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Titus C. Geesey Papers

 Collection
Identifier: GEE

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of Titus C. Geesey's correspondence with curators, directors and other individuals written from 1945 to 1969, primarily regarding loans and gifts from his collection of American folk art, and in particular, Pennsylvania German objects. A few exhibition checklists are also included. As this correspondence makes evident, such objects were more popularly referred to as "Pennsylvania Dutch." The institutions to which Geesey agreed to lend ranged from the Wilmington (Delaware) Society of Fine Arts and the Historical Society of Delaware to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of American Folk Art, also in New York City, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection in Williamsburg, Virginia. Geesey's loans to a few of the exhibitions of the Philadelphia Museum of Art are also documented, including the shows on Philadelphia silver and Tucker china held respectively in 1956 and 1957. While correspondence pertaining to some of his gifts to the Museum are included here, his major 1953 offering is more fully documented in the eponymous folder included in the Fiske Kimball Records, in the "1953-1954" subseries of the "General correspondence and related material" series. Other gift recipients included the University of Delaware and the Historical Society of York County (Pennsylvania). Lists of objects accompanying several of the letters suggest the extent of Geesey's holdings, which included walnut and decorated furniture, pottery, porcelain, paintings, silver, glass, frakturs, textiles, wrought iron, toleware, children's books and toys, maps, engravings, lithographs, firearms, tools and cooking utensils. There is also correspondence with a few writers and editors requesting to feature Geesey's collection, occasionally photographing it in situ in "Longago," Geesey's18th century-styled residence in Wilmington, Delaware.

Dates

  • 1945-1969, undated

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Titus C. Geesey Papers are the physical property of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Archives. The Museum holds literary rights only for material created by Museum personnel or given to the Museum with such rights specifically assigned. For all other material, literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for obtaining permission from rights holders for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Biographical / Historical

Titus C. Geesey was such an enthusiast of American folk art that in the late 1930s he built his home as a showcase for the extensive collection he and his wife acquired. The result was "Longago," a large stone house situated just outside Wilmington, Delaware, that was reminiscent of the area's early 18th century architecture. Geesey began collecting in 1926, and by the 1940s he had built an important holding of Pennsylvania German (also known as Pennsylvania Dutch) furniture, pottery, metalware, textiles, and other types of decorative and graphic arts.

Geesey lent and gifted many of his objects to museums and historical societies in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia and often supplied magazines such as Antiques and other decorative art publications with photographs. In 1953 the Philadelphia Museum of Art received one of his most generous offerings, which significantly strengthened the institution's rural Pennsylvania collection. In addition to his role as donor, Geesey was a member of the Museum's Board of Governors from 1955 to 1964, a Trustee from 1964 to 1966, and an Honorary Trustee beginning in 1966. He died on December 8, 1969.

Extent

0.25 linear foot

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection consists of Titus C. Geesey's correspondence with curators, directors and other individuals written from 1945 to 1969, primarily regarding loans and gifts from his collection of American folk art, and in particular, Pennsylvania German objects.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Custodial History

This collection came to the Archives through the American Decorative Arts Department in 2004.

Processing Information

These materials were arranged and described by Bertha Adams. Funded by a grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Creator

Title
Guide to the Titus C. Geesey Papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by Bertha Adams
Date
2009
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Sponsor
Funded by a grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services

Repository Details

Part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Library and Archives Repository

Contact:
Philadelphia Museum of Art
PO Box 7646
Philadelphia PA 19101-7646 United States