Finding aid for the David Piper papers relating to British museums and art institutions, 1916-1990

Finding aid prepared by Kirstin Hammer.


Descriptive Summary

Title: David Piper papers relating to British museums and art institutions
Date (inclusive): 1916-1990
Number: 960020
Creator/Collector: Piper, David
Physical Description: 3.0 linear feet
Repository:
The Getty Research Institute
Special Collections
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, California, 90049-1688
(310) 440-7390
Abstract: British museum director, art historian, and novelist (1918-1990). These papers reflect Piper's tenure as director of the National Portrait Gallery (1964-1967), the Fitzwilliam Museum (1967-1973), and the Ashmolean Museum (1973-1985), as well as his position on various boards and institutions. The collection consists of letters, notes, essays, reports, clippings, and some single journal issues and promotional material concerning the arts in Britain.
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Language: Collection material is in English

Biographical/Historical Note

British museum director, art historian, and novelist (1918-1990).

Administrative Information

Access

Open for use by qualified researchers.

Publication Rights

Preferred Citation

David Piper Papers Relating to British Museums and Art Institutions, 1916-1990, Getty Research Institute, Research Library, Accession no. 960020.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa960020

Acquisition Information

Acquired in 1996.

Scope and Content of Collection

The David Piper Papers relate to Piper's tenure as director of the National Portrait Gallery (1964-1967), the Fitzwilliam Museum (1967-1973), and the Ashmolean Museum (1973-1985), as well as his position on various boards and institutions, such as the Royal Fine Art Commission and the Leeds Castle Foundation. The papers consist of letters, notes, essays, reports, clippings, and some single journal issues and promotional material concerning the arts in Britain. Incorporated are the miscellaneous papers of Isherwood Kay, Keeper at the National Gallery from 1933-1938. Dating mostly from 1924-1938, these papers include correspondence with members of the art world, including Collins Baker, Kenneth Clark, Charles Holmes, Ellis Waterhouse, Martin Davies, and others, as well as additional ephemera and a small collection of art postcards. Piper's literary manuscripts are not included.

Arrangement note

Organized in five series: I. Correspondence, ca. 1916-1989; II. Notes and writings, ca. 1928-1989; III. Ephemera, ca. 1925-1989; IV. Clippings, ca. 1926-1990; V. Art postcards.

 

Series I. Correspondence, ca. 1916-1985

Physical Description: 17.0 folder(s)

Scope and Content Note

Includes letters to and from art historians and British institutions concerning works of art, exhibitions, building programs, and general news. The correspondence is primarily professional although some letters have a personal tone. Collins Baker, the Burlington Fine Arts Club, Kenneth Clark, the Fitzwilliam Museum, Charles Holmes, Leeds Castle, and the Royal Fine Art Commission are among the most frequent correspondents or subjects of correspondence. The end of the series includes an alphabetical grouping of miscellaneous correspondence.
Box 1, Folder 1

Baker, Collins, ca. 1916-1935

Box 1, Folder 2

Baker, Collins, ca. 1936-1938

Box 1, Folder 3

Burlington Fine Arts Club, ca. 1925-1928

Box 1, Folder 4

Christ's College, Cambridge, ca. 1966-1968

Box 1, Folder 5

Clark, Kenneth, ca. 1930-1938

Box 1, Folder 6

Cooper's and Lybrand/National Heritage, ca. 1985

Box 1, Folder 7

Fitzwilliam, ca. 1972

Box 1, Folder 8

Holmes, Charles, ca. 1927-1934

Box 1, Folder 9

Leeds Castle, 1986-1989

Box 1, Folder 10

Royal Fine Art Commission, ca. 1970-1984

Box 1, Folder 11

Miscellaneous A-D

Box 1, Folder 12

Miscellaneous E-H

Box 1, Folder 13

Miscellaneous I-L

Box 1, Folder 14

Miscellaneous M-P

Box 1, Folder 15

Miscellaneous Q-T

Box 1, Folder 16

Miscellaneous U-Z

Box 1, Folder 17

Unidentified Correspondence

 

