4; and
Lover Boy, Issue 1.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged in the following series:
Related Archival Materials
Christian William Miller Papers. Yale Collection of American Literature, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
Preferred Citation
Box #, folder #, Christian William (Bill) Miller photographs and papers, Coll2012-003, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives,
Los Angeles, California
Access
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
Publication Rights
Researchers wishing to publish material must obtain permission in writing from ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives as the
physical owner of the material. Note that permission to publish does not constitute copyright clearance. ONE National Gay
& Lesbian Archives can grant copyright clearance only for those materials for which we hold copyright. It is the responsibility
of the researcher to obtain copyright clearance for all other materials from the copyright holder(s).
Processing Information
Processing this collection has been funded by a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Collection processed by Phillip Garcia and Kyle Morgan, January 2012.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Gay men -- New York (State) -- New York
Male models
Gay artists
Gays -- Travel
Miller, Christian William (Bill)
Photographs Series 1.
1886-1981
Miller (Christian William) photographs, sample
Physical Description: 37.3 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents
The series comprises the photographs taken by and of Christian William Miller, his friends, and family, 1886-1981. The photographs
arranged by format include 2.25 x 2.5 inch prints and negatives, negative and contact strips, 35mm slides, color prints and
negatives, glass negatives, and cased photographs. The photographs arranged by geographic region and topic are primarily black
and white prints, but also include negatives, contact strips and sheets, and color photographs. The photograph albums and
books mostly contain photographic prints, but also include correspondence, clippings, diary entries, and other sundry documents.
The photograph descriptions comprise the original information included with the boxes, photograph rolls, negatives sleeves,
and individual photographs that previously housed and/or were separated from the photographs listed in this series.
The photographs include images of Miller's relatives dating back to 1886; his infancy, childhood, and teenage years; his military
service, design work, and modeling career; his travels around the world; gatherings of friends and families; nudes; and his
artwork and the artwork of others. Included are images of Gore Vidal, Monroe Wheeler, Glenway Wescott, Somerset Maugham, and
Alfred Kinsey's house.
Arrangement
The photographs are arranged in the following subseries:
Photographs by format Subseries 1.1.
1886-1981
Physical Description: 14.2 Linear Feet[2.25 x 2.5 inch prints and negatives, negative and contact strips, 35mm slides, and color prints and negatives.]
Scope and Contents
The subseries comprises the format arranged files of Christian William Miller's collection, 1886-1981. The photographs consists
of 2.25 x 2.5 inch prints and negatives, negative and contact strips, 35mm slides, color prints and negatives, glass negatives,
and cased photographs. The images document William Christian Miller, his friends, and family; Miller's overseas travel in
Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Caribbean; Miller's local travel around residences in Stoneblossom (unidentified location),
Sunstone (Reading, Vermont), New York City, Fire Island, and St. Croix; and gatherings of friends and others at unidentified
residences and beaches. Note that although most of the photographs are organized by roll, not all rolls are complete.
Arrangement
Photographs are arranged in the following subseries:
2.25 x 2.5 inch prints and negatives Subseries 1.1.1.
1944-1960
Physical Description: 2 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents
The subseries consists of black and white 2.25 x 2.5 inch prints and negatives from New York City, Cherry Grove, Sunstone,
Fire Island, Long Beach, St. Croix, Hawaii, and China. Includes images of Miller, friends, and family at unidentified beaches
and other locales. The materials also include Jacob Reis photographs, images of plastilene sculptured heads, and photographs
of "geobiles" created by Miller. Titles and numbering have been pulled directly from descriptions included with the rolls.
Rolls of unidentified content are labeled as "unknown."
Arrangement
The rolls have been arranged in numerical order with unnumbered and/or unidentified rolls and negatives listed at the end.
Box 1
Rollei 1-2, New York City
circa January-February 1948
Scope and Contents
Rolleiflex camera
Box 1
Rollei 2-43, Hawaii
February-September 1948
Box 1
Rollei 44-53, China
September-October 1948
Box 1
Rollei 54, unknown
circa 1952
Scope and Contents
Berlin Rollei
Box 1
Rollei 55-57, Cherry Grove
August 1952
Box 1
Rollei 58-59, plastilene heads
undated
Box 1
Rollei 60-64, Long Beach, unknown beach
August-September 1953
Box 1
Rollei 65-75, unknown
September-October 1953
Physical Description: [few negatives]
Box 1
Rollei 76, Jacob Reis photographs of Miller and Tom Young
October 3, 1953
Box 1
Rollei 77-80, unknown
October 1953
Physical Description: [few negatives]
Box 1
Rollei 86, unknown
undated
Physical Description: [no negatives]
Box 1
Super XX 87, MV headshots
April 19, 1954
Box 1
Super XX 88-90, geobiles
July 1954
Box 1
Super XX or Plus X 91-92, Jim Malinowsky
March 1955
Box 1
Gutachrome? 92A, 92B, unknown
June-September 1955
Box 1
Plus-X 93-94, beach, patio party, house model
September-October 1955
Box 1
Rolls 95-96, house model, house interior, unknown person
undated
Box 2
Super-XX 97-99, unknown
November 26, 1955
Physical Description: [no negatives]
Box 2
Rolls 100-106, unnumbered rolls, Fire Island
July-September 1956
Box 2
R-I to R-II, dilapidated beach house
August-September 1944
Scope and Contents
Rollei camera series
Box 2
R-III to R-VI, Vermont, Sunstone
September-October 1944, August 1945
Box 2
R-VII, [New York City?]
