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INVENTORY OF THE FRENCH & COMPANY RECORDS, 1910-1998, bulk 1950-1960
990051  
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Table of contents What's This?

Container List

 

Series I.  Legal and business operations, 1922-1998, bulk 1953-1960

Physical Description: .75 lin. ft. 1.5 boxes

Scope and Content Note

Legal and business operations are documented in reports and descriptions of company practices and policies; in records relating to the reorganization of the firm; in company stock purchase, sale, and exchange agreements; in loan financing claims; and in real estate agreements. These papers are arranged chronologically in two groupings. The first group gathers together general operational papers and the second group is comprised of more specific legal documentation. See oversize at the end of the collection for architectural drawings for French & Company's offices and galleries.
Box 1, Folder 1

Overview of French & Co., 1936-1998, bulk 1959-1960

Box 1, Folder 2

Managers' report, 1924

Box 1, Folder 3

Corporate by-laws, 1922-1955

Box 1, Folder 4

Company practices and policies, 1955

Box 1, Folder 5

Moving procedure, 1957-1958

Box 1, Folder 6

Analysis of operations, 1959

Box 1, Folder 7

Reorganization, 1922

Box 1, Folder 8

Reorganization, 1923, 1941

Box 1, Folder 9

Title to Widener art collection, 1942

Box 1, Folder 10

Financial situation and City Investing Co. loan, 1953

Box 1, Folder 11

Corporate stock, 1953-1955

Box 1, Folder 12

Corporate stock sales, 1953-1957

Box 1, Folder 13

Corporate stock, 1954-1955

Box 1, Folder 14

Corporate stock purchase agreement, 1955

Box 1, Folder 15

Corporate stock divisions, ca. 1955

Box 1, Folder 16

Corporate stock exchange with City Investing, 1955

Box 1, Folder 17

Wolchok claim, 1955

Box 1, Folder 18

Loans and claims, 1955-1960

Box 1, Folder 19

Bank loan, 1955-1956

Box 2, Folder 1

Corporate stock financing, 1956

Box 2, Folder 2

Corporate stock financing, 1956

Box 2, Folder 3

Legal matters, 1956-1960

Box 2, Folder 4

Real estate agreements, 1957-1959

Box 2, Folder 5

Corporate stock sales, 1958

Box 2, Folder 6

Legal matters, 1958

Box 2, Folder 7

Corporate stock sales, 1959

Box 2, Folder 8

Loan, 1959

 

Series II.  Financial, 1915-1959

Physical Description: .5 lin. ft. ca. 1 box

Scope and Content Note

The financial papers are arranged chronologically and include financial statements, balance sheets, profit statements, projected budgets, and audits, with the latter materials gathered together in a separate chronological grouping. The bulk of the papers cover the 1950s.
Box 2, Folder 9

Financial statements, 1915-ca. 1959

Box 2, Folder 10

Profits for thirteen years, 1926-1938

Box 2, Folder 11

Financial statements, 1934-1937

Box 2, Folder 12

Financial statements, 1938-1954

Box 2, Folder 13

Balance sheets, 1938-1953, bulk 1938-1946

Box 2, Folder 14

Analysis of financial accounts, 1953

Box 2, Folder 15

Net worth, 1953-1958

Box 2, Folder 16

Financial statements, 1956-1959

Box 2, Folder 17

Financial statements, 1957-1958

Box 2, Folder 18

Balance sheet, 1957

Box 2, Folder 19

Statements and balance sheets, 1957

Box 2, Folder 20

Projected budgets, 1959

Box 3, Folder 1

Annual audit, 1954

Box 3, Folder 2

Annual audit, 1955

Box 3, Folder 3

Audit, 1945, 1955

Box 3, Folder 4

Audit, 1956

Box 3, Folder 5

Audit, 1957

Box 3, Folder 6

Audit, 1959

Box 3, Folder 7

Audit, client inventories, and policy regarding records management, 1957-1958

 

Series III.  Board of directors, 1954-1959

Physical Description: .25 lin. ft. ca. .5 box

Scope and Content Note

These papers document the activities of the board of directors through agendas, meeting minutes, and memoranda arranged chronologically.
Box 3, Folder 8

Meetings and agendas, 1954-1959

Box 3, Folder 9

Final meeting minutes, 1955-1959

Box 3, Folder 10

Memoranda to board of directors, 1955-1959

Box 3, Folder 11

Meetings, 1956

Box 4, Folder 1

Drafts of meeting minutes, 1957-1959

Box 4, Folder 2

Drafts of memoranda to board of directors, ca. 1958-1959

Box 4, Folder 3

Drafts of meeting minutes and memoranda, 1959

Box 4, Folder 4

Meeting minutes, 1959

Box 4, Folder 5

Officers' meeting minutes and agendas, 1959

Box 4, Folder 6

Executive committee, 1959

 

Series IV.  Business dealings and correspondence, 1944-1960

Physical Description: .25 lin. ft. ca. 1 box

Scope and Content Note

Correspondence with individuals and organizations is arranged chronologically. Correspondents include City Investing Company, J. Ilinski, R. Dowling, S. Semenenko, and Eastman Dillon Union Securities. Business matters addressed include Riethof Productions, exhibitions, and real estate.
Box 4, Folder 7

Mitchell Samuels Correspondence, 1944-1954

Box 4, Folder 8

Correspondence regarding Riethof Productions, 1949, 1952-1954

Box 4, Folder 9

City Investing Company board of directors, n.d.

