Finding aid for the Bernard and Rebecca Reis papers, ca. 1924-1985

Series I. Correspondence and papers, ca. 1924-1985

Physical Description: 3.0 box(es) ca. 720 items

Scope and Content Note

Series contains letters, Christmas cards, and postcards to Bernard and Rebecca Reis from over 100 art world figures, including artists, museum officials, and critics, many of whom were also clients of Bernard Reis's accounting firm. Typically, these letters discuss the purchase of art works, loans of works from the Reis's collection, social engagements, and travels, and include requests for financial advice. There are numerous items from William Congdon, who discusses his travels and philosophy of painting (1954-1984); Helen Frankenthaler, who writes from summer vacations on Cape Cod and includes inscriptions from Robert Motherwell (1950-1970); and George Grosz, who requests financial advice and discusses his assignments for Esquire magazine (1935-1958). Marc and Vava Chagall and their daughter Ida discuss planning for exhibitions and travels. One group of letters deals with Chagall's royalties and unauthorized reproductions of his work (1956-1985). Material concerning Jacques Lipchitz includes letters from Jacques, Berthe, and Yulla Lipchitz and papers detailing loans and sales of Lipchitz's work (1931-1964). Letters from Peggy Guggenheim discuss purchases and sales of art works, the 1971 robbery at her palazzo in Venice, and legal and tax issues relating to the Peggy Guggenheim Foundation (1950-1977). A file of material relates to the Foundation and Guggenheim's will (1968-1981).

Correspondence includes painted, illustrated, and collaged cards by Elise Asher, Abe Birnbaum, William Congdon, Julio De Diego, Helen Frankenthaler, George Grosz, Larry Rivers, Hans Richter, Lucy and Attilio Salemme, and Ernst and Karin Van Leyden. The papers also include materials relating to the Reis's art collection (inventories, estimates, and requests for loans or purchases); legal and financial documents (many facsimile copies) relating to the Rothko estate, as well as to Reis's bankruptcy and Rebecca Reis's lawsuit; and a few personal items such as Rebecca Reis's diary (1945).

Box 1, Folder 1-17

Correspondence

Box 1, Folder 1

Albee, Edward 1964-1976

Physical Description: 12.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

1 letter mentions buying a Chagall (1964).

Box 1, Folder 1

Asher, Elise and Stanley Kunitz undated

Physical Description: 3.0 notes

Scope and Content Note

1 with drawing, and 1 collage.

Box 1, Folder 2

Baltman, Fritz and Jeanne 1974-1975

Physical Description: 4.0 card(s)

Box 1, Folder 2

Barr, Alfred H., Jr. 1952, 1977

Physical Description: 4.0 items

Scope and Content Note

2 letters, with 2 facsimile copies of letters from Becky Reis. Letters discuss loans from the Reis collection, including Matisse's "Olga Merson."

Box 1, Folder 2

Baziotes, Ethel & Bill 1955-1987

Physical Description: 6.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 2

Berlin, Paul & Helen undated

Physical Description: 1.0 postcard

Box 1, Folder 2

Berman, Eugene 1950-1968

Physical Description: 4.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 2

Birnbaum, Abe & Friad? undated

Physical Description: 1.0 item

Scope and Content Note

Illustrated card.

Box 1, Folder 3

Blankfort, Michael 1958

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 3

Bouché undated

Physical Description: 1.0 drawing(s)

Box 1, Folder 3

Boyle, Kay 1957, undated

Physical Description: 3.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 3

Brady, Robert 1963

Physical Description: 1.0 card(s)

Box 1, Folder 3

Brice, William, Shirl & John 1958

Physical Description: 1.0 postcard

Box 1, Folder 3

Brown, Bill undated

Physical Description: 1.0 card(s)

Box 1, Folder 3

Calas, Nicolas 1955

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 3

Campigli, Massimo 1935-1960

Physical Description: 5.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 4

Chagall family 1956-1971

Physical Description: 36.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

Primarily from Marc, Vava and Ida Chagall. Letters discuss the planning of exhibitions, acknowledge checks received from Bernard Reis, travels, health, and Ida Chagall's divorce from Franz Meyer.

Box 1, Folder 5

Chagall family 1972-1985

Physical Description: 33.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

Primarily from Marc, Vava, and Ida Chagall; includes 2 facsimile copies.

Box 1, Folder 6

Chagall family undated

Physical Description: 15.0 items

Scope and Content Note

Ten letters, primarily from Marc, Vava, and Ida Chagall. Five items from Teddy Koleck.