Summer 1946
Box 2
Unnumbered rolls, Fire Island, house fire, sunken forest
September-October 1956
Physical Description: [5 rolls]
Box 2
Unnumbered rolls, St. Croix, labeled A to H
December 1957 - January 1958
Physical Description: [8 rolls]
Box 2
Unnumbered rolls, Fire Island, 864 studio, Stoneblossom
March-May 1960
Physical Description: [5 rolls]
Box 2
Unnumbered, loose negatives
undated
Box 2
Unidentified rolls, self-photographs, waves on rocks, patio, modeling, travel
undated
Physical Description: [3 rolls]
Negative and contact strips Subseries 1.1.2.
1944-1968
Physical Description: 5.2 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents
The subseries consist of black and white negative and contact strips of travel in Southeast Asia, Europe, Africa, West Indies,
and Cuba; visits to residences in New York City, Reading, Vermont (Sunstone), Fire Island, and St. Croix; and unidentified
social events and beach gatherings of Miller, friends, and family, 1944-1968. The materials also include Sam Wagstaff images,
images of ceramics and sculptures, nudes, and an image of Gore Vidal. Not all rolls are complete. The subseries primarily
consists of negatives with a few contact strips as noted. Titles and numbering have been pulled directly from descriptions
included with the negatives and contact strips. Unidentified content is labeled as such.
Arrangement
The rolls have been arranged in numerical order with unnumbered and/or unidentified rolls, negatives, and contact strips listed
at the end.
Box 3
Leica rolls 1-9, 13-17, 28-29, 31-35, 38-39, Southeast Asia trip
November 1948 - March 1949
Box 3
Rolls 40-62, India, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy
March-April 1949
Box 3
Rolls 63-69, 71-99, Europe
May 1949 - September 1950
Box 4
Rolls 100-110, Europe
September-December 1950
Box 4
Rolls 111-128, Africa
December 1950 - February 1951
Box 4
Rolls 129-132, Mediterranean
February-April 1951
Box 4
Rolls 133-134, Stoneblossom, New York City
April 1951
Box 4
Rolls 135-138, 140-141, 143-155, Vermont, New York
Spring 1951 - April 1952
Scope and Contents
Includes images from Sunstone and other Vermont locations, Fire Island, Oyster Bay, Radio City and other New York City locations,
Ocean Grove, Stoneblossom, "MV," and Bloomington. Roll 136 also includes images of the end of a South American trip. Includes
contact strips for rolls 141, 143-144.
Box 5
Rolls 156-159, Vermont, New York
April 1952
Box 5
Rolls 160-163, 166-168, Europe
1952
Scope and Contents
Includes contact strips for rolls 160-162.
Box 5
Rolls 168-176, assorted locations
Fall 1952 - October 1953
Scope and Contents
Includes images from New Rochelle, St. Thomas, Cherry Grove, Long Beach. Includes "Sam Wagstaff series" in roll 175. Includes
contact strips for rolls 168 and 169.
Box 5
Rolls 177-180 Cuba, Miami
December 1953 - January 1954
Box 5
Rolls 181-184, nudes, sculpture, Sam Wagstaff images
February 1954
Box 5
Rolls 186-192, 194-196, ceramics, sculpture, and assorted locations
July 1954 - February 1955
Scope and Contents
Includes images from Oak Beach, Cherry Grove, Fire Island, New York City, Cannes, Paris, and Jamaica. Includes contact strips
for rolls 187, 191, and 192.
Box 5
Rolls 197-205, Cherry Grove, West Indies, assorted beaches
July 1955 - February 1956
Scope and Contents
Includes contact strips for rolls 201, 204, and 205.
Box 5
Unidentified negatives and contact strips
undated
Scope and Contents
Loose negatives and contact strips presumably separated from rolls 1-205.
Box 5
Unnumbered negatives, Bali
undated
Physical Description: [10 rolls]
Box 5
Unnumbered negative and contact strips, Fire Island, St. Croix
Fall 1956- September 1957
Physical Description: [6 rolls]
Box 5
Unnumbered and/or unidentified negative and contact strips, unspecified peace march, Puerto Rico, and other trips
1959, 1964-1968
Physical Description: [5 rolls]
Scope and Contents
Includes roll #2637.
