Writings of McIlhenny, John D. Including Third-party letter to editor, 1909, 1917-1924, undated

This subseries is comprised of various material types and subjects. Of the former, newspaper clippings are the most numerous, and most are obituaries of John D. McIlhenny's immediate family with the exception of Carol Judd, who was Frances's niece. Childhood memorabilia include a landscape drawing most likely by Henry P. McIlhenny in his interpretation of the "cubist" style, a paper doll drawn by his sister and the baptismal certificate of their older brother, John D. Jr. A note from one of "Santa's agents" commemorates their father's first Christmas as it was written in 1866, the year he was born. The earliest documentation pertaining to Frances P. McIlhenny is an IOU (or receipt) she wrote in 1876 to her uncle for "a pretty doll." The most detailed documentation in this subseries is her journal, which is included in the "travel" subject files. Written between 1894 and 1896 to record the family's European travels, Frances describes in detail their many social activities, including a presentation at the German court, and of the sights, giving historical background to many of the places, as well as sometimes cutting commentary of natives and fellow travelers. The dedicated journalist also inserted many clippings to illustrate her accounts. Of a later date is the ephemera identified as "Social events." These invitations, primarily to luncheons and weddings, offer a glimpse of the social circle in which Henry P. McIlhenny's parents moved. "Writings" conclude the subject files, and included in those by John D. McIlhenny are his views on the value of art, published in two Philadelphia newspaper columns during his tenure as president of the Museum. In one he presents the commercial value of an art museum to its city, primarily by generating tourist dollars, and in the other, he discusses the establishment of American scholarship and the importance of a national art style.