Clippings. Bequest to PMA and related exhibitions. (oversize), 1986-1987

As the number of writings in this series makes evident, both the American and European media found McIlhenny and his way of life well worth reporting. The first set of folders pertains to magazine articles, which are listed separately. In many, the titles alone underscore McIlhenny's reputation as patron of the arts and the epitome of elegance. An example is a 1984 piece in Connoisseur magazine that proclaimed: "McIlhenny's art collection is nearly perfect, so is his life." A year earlier, the same publication ran an article entitled, "America's 101 top collectors." McIlhenny was number ten. As to the man behind the art, the townhouse and country castle, Patrick Gallagher, McIlhenny's butler of almost 25 years, summarized his employer's character with an anecdote published in a 1988 article in Gentlemen's Quarterly. When a guest mistakenly drank from his finger bowl, McIlhenny picked up his own bowl and did the same. To Gallagher, such was the response of "a true gentleman." The "Clippings" folders each contain multiple newspaper articles, grouped by general topic. Most of the newspapers are Philadelphia-based. Several of the Irish clippings pertain to McIlhenny's employees at Glenveagh castle, reporting on special events such as a wedding or christening.

This series also contains several folders that document two in-depth interviews of McIlhenny. In 1984 the BBC produced "Great Collectors," and McIlhenny was one of those featured in the program. The show aired in Britain the following summer, and the video cassette sent to McIlhenny was shown at his 75th birthday party given by the Philadelphia Museum of Art. A photocopy of the nearly 200-page transcript is included here along with some pre- and post-production correspondence and the BBC's film schedule. A photocopied transcript documents a 1974 interview of McIlhenny by Paul Cummings. The interview was conducted as part of the Archives of American Art's Oral History Program. There are also transcripts of a few slide lectures McIlhenny gave, as well as various drafts of an essay McIlhenny wrote about his gardens in Glenveagh, and which apparently was intended for a Dublin publication.