Box 5
Unidentified negatives, contact strips and contact strip cutouts
undated
Physical Description: [found loose] [3 pages]
Box 6
Rolls 1-15, 17-35, 42, 44-45, 47-48
November 1944 - June 1947
Physical Description: Slight vinegar syndrome
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Sunstone, Reading, Stoneblossom, Stowe, South Orange, Dover, Hanover, Saltaire (Fire Island), holiday get-togethers,
Ocean Beach and other beaches, and locations around Vermont. Includes an image of Gore Vidal (roll 42) among others.
Box 7
Contact strips, rolls 1-4, 6-34, 41-48
November 1944 - June 1947
Physical Description: Slight vinegar syndrome
Scope and Contents
Contact strips to previously listed negatives.
Box 48
Rolls 36-41, 43, 46
1946-1947
Physical Description: Separated because of pervasive vinegar syndrome.
Box 48, Folder 1
Contact strips, rolls 37-40
1946-1947
Physical Description: Separated because of pervasive vinegar syndrome.
Box 6
Unnumbered negatives
December 1946, undated
Physical Description: Slight vinegar syndrome
Physical Description: [4 rolls]
General
Designated as A, B, C, and D to differentiate rolls.
Box 7
Contact strips A-F and K
1943-1945
Physical Description: Slight vinegar syndrome
Scope and Contents
Includes images of the Sunstone estate in Reading, Vermont; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; New York, New York; and Virginia Beach,
Virginia among other places. Rolls have no relation to previously listed negatives.
Box 6
Unidentified negatives
undated
Physical Description: Negatives are damaged and fused with sleeves.
Physical Description: [5 rolls]
Box 6
Unidentified negatives
undated
Physical Description: Slight vinegar syndrome
Physical Description: [found loose]
Box 7
Unidentified contact strips
undated
Physical Description: Slight vinegar syndrome
Physical Description: [found loose]
35mm slides Subseries 1.1.3.
1953-1969
Physical Description: 5 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents
The subseries consists of 35mm slides documenting William Christian Miller's, friends', and/or family's travel in the United
States, Italy, and the Caribbean, 1953-1969. The materials also include Robert Osborn slides, Spectrum Films Company images,
and erotic drawings, as well as images of Noel Coward, Monroe Wheeler, and of Alfred Kinsey's home. Most rolls are not complete.
Titles and numbering have been pulled from descriptions included on or with the slides although these headings are not inclusive
of all materials in that section. Unidentified content is labeled as such.
Arrangement
The rolls are arranged by date, with photographs taken by others, topically-arranged slides, and unidentified slides listed
at the end.
Box 8
Roll 20 Ex #1: Northeast United States, Indiana
1953
Scope and Contents
Includes an image of Kinsey's home.
Box 8
Rolls 36x-I, II, III: Fire Island
1953
Box 8
Rolls I, II, III, IV, V, VII, VIII: Italy
undated
Scope and Contents
Includes note referring to photographs of Tom Tryon and Noel Coward.
Box 9
Rolls I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII: Fire Island, Water Carnival
July-October 1955
Box 9
Rolls 200-I, II, 205-I: Caribbean
February-March 1956
Box 10
Rolls 7-19: Fire Island
March-July 1956
Box 11
Unnumbered rolls, Fire Island
1957
Physical Description: [10 rolls]
Box 11
Rolls I, II, III, IV, V: St. Croix
1957
Box 11
Unnumbered rolls, St. Croix
December 1957 - January 1958
Physical Description: [2 rolls]
Box 11
Caribbean, Puerto Rico?
Summer 1969 - December 1969
Physical Description: [4 pages]
Box 12
Rolls I, II, III, IV, V: Mauritius
undated
Box 12
Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Cantel Bay, St. Johns; Salem, Massachusetts et al.
undated
Physical Description: [5 pages of green bordered slides]
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Monroe Wheeler.
Box 12
Robert Osborn slides
1962-1964
Physical Description: [2 pages]
Scope and Contents
Content appears to be of family.
Box 12
Unidentified
undated
Physical Description: [5 pages of red bordered slides]
Box 12
Spectrum Films Company, male figures
1956
Physical Description: [5 slides]
Box 12
Drawings: male nude, erotic
undated
Physical Description: [11 slides]
Box 12
Beach slides
undated
Physical Description: [1 roll of 2.5 inch slides]
Color prints and negatives Subseries 1.1.4.
1950-1981
Physical Description: 1.5 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents
The subseries consists of color images from the Sunstone estate in Reading, Vermont; Fire Island, New York; unidentified beaches;
and assorted travel locations, 1950-1981. The subseries includes images of William Christian Miller, friends, and jewelry.
Box 27
1950-1965, undated
Physical Description: [assorted prints no bigger than 2.5 x 3.5 inches, 37 pages]
Scope and Contents
Consists of images from Sunstone (Reading, Vermont), Fire Island, unidentified beaches, and assorted travel locations. Includes
images of Miller, family, and friends.