Box 1, Folder 7

Marc Chagall and Schocken Books 1969-1978

Physical Description: ca. 50 items

Scope and Content Note

Correspondence between Bernard and Becky Reis and other correspondents. Letters and some receipts. Many letters discuss reproduction rights and unauthorized reproductions of Chagall's work.

Box 1, Folder 8

Chanin, Margret? & Abraham undated

Physical Description: 1.0 card(s)

Box 1, Folder 8

Congdon, William 1954-1983

Physical Description: 41.0 items

Scope and Content Note

39 letters and 2 drawings. Letters discuss travels, his philosophy of painting, Peggy Guggenheim's funeral and the redesigned Guggenheim Museum, and requests a painting for an exhibition.

Box 1, Folder 9

Cooper, Douglas 1963

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 9

Copley, Alfred L. (Al Copley) undated

Physical Description: 1.0 card(s)

Box 1, Folder 9

Copley, Bill and Noma 1963-1966

Physical Description: 6.0 card(s)

Box 1, Folder 9

Daines, Elise & Reg 1981, undated

Physical Description: 2.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 9

Danner, Blythe 1982

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 9

De Brun, Elsa undated

Physical Description: 1.0 card(s)

Box 1, Folder 9

De Diego, Julio 1963

Physical Description: 1.0 card(s)

Scope and Content Note

Illustrated card.

Box 1, Folder 9

De Kooning, Willem undated

Physical Description: 1.0 item

Scope and Content Note

1 letter with drawing. The letter mentions filing income taxes.

Box 1, Folder 9

Dickinson, Frances & Edwin 1974

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 9

Diebenkorn, Richard & Phyllis undated

Physical Description: 2.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 9

Dufy, Raoul undated

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 10

Ede, Jim 1964

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

To Barbara Reis Poe.

Box 1, Folder 10

Eliot, Alex ca. 1970

Physical Description: 3.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

One to Robert Tourtellot.

Box 1, Folder 10

Ernst, Max

Scope and Content Note

See Tanning, Dorothea

Box 1, Folder 10

Esbin, Michael 1981

Physical Description: 1.0 postcard

Box 1, Folder 10

Ferber, Herbert 1965

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 10

Fink, Furman 1933? 1983

Physical Description: 4.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 11

Frankenthaler, Helen and Robert Motherwell ca. 1950-1963

Physical Description: 33.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

Most of these letters are written from summers in Provincetown and mention Frankenthaler and Motherwell's progress on paintings, and discuss other artists

Box 1, Folder 12

Frankenthaler, Helen and Robert Motherwell 1964-1970, undated

Physical Description: 28.0 items

Scope and Content Note

26 letters, 1 painted card and 1 collage card.

Box 1, Folder 13

Gabo, Miriam & Naum 1964-1966

Physical Description: 3.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

1 is facsimile copy. One letter discusses Naum's dealings with Frank Lloyd, which ended badly.

Box 1, Folder 13

Goodwin, Philip undated

Physical Description: 2.0 card(s)

Scope and Content Note

1 postcard discusses post-war Europe and the ongoing Warsaw trials.

Box 1, Folder 13

Gordey, Michael (Ida Chagall's husband) 1947

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 1, Folder 14

Grosz, George and Eva ca. 1935-1958

Physical Description: 25.0 items

Scope and Content Note

Several of the 23 letters are illustrated; with 1 photograph. Letters ask for financial advice and discuss the purchase of paintings and Grosz's work for Esquire. One item is an anti-Hitler collage.

Box 1, Folder 15

Correspondence concerning George Grosz 1937-1982

Physical Description: ca. 28 items

Scope and Content Note

Letters, loan forms, and other items from Bernard Reis, museums, and others.

Box 1, Folder 16

Guggenheim, Peggy 1950-1970

Physical Description: 32.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

Peggy discusses visits from her family, purchases and sales of art works, and the Peggy Guggenheim Foundation.

Box 1, Folder 17

Guggenheim, Peggy 1971-1977, undated

Physical Description: 32.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

Letters discuss financial and tax issues surrounding the Peggy Guggenheim Foundation, Peggy's will, the return of Pegeen Guggenheim's paintings, and the 1971 robbery at Peggy's palazzo.

Box 2, Folder 1-20

Correspondence: Office Files

Box 2, Folder 1

Correspondence and material concerning the Peggy Guggenheim Foundation 1968-1981

Physical Description: ca. 50 items

Scope and Content Note

Items include a facsimile copy of Peggy's will, bank statements, and Foundation records.

Box 2, Folder 2

Guston, Philip 1 973-1975, undated

Physical Description: 5.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 2

Hélion, Jean undated

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

1 page is missing.

