Other papers, incl. "The Great Mansions of Philadelphia" lecture notes[?], 1927?, 1945, undated
Scope and Contents
During Kimball's directorship, the museum took an active role in the restoration of many of the historic homes in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. Erling H. Pedersen, Kimball's assistant during the early 1930s, oversaw most of the work. The most extensively documented house is Mount Pleasant, also known as the Benedict Arnold house. Its restoration and furnishing was planned to coincide with the 1926 Sesquicentennial. There are numerous revised lists of the objects loaned or gifted for the special exhibition, as well as related correspondence, including the form letters acknowledging receipt of objects. Correspondence regarding the restoration of the garden is also included. Women, individually and in groups, assumed a prominent role in these restoration projects. Those most frequently represented in these files include Mrs. Harold E. Gillingham, Lydia Thompson Morris, the Junior League of Philadelphia, and the Associate Committee of Women, which offered special tours of the park homes on behalf of the museum, calling the event "Colonial Days."
Dates
- 1927?, 1945, undated
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research. Because of its fragile condition, the following item may only be consulted with permission of the Archivist: floor plan with annotations of PMA Gothic installations (in "Objects and related topics" series, "European decorative arts and arms and armor" subseries, "Rooms and architectural elements" sub-subseries, "England. Gothic installations at PMA, incl. Abergavenny, Wales" file).
Extent
From the Series: 1 linear foot
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Creator
- From the Collection: Kimball, Fiske, 1888-1955 (Creator, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Library and Archives Repository
Philadelphia Museum of Art
PO Box 7646
Philadelphia PA 19101-7646 United States
archives@philamuseum.org