Box 27
1957-1981
Physical Description: [prints and negatives, 43 pages]
Scope and Contents
Consists of images of Fire Island, unidentified beaches, travel, and jewelry. Includes images of Miller, family, and friends.
Box 28
1957-1981
Physical Description: [prints and negatives, 18 pages]
Scope and Contents
Consists of images of Fire Island, unidentified beaches, travel, and jewelry. Includes images of Miller, family, and friends.
Glass negatives and cased photographs Subseries 1.1.5.
1886-1947
Physical Description: 0.5 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents
The subseries consists of two glass negatives of Miller and three cased photographs from 1886.
Box 38, Item 5
Portrait of Bill Miller by Ed Powers
December 1947
Physical Description: [glass negative]
Box 38, Item 1
Portrait of Bill Miller wearing a suit, photographer unknown
undated
Physical Description: [glass negative]
Box 38, Item 2
Portrait of a man
March 1886
Physical Description: [glass-encased photograph]
Box 38, Item 3
Portrait of a woman
March 1886
Physical Description: [glass-encased photograph]
Box 38, Item 4
Portrait of a boy
March 1886
Physical Description: [glass-encased photograph]
Photographs by geographic region Subseries 1.2.
1944-1966
Physical Description: 7.2 Linear Feet[mostly black and white prints, but also negatives, contact strips and sheets, and color photographs]
Scope and Contents
The subseries comprises the geographically arranged files of Christian William Miller's collection, 1907-1972. Photographs
include those of the people and buildings at his personal, family's, or friend's residences at the Stoneblossom estate (unknown
location), Sunstone estate (Reading, Vermont), Fire Island, and St. Croix. Photographs also document his travels through Asia,
Africa, and Europe. Images include those of Monroe Wheeler, Glenway Wescott, and Somerset Maugham.
Arrangement
The photographs are arranged in the following order: 1) Stoneblossom, 2) Sunstone, 3) Fire Island, 4) West Indies, 5) China,
6) Africa, 7) Southeast Asia, 8) Europe and Egypt, and 9) assorted travel.
Box 13
Stoneblossom, unidentified
1945-1947
Physical Description: [mostly black and white prints, but also some negatives, 82 pages]
Scope and Contents
Primarily consists of images taken at Stoneblossom estate, but also includes unidentified images within the date range 1945-1947.
Photographs of Miller, including nudes, comprise the bulk of the materials. Photographs of family, friends, and general travel
are included as are images of Monroe Wheeler, Glenway Wescott, and Somerset Maugham.
Box 13
Sunstone; Reading, Vermont
1944-1952
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 18 pages]
Scope and Contents
Consists of images of people and property around the Sunstone estate.
Box 14
Sunstone; Reading, Vermont
1944-1952
Physical Description: [mostly black and white prints, but also some contact strips and color photographs, 41 pages]
Scope and Contents
Consists of images of people and property around the Sunstone estate.
Box 31, Folder 1
Sunstone and Fire island
undated
Physical Description: [oversized black and white prints, 5 photographs]
Scope and Contents
Consists of images of the properties at Sunstone and Fire Island.
Box 14
Fire Island
1955-1965
Physical Description: [primarily 2.25 inch black and white prints, but also black and white prints of other sizes, negatives, contact pages, and
two color photographs, 53 pages]
Scope and Contents
Consists of images of a house under construction, the surrounding property, the house after a fire, and friends at the house
and on the beach. See the Beach subsection of the "By topic" section for more Fire Island photographs.
Box 15
St. Croix
1944-1956, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, contact pages, negatives, and one roll of color photographs, 52 pages]
Scope and Contents
Includes images of a house and property, friends at the house and on the beach, and local residents. See Beach subsection
under the "By topic" section for more St. Croix photographs.
Box 31, Folder 2
St. Croix
February-March 1956
Physical Description: [oversized black and white prints, 12 photographs]
Scope and Contents
Includes images of the local area and residents.
Box 15
China, Forbidden City, Shanghai
undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 15 pages]
Box 15
Africa
undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 13 pages]
Box 16
India, Indonesia (Bali), Thailand, and unidentified Southeast Asia
January-February circa 1949
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 100 pages]
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the photographs are undated.
Box 17
India, Indonesia (Bali), and unidentified Southeast Asia
1946, circa 1949, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints: 1st group, 57 pages; 2nd group, 29 pages]
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the photographs are undated. Reflecting their original order, the photographs are separated into two sections
one at the beginning of the box, one at the end.
Box 31, Folder 3-8
Southeast Asia, rolls 44-49, 51, unnumbered
undated
Physical Description: [6 folders, oversized black and white prints, 82 pages]
Box 17
France, Egypt, Greece
undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 9 pages]
Scope and Contents
The photographs are collocated in the middle of the box.
Box 18
Norway
1951-1952, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 4 pages]
Box 18
Greece
undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 4 pages]
Box 18
Barcelona, Spain
undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 5 pages]
Box 18
Brussels, Belgium
undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 5 pages]
Box 18
Paris, France
1946, 1956, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 8 pages]
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the photographs are undated.