Box 2, Folder 2

Heckscher, William S. 1964

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 2

Heyligers, Ian 1948, undated

Physical Description: 2.0 postcards

Box 2, Folder 2

Kapié, Rebi 1934

Physical Description: 1.0 postcard

Box 2, Folder 2

Kinross, Patrick undated

Physical Description: 1.0 card(s)

Box 2, Folder 2

Kline, Elizabeth and Franz Kline 1962, undated

Physical Description: 2.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 2

Kolleck, Teddy

Scope and Content Note

See Chagall family correspondence

Box 2, Folder 2

Kopman, Benjamin 1941

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 2

Kronenberger, Louis 1965

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 2

Kunitz, Stanley

Scope and Content Note

See Asher, Elise

Box 2, Folder 3

Lam, Wifredo 1961

Physical Description: 1.0 postcard

Box 2, Folder 3

Lanea?, Juan 1948

Physical Description: 1.0 postcard

Box 2, Folder 3

Lasker, Mary 1976, undated

Physical Description: 2.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 3

Lavole, Helen 1981

Physical Description: 1.0 postcard

Box 2, Folder 3

Lerner, Max and Edna undated

Physical Description: 1.0 postcard

Box 2, Folder 3

Li, C. H. and Annie 1969-1971

Physical Description: 6.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

One letter contains an inscription from Peggy Guggenheim.

Box 2, Folder 4

Lipchitz, Jacques, Berthe and Yulla 1931-1964, undated

Physical Description: 30.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

The letters discuss visits and exhibits.

Box 2, Folder 4

Correspondence concerning Jacques Lipchitz 1942-1961

Physical Description: 14.0 items

Scope and Content Note

Letters and loan requests.

Box 2, Folder 5

Records of sales of Lipchitz's work 1948-1955

Physical Description: 8.0 items

Box 2, Folder 6

Papers concerning the Jacques Lipchitz Studio Fund 1952-1953

Physical Description: 6.0 items

Scope and Content Note

Includes letters.

Box 2, Folder 7

Legal document from Jacques Lipchitz vs. Curt Valentin Gallery 1955

Box 2, Folder 8

Lloyd, Frank and Suzanne 1977

Physical Description: 2.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

One letter mentions the Rothko lawsuit.

Box 2, Folder 8

Logan, Joshua and Nedda 1961, undated

Physical Description: 2.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 8

Martinelli, Eric and Marian undated

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 8

Marx, Florence 1964

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 8

May, Charles 1967

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 8

Meier-Graefe, Bush 1957-1969

Physical Description: 2.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 8

Mellard?, Arlette 1964

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 8

Menuhin, Yehudi 1966

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 9

Miro, Joan 1947-1958

Physical Description: 12.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

With inscriptions from Pilar & Dolores Miro.

Box 2, Folder 9

Correspondence and material concerning Miro exhibit 1946-1966

Physical Description: 6.0 items

Scope and Content Note

Includes 3 facsimile copies.

Box 2, Folder 10

Mumford, Lewis 1962

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 10

Nitzchke, Oscar undated

Physical Description: 1.0 drawing(s)

Box 2, Folder 10

Noguchi, Isamu 1960

Physical Description: 1.0 postcard

Box 2, Folder 10

Ozenfant, Amedee 1955

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 10

Price, Vincent 1978

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 10

Ray, Man & Juliet 1947-1962

Physical Description: 3.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 11

Read, Sir Herbert and Ludo 1958-1968

Physical Description: 24.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 11

Reinhardt, Rita undated

Physical Description: 2.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 12

Reis, Bernard and Becky [Rebecca] ca. 1924-1931

Physical Description: 8.0 items

Scope and Content Note

One letter from Becky Reis to Bill Congdon. 5 postcards are from Becky to Bernard Reis, 2 from Becky and Bernard Reis to Barbara Reis Poe.

Box 2, Folder 12

Rhumm?, Esther & Abe undated

Physical Description: 1.0 card(s)

Box 2, Folder 12

Richter, Hans 1958-1975

Physical Description: 4.0 card(s)

Box 2, Folder 12

Risati (Rinati?), Jim 1965

Physical Description: 1.0 postcard

Box 2, Folder 12

Rivers, Larry ca. 1963

Physical Description: 3.0 items

Scope and Content Note

2 letters, 1 collage card.

