Soby (James Thrall) Papers, 1928-1975 (bulk 1935-1955)

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Summary

Title:

James Thrall Soby papers

Dates:

1928-1975 (bulk 1935-1955)

Creators:

Soby, James Thrall, 1906-1979

Abstract:

American art critic, curator, and collector. Papers document Soby's nearly 45-year career in 20th-century art scholarship and criticism. Materials date from about 1929, when Soby became a partner in Edwin Valentine Mitchell, Inc., booksellers and publishers, to his retirement from the board of trustees at the Museum of Modern Art, New York in 1975. The bulk of the collection comprises correspondence from 20th-century artists and photographers, MoMA personnel, curators, critics, friends and family members.

Extent:

5.0 linear feet (10 boxes, 1 flat file folder)

Language:

Collection material is in English

Preferred citation:

James Thrall Soby papers, 1928-1975, Getty Research Institute, Research Library, Accession no. 910128.

http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa910128

Background

Scope and content:

The James Thrall Soby collection documents Soby's career as author, art critic, curator, editor, collector and Museum of Modern Art, New York, director and trustee. The papers date from about the time he became a third partner in Edwin Valentine Mitchell, Inc., Booksellers and Publishers, in 1929, to his retirement from the board of trustees at MoMA in 1975. The bulk of the material dates from 1935-1955 when Soby was most active. Most of Soby's papers can be found in MoMA's Library, which has a large collection of complimentary material.

The archive consists primarily of letters sent to Soby from 20th century avant-garde artists and photographers, MoMA personnel, curators, critics, friends and family members. These letters received by Soby record his substantial involvement with the then contemporary art scene. The collection has very few copies of Soby's own letters, but it does contain some manuscripts and notes for his writings. The correspondence files also include many original drawings and photographs and handmade Christmas and postcards from artists. Filed in separate series are a substantial quantity of letters and drawings from the Russian-born American painter and set designer Eugene Berman; letters, manuscripts and other material from and about American painter Peter Blume; and miscellaneous papers, clippings and photographs.

Arrangement note

The collection is organized in four series: Series I. Correspondence, 1928-1975; Series II. Eugene Berman, 1932-1969; Series III. Peter Blume, 1940-1956; Series IV. Miscellaneous, ca. 1928-1968

Biographical / historical:

Date	Event
1906	Born December 14 in Hartford, Conn. Son of Charles (in tobacco business) and Anna (Hazlewood) Soby
1923	Educated at Kingswood School
1924	Taft School
1924-26	Attended Williams College
1925	Buys a reproduction of a Maxfield Parrish print
1929	Bought a third interest in Edwin Valentine Mitchell's bookshop in Hartford, Conn.
1931	Worked at Wadsworth Athenaeum
1942	Director of painting and sculpture and member of board of trustees, Museum of Modern Art, New York
1943-45	Assistant director, MoMA
1946-68	Chairman of department of painting, MoMA
1946-57	Author of monthly column of art criticism in Saturday Review of Literature
1950-51	Editor of Magazine of Art; chairman of editorial board, 1951-52
1952	Married third wife Melissa Wadley (Soby had two previous wives, Mimi and Mary Eleanor [aka Nelly]); children: Peter Allyn
1962	Awarded honorary L.H.D. from Williams College
1968	Vice-president of MoMA
1979	Died January 29 in Norwalk, Conn.

Acquisition information:

Acquired in 1991.

Processing information:

Lynda Bunting began processing the collection October 1993, and finished writing the finding aid March 1994.

Physical location:

Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the catalog record for this collection. Click here for the access policy.

Rules or conventions:

Archives, Personal Papers, and Manuscripts

Bibliography:

After Picasso. Hartford, Conn.: E.V. Mitchell; New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1935.Eugene Berman: Catalogue of the Retrospective Exhibition of His Paintings, Illustrations, and Designs. Boston, Mass.: Institute of Modern Art, 1941.The Early Chirico. New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1941.Paintings, Drawings, Prints: Salvador Dali. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1941.Pavel Tchelitchew: Paintings, Drawings. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1942.Romantic Painting in America. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1943.Georges Rouault: Paintings and Prints. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1945.Ben Shahn. Middlesex, England: Penguin Books, 1947. Museum of Modern Art. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1947.The Prints of Paul Klee. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1947.Contemporary Painters. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1948.Twentieth-Century Italian Art. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1949.Paintings, Drawings, and Prints by Paul Klee: From the Klee Foundation, Berne, Switzerland, with Additions From American Collections. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1949.Modigliani: Paintings, Drawings, Sculpture. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1951.Giorgio de Chirico. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1955.Yves Tanguy. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1955.Balthus. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1956.Modern Art and the New Past. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1957.Ben Shahn: His Graphic Art. New York: G. Braziller, 1957.Arp. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1958.Juan Gris. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1958.Joan Miró. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1959.Recent Sculpture U.S.A. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1959.The James Thrall Soby Collection of Works of Art Pledged or Given to the Museum of Modern Art. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1961.Rico Lebrun Drawings. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1961.Paintings of Ben Shahn. New York: G. Braziller, 1963.Bonnard and His Environment. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1964.The School of Paris: Paintings From the Florene May Schoenbrorn and Samuel A. Marx Collection. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1965.Rene Magritte. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1965.

Indexed terms

Subjects:: Art critics--United States
Art historians as collectors--United States
Art museum directors--United States
Art patrons--United States
Art--Collectors and collecting--United States
Neoromanticism (Art movement)
Drawings--20th century
Greeting cards--20th century
Photographic prints
Photographs, Original

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:: Finding aid prepared by Lynda Bunting.
Date Encoded:: This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2016-03-08T15:56-0800

Access and use

Restrictions:: Open for use by qualified researchers.
Terms of access:: Contact Library Rights and Reproductions.