Box 18
Pisa, Italy
1950, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 3 pages]
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the photographs are undated.
Box 18
Rome, Italy
1956, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 7 pages]
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the photographs are undated.
Box 18
St. Tropez, St. Paul du Vence, and Cote d'Azur
1955
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 4 pages]
Box 18
Europe
1952, 1959
Physical Description: [black and white prints, but also one page of negatives, 8 pages]
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the photographs are undated.
Box 31, Folder 9
Europe
1952, undated
Physical Description: [oversized black and white prints, 6 photographs]
Box 18
Egypt
undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 16 pages]
Box 19
Assorted travel
1948-1966, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 74 pages]
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the photographs are undated.
Photographs by topic Subseries 1.3.
1907-1972
Physical Description: 9.7 Linear Feet[mostly black and white prints, but also negatives, contact prints and sheets, and color prints]
Scope and Contents
The photographs comprise the topically arranged files of Christian William Miller's collection, 1907-1972. Photographs include
those of himself and his circle of friends and family, the beach, artworks, and nudes.
Arrangement
The photographs are arranged in the following order: 1) Beach; 2) Christian William Miller; 3) People not Christian William
Miller; 6) People, places, and social events (arranged by date); 7) Artworks; and 9) Nudes.
Box 20
Beach
1946-1959, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 65 pages]
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the images are of Miller, although some are of his friends. May include images from Fire Island and/or St. Croix.
The bulk of the photographs are undated.
Box 21
Beach, including nudes
1946-1959, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 61 pages]
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the images are of Miller and his friends. May include images from Fire Island and/or St. Croix. The bulk of the
photographs are undated.
Box 31, Folder 10
Beach, including nudes
undated
Physical Description: [oversized black and white prints, 17 photographs]
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the images are of Miller and his friends. May include images from Fire Island and/or St. Croix.
Box 22
Christian William Miller
1940-1966, undated
Physical Description: [mostly black and white prints, but also negatives and contact sheets, 99 pages]
Scope and Contents
Consists of photographs of Miller, mostly professional. Images will overlap with Beach and Geographic region sections. Includes
Miller photographs by Jonathan Tichenor and George Platt Lynes. The bulk of the photographs are undated.
Box 31, Folder 11
Christian William Miller,
Life magazine
1951
Physical Description: [oversized black and white prints, 2 photographs]
Scope and Contents
Photographs from a
Life magazine shoot.
Box 31, Folder 12
Christian William Miller and friends
Summer 1955, undated
Physical Description: [oversized black and white prints, 28 photographs]
Scope and Contents
Consists of photograph portraits of Miller and friends as well as images of a social gathering, possibly in St. Croix.
Box 31, Folder 13
Photographs by Romeo Valente
1963, 1967, undated
Physical Description: [oversized black and white prints, 13 photographs]
Scope and Contents
Consists of images of an unknown man at a residence, some with dogs.
Box 23
Land Miller
1936-1956, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 23 pages]
Scope and Contents
Consists of photographs taken of Land Miller. The bulk of the photographs are undated.
Box 23
People not Christian William or Land Miller
1943-1961, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 69 pages]
Scope and Contents
Includes publicity photographs, signed photographs, and photographs with descriptive notes.
Box 24
People not Christian William or Land Miller
1943-1961, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 20 pages]
Scope and Contents
Includes publicity photographs, signed photographs, and photographs with descriptive notes. Photographs with correspondence
on the back are listed at the end.
Box 24
Pre-1945: people, places, and events
1907-1944, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints and negatives, 68 pages]
Scope and Contents
Includes images of Miller before and during his service in World War II. Also includes images of friends and family during
this era.
Box 25
1945 and after: people, places, and events
1945-1972
Physical Description: [black and white prints and negatives, 62 pages]
Scope and Contents
Consists of photograph rolls and unattributed images of mixed topics. The bulk of the images are of Miller and his friends
and family. Photographs of unattributed houses and rooms are listed at the end.
Box 25
Window displays
1941
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 17 pages]
Scope and Contents
Consists of Lord and Taylor window displays, New York.
Box 25
Three-dimensional art, assorted
1945-1950, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 33 pages]
Scope and Contents
Includes images of a chair designed by Miller. Also includes a desk, architectural models, and abstract sculptures. The bulk
of the images are of three-dimensional geometric designs presumably created by Miller called geobiles. The bulk of the photographs
are undated.
Box 31, Folder 14
Three-dimensional art and sculpture
1944, undated
Physical Description: [oversized black and white prints, 10 photographs]
Scope and Contents
Includes images of sculptures (mostly the making of them), three-dimensional geometric artworks, and a George Platt Lynes
image presumably of a Miller-designed boat from April 5, 1944. The bulk of the images are undated.
Box 26
Pottery and sculpture
1956-1957, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 65 pages]
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the images are undated.