Box 4, Folder 10

Correspondence with City Investing Company, 1955-1958

Box 4, Folder 11

Correspondence with Hutchison of City Investing Company, 1955-1960

Box 4, Folder 12

Correspondence with J. Ilinski regarding exhibitions, 1955-1956, 1959

Box 4, Folder 13

Correspondence with R. Dowling regarding investments, 1955-1960

Box 4, Folder 14

Correspondence with Eastman Dillon Union Securities, 1958

Box 4, Folder 15

Correspondence with S. Semenenko regarding real estate, 1959

Box 4, Folder 16

Draft of business agreement with H. Bloom, Van Zedwitz, and Pierre, 1960

Box 4, Folder 17

List of books, n.d.

 

Series V.  Sales records, 1927-1998, bulk 1950-1998

Physical Description: 1 lin. ft. 2 boxes

Scope and Content Note

Papers comprised of correspondence, clippings, and appraisals dealing with artworks such as the Esther Tapestries and clients such as J. Paul Getty, S. Rubinstein, M. Rheims, F. Weiss, and R. Heine. Subseries group documents relating to J. Paul Getty and the Getty Museum, to clients other than Getty, and to artwork inventory and sales.
 

Series V.A.  J. Paul Getty correspondence and appraisals, 1960-1998

Physical Description: .25 lin. ft.

Scope and Content Note

Records of correspondence between French and Company and J. Paul Getty (and others associated with Mr. Getty). Also documentation related to several appraisals for Getty, and newspaper and magazine clippings on Getty. All materials are arranged chronologically.
Box 5, Folder 1

Correspondence with Getty, 1960-1965

Box 5, Folder 2

Correspondence with Getty, 1966-1976

Box 5, Folder 3

Appraisal for Getty, 1967

Box 5, Folder 4

Appraisal for Getty, 1967-1973

Box 5, Folder 5

Correspondence with Getty, 1970-1991

Box 5, Folder 6

Appraisal for Getty, 1972-1973

Box 6, Folder 1

Clippings on Getty, 1973-1987

Box 6, Folder 2

Correspondence with, and clippings on, Getty, 1975-1985

Box 6, Folder 3

Correspondence with, and clippings on, Getty, 1988-1998

 

Series V.B.  Records relating to clients other than Getty, 1945-1972

Physical Description: .25 lin. ft.

Scope and Content Note

Correspondence and other documentation relating to tapestry and other artwork sales.
Box 6, Folder 4

Correspondence with S. Rubinstein regarding sale of artworks, 1945-1953, 1957

Box 6, Folder 5

Galleria Luigi Bellini tapestry sales, 1949-1950, 1971-1972, 1976

Box 6, Folder 6

M. Rheims and Menier tapestries sale, 1959-1960

Box 6, Folder 7

Pan American Company, F. Weiss, P. Weiss, R. Heine, and Esther Tapestries, 1953-1961

Box 6, Folder 8

Pan American Company, F. Weiss, P. Weiss, R. Heine, and Esther Tapestries, 1960-1962

Box 6, Folder 9

Loan agreements and payment schedules for Esther Tapestries, 1962-1965

 

Series V.C.  Artwork inventory and sales records, 1927-1971

Physical Description: .5 lin. ft.

Scope and Content Note

Records include sales policies, inventory reports, and artwork stock sheets, sales receipts, descriptions, and photographs.
Box 7, Folder 1

Artwork stock sheet, 1927

Box 7, Folder 2

Miscellaneous correspondence and clippings relating to artworks, 1931-1971

Box 7, Folder 3

Descriptions of artworks, 1932-1943

Box 7, Folder 4

Artwork sales receipts, ca. 1942

Box 7, Folder 5

Purchasing committee, 1955-1959

Box 7, Folder 6

Analysis of inventory sale, 1957

Box 7, Folder 7

Sales policies and inventories, 1957-1959

Box 7, Folder 8

Report on inventory verification, 1958

Box 7, Folder 9

European sales of artworks, 1959

Box 7, Folder 10

Open inventory and English artworks, n.d.

Box 7, Folder 11

Photographs of artworks, 1957-1959

Box 7, Folder 12

Photographs of artworks, n.d.

Box 7, Folder 13

Photographs of artworks, n.d.

Box 7, Folder 14

Photographs of artworks, n.d.

Box 7, Folder 15

Transparencies of artworks, n.d.