Box 2, Folder 12

Concerning Mark Rothko ca. 1970-1971

Physical Description: 2.0 items

Scope and Content Note

1 typescript from Rothko's funeral service (facsimile copy) signed by Stanley Kunitz, and 1 letter from Mrs. John de Menil, 1971 (facsimile copy), which discusses lighting of the Rothko Chapel.

Box 2, Folder 12

Rothschild undated

Physical Description: 1.0 card(s)

Box 2, Folder 13

Salemme, Lucy and Attilio undated

Physical Description: 2.0 items

Scope and Content Note

Illustrated cards.

Box 2, Folder 13

Sandberg, Willem 1949-1964

Physical Description: 19.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

These letters discuss arranging exhibitions of American art in Amsterdam's state museum, and mentions work by De Kooning.

Box 2, Folder 13

Schary, Dore 1961

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 13

Sert, Jose Luis & Moncha 1971, undated

Physical Description: 6.0 card(s)

Box 2, Folder 13

Skira, Albert 1958-1968

Physical Description: 3.0 items

Scope and Content Note

2 letters, 1 card with poem.

Box 2, Folder 13

Soulages, Pierre & Colette 1970, undated

Physical Description: 3.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 13

Stamos, Theodoros 1957-1963

Physical Description: 7.0 postcards

Box 2, Folder 13

Stewart, Donald Ogden & Elle 1966

Physical Description: 1.0 card(s)

Box 2, Folder 14

Tamayo, Rufino undated

Physical Description: 3.0 card(s)

Box 2, Folder 14

Tanning, Dorothea and Max Ernst 1950-1965, undated

Physical Description: 12.0 items

Scope and Content Note

10 letters (1 with an inscription from Peggy Guggenheim), 2 gallery invitations.

Box 2, Folder 14

Valentin, Curt undated

Physical Description: 1.0 card(s)

Scope and Content Note

1 card, n.d.

Box 2, Folder 14

Van Leyden, Ernest and Karin 1964, 1968

Physical Description: 2.0 items

Scope and Content Note

Two cards, one illustrated.

Box 2, Folder 14

Vidal, Gore undated

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Scope and Content Note

Vidal thanks the Reises for their hospitality at a dinner party.

Box 2, Folder 14

Wilder, Clinton 1956-1977

Physical Description: 4.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 14

Wilke, Ulfret 1972

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 14

Wolff, William III 1976

Physical Description: 1.0 letters

Box 2, Folder 14

Young, Art 1938-1967

Physical Description: 5.0 card(s)

Box 2, Folder 15

Correspondence from unidentified

Physical Description: 17.0 items

Scope and Content Note

16 letters, 1 drawing.

Box 2, Folder 16

Correspondence and material from office files 1945-1976

Physical Description: ca. 45 items

Scope and Content Note

Includes 10 letters concerning Lorraine Manville & Carlos Amato, 1976, 5 items concerning the Yehudi Menuhin Music Foundation, 1967, and 16 letters from James Donald & Milly Prendergast, 1970-1976.

Box 2, Folder 17

Correspondence and papers regarding collection loans 1939-1977

Physical Description: ca. 35 items

Box 2, Folder 18

Correspondence and papers regarding collection loans 1978-1981

Physical Description: ca. 40 items

Box 2, Folder 19

Collection records ca. 1960-1984

Scope and Content Note

Lists of holdings on display at the Reis household, and notes on the collection.

Box 2, Folder 20

Offers to buy (sales) 1974-1986

Physical Description: ca. 30 items

Scope and Content Note

Estimates, correspondence (many letters with notations by Becky Reis), and 1 notebook.

Box 3, Folder 1-11

Office files, miscellaneous personal items

Box 3, Folder 1

Index cards of lithographs and books in the Reis collection

Box 3, Folder 2

Lists of books in the Reis collection and correspondence with book dealers 1962-1984

Physical Description: ca. 16 items

Scope and Content Note

Circa 8 letters and ca. 8 lists of books (3 facsimile copies).

Box 3, Folder 3

Correspondence with Arthur A. Cohen of Ex Libris 1977-1983

Physical Description: ca. 40 items

Scope and Content Note

Letters and lists of books (some facsimile copies).

Box 3, Folder 4

Accountant's reports for Art of This Century 1942-1945

Physical Description: 4.0 reports

Box 3, Folder 5

Artist's contract, Sydney Janis Gallery 1958

Physical Description: 1.0 item

Box 3, Folder 6

Rothko estate and lawsuit

Scope and Content Note

Facsimile copies of Rothko's will, lawsuit depositions, tax reports, and Reis' bankruptcy papers.

Box 3, Folder 7

Becky Reis' lawsuits ca. 1982

Scope and Content Note

Regarding sale of Matisse's "Olga Merson."