Box 26
Paintings and drawings
1950-1951, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints and one color print, 10 pages]
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the images are undated.
Box 28
Nudes, male
1946-1970, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 44 pages]
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the images are undated.
Box 29
Nudes, male
1946-1970, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 60 pages]
Box 30
Nudes, male
1946-1970, undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 35 pages]
Box 30
Nudes, male
1964, undated
Physical Description: [contact prints and negatives, 12 pages]
Box 31, Folder 15
Nudes, male
undated
Physical Description: [oversized black and white prints, 24 photographs]
Box 30
Nudes, female
undated
Physical Description: [black and white prints, 5 pages]
Box 30
Nudes, male: drawings, paintings, and sculpture
1954, undated
Physical Description: [mostly black and white prints, but also contact prints and color prints, 13 pages]
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the images are undated.
Photograph albums and books Subseries 1.4.
circa 1890-1977
Physical Description: 5 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents
The materials comprise four photograph albums, one baby book, one diary/photograph album, and one birthday/anniversary book
maintained by Christian William Miller that documents his life, family, and friends, circa 1890-1977. The contents include
photographic prints, correspondence, clippings, diary entries, and other sundry documents.
Box 32
Europe
1950
Scope and Contents
The album consists of photographic prints, postcards, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and collected ephemera documenting
Christian William Miller's 1950 European trip.
Box 33
Bill Miller, family, and friends
1920-1948
Scope and Contents
The album consists of photographs of "Bud" Christian William Miller's life, family, and friends from before his birth to age
twenty-seven. The images document Miller's infancy, childhood, teenage, Coast Guard, and post-Coast Guard years. The photographs
of Miller as an adult include him, his family, and/or his friends at the Sunstone estate in Reading, Vermont, and on vacation
across the Pacific and in Southeast Asia. The album also includes childhood sketches, magazine/newspaper clippings including
advertisements with Miller as a model, and correspondence.
Box 34
Bill Miller, family, and friends
1921-1977
Scope and Contents
The album consists of photographs of "Bud" Christian William Miller's life, family, and friends from infancy to age thirty,
but mostly represent Miller while in his twenties. Photographic prints and newspaper clippings document his two major inventions,
a futuristic chair and a sunstill (an invention for making salt water drinkable). The photographs also document Miller, family,
and/or friends at Sunstone in Reading, Vermont, and on vacation in Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa. The album also includes
a sketch portrait of Miller, magazine/newspaper clippings including an advertisement with Miller as a model, and correspondence.
The front of the album contain two large panoramic photographs of Miller's school class and one 11x14-inch mounted photograph
presumably of Miller as a teenager.
Box 35
Italian trip
1933
Scope and Contents
The album consists of photographs, newspaper/magazine clippings, correspondence, and collected ephemera regarding an apparent
family trip to Italy in 1933. Uncertain if any images include Christian William Miller.
Box 39, Item 3
Longfellow Birthday Book
circa 1890-1963
Scope and Contents
The Miller family calendar book of birthdays and anniversaries. Includes newspapers clippings, invites, photographs, and other
supplementary papers.
Box 39, Item 4
The Scribble-in Book, Bud Miller, Camp Ranger
1934
Scope and Contents
Miller's diary and photograph book while at camp.
Box 39, Item 5
Baby's Book
1921
Scope and Contents
Miller's baby book
Photograph descriptions Subseries 1.5.
1944-1969, undated
Physical Description: 1.2 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents
The photograph descriptions include the original descriptions included with the boxes, film rolls, negative sleeves, and individual
photographs that previously housed and/or were separated from the photographs listed in the rest of the series, 1944-1969,
undated.
Box 47, Folder 3
Photograph descriptions, individual images and rolls
1944-1969
Box 40
Photograph descriptions, negative sleeves
circa 1944-1968
Processing Information
The negative strip sleeves that contained written descriptions have been copied and included in the clamshell boxes with the
negatives they housed. These originals have been kept in case of illegibility of or damage to the copies.
Box 47, Folder 4
Photograph descriptions, collections of rolls
1945-1957
Box 47, Folder 5
Photograph descriptions, boxes
undated
Papers Series 2.
1904-1989
Physical Description: 4.6 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents
The series comprises the textual records created or collected by Christian William Miller, 1904-1989. Materials include correspondence
such as those of George Hoyningen-Huene, W.H. Auden, Paul Cadmus, Noel Coward, and Glenway Wescott, as well as his military,
educational, family, property, work, modeling, and other personal papers. Also included are Miller's contacts and party guest
lists.
Arrangement
The materials are arranged in the following subseries:
Correspondence Subseries 2.1.
1904-1983
Physical Description: 2.8 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents
The series comprises the correspondence written to and by Christian William Miller, 1904-1983. The files also contain occasional
materials that was sent with the correspondence, such as photographs or clippings, or contextual material relevant to the
correspondence. Correspondents include George Hoyningen-Huene, W.H. Auden, Paul Cadmus, Noel Coward, and Glenway Wescott.