Series II. Notes and writings, ca. 1928-1989

Physical Description: 6.0 folder(s)

Scope and Content Note

Arranged alphabetically by topic and concerning primarily artists, such as Diego Velazquez, and art institutions, including the Leeds Castle Foundation. Primarily drafts of essays and reports, with several biographical entries in typescript and manuscript form. The end of the series includes miscellaneous writings arranged by date.
Box 1, Folder 18

Fitzwilliam

Box 1, Folder 19

Leeds Castle Foundation, ca. 1989

Box 2, Folder 1

Velazquez

Box 2, Folder 2

Waterhouse, Ellis, ca. 1972-1989

Box 2, Folder 3

Miscellaneous, 1928-1986

Box 2, Folder 4

Miscellaneous, n.d.

 

Series III. Ephemera, ca. 1925-1989

Physical Description: 2.0 and 1/2 boxes

Scope and Content Note

The largest part of the collection, this series contains ephemera related to British arts institutions, including the Leeds Castle Foundation, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and a large section on the Royal Fine Art Commission, as well as an obituary file.
Box 2, Folder 5

Burlington 1925

Box 2, Folder 6

Christ's College, Cambridge, ca. 1959

Box 2, Folder 7

Cooper's and Lybrand/ National Heritage

Box 2, Folder 8

Fitzwilliam, 1968-1969

Box 2, Folder 9

Leeds Castle Foundation Publications, ca. 1976-1983

Box 2, Folder 10

Obituaries

Box 3, Folder 1

Oxbridge, ca. 1970-1986

Box 3, Folder 2

Parnham House, ca. 1982-1986

Box 3, Folder 3

Royal Fine Art Commission, 1978

Box 3, Folder 4

Royal Fine Art Commission, 1979

Box 3, Folder 5

Royal Fine Art Commission, 1980

Box 3, Folder 6

Royal Fine Art Commission, 1981

Box 3, Folder 7

Royal Fine Art Commission, 1982

Box 3, Folder 8

Royal Fine Art Commission, 1983

Box 3, Folder 9

Royal Fine Art Commission, 1984

Box 3, Folder 10

Royal Fine Art Commission, 1984

Box 3, Folder 11

Royal Fine Art Commission, 1985

Box 3, Folder 12

Royal Fine Art Commission, n.d.

Box 3, Folder 13

Tradescant Trust, 1984-1985

Box 4, Folder 1

Victoria and Albert, 1987-1989

Box 4, Folder 2

Waterhouse, Ellis

Box 4, Folder 3

Watts Gallery, ca. 1985-1986

Box 4, Folder 4

Miscellanous Ephemera

 

Series IV. Clippings, ca. 1926-1990

Physical Description: 10.0 folder(s)

Scope and Content Note

Miscellaneous clippings arranged by date and concerning institutions, exhibitions, art trends, collecting, and theft. Also included are two folders devoted to "Oxbridge" and the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Box 4, Folder 5

Oxbridge, ca. 1966-1985

Box 4, Folder 6

Victoria and Albert Museum, ca. 1987-1989

Box 4, Folder 7

Victoria and Albert Museum, n.d.

Box 4, Folder 8

Miscellaneous Clippings, 1926-1938

Box 4, Folder 9

Miscellaneous Clippings, ca. 1966-1979

Box 4, Folder 10

Miscellaneous Clippings, ca. 1980-1987

Box 4, Folder 11

Miscellaneous Clippings, ca. 1988

Box 4, Folder 12

Miscellaneous Clippings, ca. 1989

Box 4, Folder 13

Miscellaneous Clippings, ca. 1990

Box 4, Folder 14

Miscellaneous Clippings, n.d.

 

Series V. Art postcards, n.d.

Physical Description: 1.0 box(es)

Scope and Content Note

Early postcards depicting works of art. In original alphabetical order arranged by artist, collection, region, or subject, possibly assembled by Isherwood Kay.
Box 5

Postcards, arranged alphabetically by artist, institution, region or subject