Box 7, Folder 16

Photographs and documentation relating to appraisal of Mantegna painting, 1940, 1958-1959

 

Series VI.  Exhibitions and publicity, 1930-1967, bulk 1956-1967

Physical Description: 1.5 lin. ft. 6 boxes

Scope and Content Note

This series documents publicity, exhibitions, and gallery activities. Also included are records relating to the specific program of J. Bratby paintings commissioned for a film. Clippings, photographs, and correspondence relate to exhibitions, many more clippings are about the art market. A bound volume of clippings and manuscripts records the history of Hamilton Palace: the house, the family and sales of the estate. A videocassete documents the opening the French & Company on Madison Ave., New York City. One folder holds personal correspondence.
Box 8, Folder 1

Publicity, 1930, 1958-1961

Box 8, Folder 2

Exhibition of tapestries, 1947

Box 8, Folder 3

Strozzi and other exhibitions, 1956-1960

Box 8, Folder 4

General projects, 1957-1959

Box 8, Folder 5

Publicity program for opening of new galleries, 1958

Box 8, Folder 6

Alec Guinness film The Horse's Mouth, and J. Bratby paintings, 1958

Box 8, Folder 7

Contemporary gallery, 1959-1960

Box 8, Folder 8

Parke-Bernet Galleries exhibition, n.d.

Box 8, Folder 9

Clippings and correspondence on the art market, 1915-1959

Box 8, Folder 10

Clippings and correspondence on the art market, 1916-1959

Box 8, Folder 11

Clippings and research on the art market, 1957-1958

Box 8, Folder 12

Correspondence regarding "Currency of Art" pamphlet on the art market, 1959

Box 8, Folder 13

Clippings on the art market, 1959

Box 8, Folder 14

Preliminary plan for publication on the art market, n.d.

Box 8, Folder 15

Personal correspondence, ca. 1930

Box 9, Folder 1

French & Company exhibition in Mexico, 1953,

Physical Description: 29 photographs
Box 9, Folder 2

French & Company exhibition in Mexico, 1953,

Physical Description: 8 items

Scope and Content Note

5 photographs, catalog, clipping, invitation
Box 9, Folder 3

Clippings about French & Company exhibition in Mexico, 1954,

Physical Description: ca. 30 items
Box 9, Folder 4

Catalogs, 1956, 1958,

Physical Description: 3 items

Scope and Content Note

Catalog of French & Company exhibit in Havana, Cuba, 1958 and program for celebration, Semana de Bellas Arts, 1956, Cuidad Trujillo, Dominican Rupublic (2 copies).
Box 9, Folder 5

Clippings from French & Company exhibit in Havana, Cuba, 1958,

Physical Description: ca. 30 items
Box 9, Folder 6

Look magazine, New York Times Magazine, 1952, 1953, 1955

Box 9, Folder 7

Clippings about tapestries, ca. 1909-1958

Physical Description: ca. 15 items
Box 9, Folder 8

Hamilton Palace, n.d.,

Physical Description: 1 vol.

Scope and Content Note

Bound volume with pasted in manuscripts and clippings about Hamilton palace, history of the Hamilton family, Beckford sale of 1823, Hamilton sale of 1882, and final sale of 1919.
Box 10

Clippings about exhibitons, art market, ca. 1952-1967

Physical Description: ca. 100 items
Box 11

Clippings about exhibitons, art market, ca. 1952-1967

Physical Description: ca. 50 items
Box 12

Clippings about exhibitons, art market, ca. 1952-1967

Physical Description: ca. 150 items
Box 17

Opening of French & Company on Madison Ave., n.d.

Physical Description: 1 videocassette

Scope and Content Note

1 videocassette (VHS) : b&w, sd., dub from 16 mm. b& print. Dub made by Filmworks for Samuels, Nov 16, 1999.
 

Series VII.  Architectural drawings, 1910-1911, 1928, 1946, 1950, n.d.

Physical Description: 66 items 4 boxes

Scope and Content Note

Architectural drawings appear to be for renovations for clients, and for French & Company office and gallery spaces.
Box 13, Folder 1

Residence for J. Harper-Poor, n.d.

Physical Description: 9 drawings on tracing paper

Scope and Content Note

Notes on drawings describe renovations to be done.
Box 13, Folder 2

Residence for J. Harper-Poor, 1910?

Physical Description: 9 photographs

Scope and Content Note

Photographs of drawings of the original building, Howells & Stokes, Architects.
Box 14

Estate Joseph Laroque, 1911

Physical Description: 1 drawing
Box 15

203 E. 56th St, n.d.

Physical Description: 6 blueprints
Box 16

Henry Otis Chapman, architect, n.d.

Physical Description: 12 blueprints
Flat file folder 1**

Plan for store building, 210 E. 57th St., New York, 1928

Physical Description: drawings 1-11
Flat file folder 2**

Alterations to buildings, South corner of 3rd. Ave. and E. 56th St., New York, 1946 May 27

Physical Description: sheets 1-8
Flat file folder 3**

Architectural drawings, 1946, 1940

Flat file folder 3**

Measured drawings for 205 E. 67th St., New York, 1950 Sep 18

Physical Description: 9 drawings
Flat file folder 3**

Plan of 5th floor galleries and offices, n.d.

Physical Description: 1 drawing