Arrangement
Files are arranged in alphabetical order by the last name of the correspondent. Unarranged letters and postards are listed
at the end.
Box 42, Folder 2
Aunt Mame and Uncle Will
1945-1951
Box 42, Folder 4
Christie's Auction House
1969-1972
Box 42, Folder 7-12
Gallowhur, George
1942-1954, undated
Physical Description: [6 folders]
Box 42, Folder 13-14
Gilbertson, Charlotte
1951-1963, undated
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 42, Folder 15
Hoyningen-Huene, George
1964-1966
Box 42, Folder 16
Laidlaw, Robert
1954-1965
Box 42, Folder 17-29
Lanier, Nan
1943-1978, undated
Physical Description: [13 folders]
Box 42, Folder 30
Ludington, Wright
1958-1961, undated
Box 42, Folder 31
Pavani, Ceasare
1951-1960
Box 42, Folder 32-39
Miller, Franklena
1904-1931
Physical Description: [8 folders]
Box 43, Folder 1-39
Miller, Franklena
1932-1982, undated
Physical Description: [39 folders]
Scope and Contents
Folder 33 (1956-1957) materials were originally housed in a binder and include correspondence to "Maria" and "Gioia."
Box 44, Folder 1-2
Miller, Franklena
undated
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 44, Folder 4-8
Montgomery, George
1947-1955, undated
Physical Description: [5 folders]
Box 44, Folder 9-10
Noyes, Tom
1960-1969, undated
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 44, Folder 16-17
Rackerby, Donald
1966-1968, undated
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 44, Folder 18-20
Royal, Tom
1961-1979, undated
Physical Description: [3 folders]
Box 44, Folder 22
Wescott, Glenway
1944-1963
Box 44, Folder 23
Wheelwright, Philip
1961-1964
Box 44, Folder 24
Vanderhoof, Millie
1961-1976
Box 44, Folder 25
Vaughan, Richard B.
1970-1974
Box 44, Folder 26
de Vaulchier, Dorothy
1944-1956
Box 44, Folder 27-32
Letters, unarranged
1945-1983
Physical Description: [6 folders]
Box 44, Folder 14
Postcards, unarranged
1951-1981
Personal papers Subseries 2.2.
1918-1989
Physical Description: 1.8 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents
The documents comprise the personal papers of Christian William Miller, not including his correspondence, 1918-1989. Materials
include family papers; educational files; writings; contracts; contacts and party guest lists; modeling records; military
records; identification cards; moving and travel papers; financial records; work records; property files; clippings including
those for a scrapbook; collected newspapers, pamphlets, and periodicals; and assorted dictations.
Arrangement
Files are arranged in alphabetical order.
Box 44, Folder 33
Advertising designs, Skol and Skat
1944-1946
Box 44, Folder 34
Bank statements
1943-1947
Box 44, Folder 36-39
Contacts
undated
Physical Description: [4 folders]
Scope and Contents
Includes addressed envelopes, address books, and address labels.
Box 44, Folder 40-41
Dictations
1980, 1984
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 45, Folder 1-2
Family documents, Franklena Miller
1950-1970
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Scope and Contents
Includes her correspondence with others, marriage certificate, and passport.
Box 45, Folder 3
Family documents, genealogy
circa 1940-1960
Box 45, Folder 4
Family documents, Grace May Wilson
1970-1972
Box 45, Folder 5-6
Family documents, William Henry Miller
1918-1963
Box 45, Folder 7
Gallowhur Chemical Corporation
1943-1948
Box 45, Folder 8
Identification cards: passport, military, and other
1942-1957
Box 44, Folder 35
Miscellaneous
1957-1988, undated
Scope and Contents
Includes subscriptions to white/Christian supremicist publications.
Box 45, Folder 9
Military documents
1942-1947
Box 45, Folder 10
Modeling documents
1952-1954
Scope and Contents
Consists of materials from "Horst test shots."
Box 45, Folder 11-13
Moving documents
1945-1969
Physical Description: [3 folders]
Scope and Contents
Documents Miller's various moves including management company records, warehouse information, lists of possessions, and directions.
Box 45, Folder 14-16
Newspapers, clippings
1936-1986
Physical Description: [3 folders]
Scope and Contents
Contents were described as "Willie clippings."
Box 45, Folder 17
Newspapers, white/Christian supremacism
1980-1982, undated
Box 45, Folder 18
Party guest lists
1945-1960
Box 45, Folder 19-20
Pamphlets and periodicals, anti-Semitism
1970-1989, undated
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 45, Folder 21
Pamphlets and periodicals, clippings
1957-1983
Box 45, Folder 22
Pamphlets and periodicals, exhibition galleries
1958-1971, undated
Box 45, Folder 23
Pamphlets and periodicals, white/Christian supremacism
1988-1989, undated
Box 45, Folder 26-28
Property, Fire Island
1956-1965
Physical Description: [3 folders]
Box 46, Folder 1-2
Property, Puerto Rico
circa 1970
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Scope and Contents
Includes materials on Santurce, Puerto Rico; Stella Dallas property; and Stella Maris property.