Box 3, Folder 8

Becky Reis' diary August 1945

Physical Description: ca. 40 pp.

Box 3, Folder 9

Itineraries to Greece and Venice 1970-1975

Physical Description: 4.0 items

Scope and Content Note

All facsimile copies.

Box 3, Folder 10

Becky Reis' address book

Box 3, Folder 11

Printed ephemera

Physical Description: 5.0 items

Scope and Content Note

2 press clippings, The Forum March 1938, 1 invitation, 1 typescript, 3 pp.

Series II. Printed ephemera, ca. 1924-1985

Physical Description: 1.46 linear feet

Scope and Content Note

The bulk of the printed ephemera (press clippings and exhibit catalogs and invitations) concerns Jacques Lipchitz. Other ephemera items relates to Marc Chagall, Marcel Duchamp, George Grosz, Peggy Guggenheim, and Mark Rothko.

Box 4, Folder 1-11

Ephemera

Box 4, Folder 1

Chagall ephemera, 1941-1976

Box 4, Folder 2

Chagall ephemera, 1977-1981, undated

Box 4, Folder 3

Duchamp ephemera

Box 4, Folder 4

Grosz ephemera

Scope and Content Note

journal issues

Box 4, Folder 5

Grosz ephemera, ca. 1933-1954

Box 4, Folder 6

Grosz ephemera, 1959-1974, undated

Box 4, Folder 7

Grosz ephemera

Scope and Content Note

Esquire clippings, 1936-1937

Box 4, Folder 8

Grosz ephemera

Scope and Content Note

book reviews of A Little Yes, A Big No

Box 4, Folder 9

Peggy Guggenheim ephemera

Box 4, Folder 10

Lipchitz ephemera, 1936-1954

Scope and Content Note

journal issues

Box 4, Folder 11

Lipchitz ephemera, 1954-1957

Scope and Content Note

journal issues

Box 5, Folder 1-6

Ephemera, catalogues

Box 5, Folder 1

Lipchitz ephemera, 1944-1979

Scope and Content Note

press clippings

Box 5, Folder 2

Lipchitz ephemera, undated

Scope and Content Note

press clippings

Box 5, Folder 3

Lipchitz exhibit catalogues, 1927-1948

Box 5, Folder 4

Lipchitz exhibit catalogues, 1950-1952

Box 5, Folder 5

Lipchitz exhibit catalogues, 1954-1956

Box 5, Folder 6

Lipchitz exhibit catalogues, 1957-1958

Box 6, Folder 1-4

Ephemera, catalogues

Box 6, Folder 1

Lipchitz exhibit catalogues, 1958-1959

Box 6, Folder 2

Lipchitz exhibit catalogues, 1960-1962

Box 6, Folder 3

Lipchitz exhibit catalogues, 1963-1968

Box 6, Folder 4

Lipchitz exhibit catalogues, 1970-1971

Box 7, Folder 1-6

Ephemera and photographs

Box 7, Folder 1

Lipchitz exhibit catalogues, 1971

Box 7, Folder 2

Lipchitz exhibit catalogues, 1973-1981

Box 7, Folder 3

Lipchitz exhibit catalogues, undated

Box 7, Folder 4

Rothko ephemera

Box 7, Folder 5

Miscellaneous ephemera

Box 7, Folder 6

Miscellaneous exhibit invitations and catalogues

Series III. Photographs, ca. 1924-1985

Physical Description: 168.0 photographs

Scope and Content Note

Series contains 65 photographs of Marc Chagall and family, 8 of Peggy Guggenheim, and 14 of Jacques Lipchitz and family. One photo album contains 81 photographs of sculptures by Jacques Lipchitz, paintings and drawings by George Grosz (2 signed), and art works in the Reis's collection.

Box 7, Folder 7

Marc Chagall and family

Physical Description: 65.0 photographs

Box 7, Folder 8

Peggy Guggenheim

Physical Description: 9.0 items

Scope and Content Note

Eight photographs and one postcard from Rome & Roloff Beny, photographers.

Box 7, Folder 9

Jacques Lipchitz and family

Physical Description: 14.0 photographs

Box 7, Folder 10

Miscellaneous

Physical Description: 7.0 photographs

Box 8

Photograph album

Physical Description: 81.0 photographs

Scope and Content Note

Photographs of Bernard and Becky Reis' home, Jacques Lipchitz's sculptures and exhibit installations, and paintings and drawings by George Grosz. Most images are photographic reproductions from galleries, with specifications and provenance information on the versos.

Container List