Box 46, Folder 3
Property, Sunstone
1949-1954
Box 46, Folder 4-5
Receipts
1940-1970
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 46, Folder 8-9
School, Dartmouth notebook
1949
Physical Description: [2 folders]
Box 46, Folder 10
School, diploma from School of Professional Arts
1941
Box 46, Folder 11
School, Fulbright scholarship
1949-1951
Box 46, Folder 12
School, New School for Social Research
1947-1949
Box 46, Folder 13
School, resume and transcripts
1938-1947
Box 46, Folder 14
Travel documents
1954
Scope and Contents
Most are from European trip, August-November 1954.
Box 46, Folder 16
Writings, miscellaneous
1937-1959
Graphic arts, film, and three-dimensional objects Series 3.
circa 1920-1960, undated
Physical Description: 7.3 Linear Feet
Scope and Contents
The series primarily comprises drawings and paintings created by Christian William Miller, circa 1920-1960, undated. The series
also includes Miller's more technical drawings such as architectural, boat, and other art designs. The series also includes
a few works of Miller by other artists, a collection of Cocteau reproductions, a life-sized bust of Miller, four 8mm films,
and collected trinkets.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged in alphabetical order by type of artwork. Personal objects are listed at the end.
Map-case 13:4:3
Architectural drawings
1937, undated
Physical Description: Some mold contamination. Use caution in accessing.
Physical Description: [oversized]
Scope and Contents
Most of the nine drawings are undated.
Box 37, Folder 3
Architectural sketches, with reference drawings
undated
Physical Description: [oversized]
Scope and Contents
Includes six architectural/geometric sketches, three architectural sketches, and reference drawings of Greek/Roman columns.
Box 46, Folder 18
Color swatches
circa 1945
Box 46, Folder 19-28
Drawings
circa 1920-1960, undated
Physical Description: [10 folders]
Scope and Contents
The 1920s folder includes a child's notebook and crayon and pencil drawings. The 1955-1960 folder includes measurements, sketches,
and drawings of the Fire Island beach house.
Box 37, Folder 1
Drawings, boats and horses
circa 1930-1944, undated
Physical Description: [oversized]
Scope and Contents
Includes four boat design drawings presumably created by Miller in 1944 and two horse drawings from the 1930s (separated from
box 46, folder 23).
Box 47, Folder 1
Drawings, Cocteau reproductions
undated
Box 37, Folder 3
Drawings, Cocteau reproductions
undated
Physical Description: [oversized]
Scope and Contents
The set of reproductions contains one non-Cocteau print.
Box 47, Folder 2
Drawings, sketches
undated
Scope and Contents
Contains some Miller portraits and reproductions of portraits.
Box 48, Folder 2
Drawings, unidentified (of similar style to Quaintance)
Physical Description: Separated because of pervasive vinegar syndrome.
Physical Description: [10 black and white drawings]
Map-case 13:4:1
Drawings and paintings, people (cataloged)
1940, undated
Physical Description: [oversized]
Scope and Contents
Includes catalog numbers ART2692 (Dick Boyd, January 31, 1940; and Irving G. Goodman, March 6, 1940), ART2691 (Katherine Gilmartin),
ART2690, ART2689, ART2688 (Renee Forsythe, February 7, 1940), ART2687, ART2686 (Dick Boyd, January 17, 1940), ART2685, ART2684,
ART2683, and ART2682.
Map-case 13:4:2
Drawings and paintings, people (not cataloged)
1941-1954, undated
Physical Description: Some mold contamination. Use caution in accessing.
Physical Description: [oversized]
Scope and Contents
Consists of six male model sketches, circa 1953-1954; a woman's portrait sketch (on both sides of paper): male nude sketches
(on both sides of paper); a drawing of man with geometric shapes; a painting of a teenage Miller; and a David Payne drawing
of Miller, June 16, 1941.
Box 37, Folder 2
Drawings and paintings, people
1939-1944, undated
Physical Description: [oversized]
Scope and Contents
Consists of four portrait sketches of Miller, three portrait sketches of an unidentified women, one painting of Nathaniel
P. Hood and his wife, and one painting of Miller.
Box 38, Item 6
Film, unidentified
undated
Physical Description: [4 rolls of 8mm film]
Box 36
Painting, portrait of a woman, arms crossed: no painter identified
undated
Physical Description: [Framed, 12x16 inches]
Box 41
Sculpture, bust of Bill Miller
undated
Physical Description: [unknown material]
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
The crumbling blank wood block used to mount the sculpture was removed.
Box 39, Item 1
Tin case with lock of hair
undated
Box 39, Item 2
"W.S." monographed leather case with metal frame
undated