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Library. Books. As checked in 1946 and 1951. Incl. list of books not located, w/1964 annotations. Lists, undated

 File — Box: 29, Folder: 12

Scope and Contents

From the Sub-Series:

Johnson's art library consisted of more than 2,500 books, periodicals, and auction catalogs (referred to as "sales" in these inventories). The library came to the museum at the same time the art collection was transferred. It originally was housed in the curatorial offices, and only came to the museum Library in the early 1990s. Library inventories are recorded on index cards. All but one include publications issued after 1917 and therefore reflect purchases made by the Johnson Collection curatorial staff. The exception is the "Books" inventory filed by the numbers assigned in the 1917 inventory and appraisal. "Books" also include exhibition catalogues and journal volumes. "Sales catalogs" is the term used by the curatorial staff for auction catalogs. The alphabetical inventory is filed by collector name with auction information noted in the upper right corner of each card.

Object inventories include documentation of two examinations that were conducted in 1955 and 1968 in compliance with orders of the city's Orphans' Court. The purpose of these examinations was to ascertain whether the works of art listed in the 1917 inventory and appraisment were "in fact in existence and presently located in the Philadelphia Museum of Art." For the 1955 inventory, each of the six examiners documented here had their own copies of the full inventory to mark up and sign. These inventories, as well as signed certifications, are included below. While there are only two unsigned copies of the 1968 examination in these files, the related certification is signed by all six examiners.

Based on the notation of object condition in the reports generated in the 1976 inspection and the type of documentation used in the 1979 inspection, both apparently were conducted by conservation staff.

Dates

  • undated

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research with the following exceptions. Valuations and conservation (condition) reports are restricted, with access at discretion of the archivist. Personnel records are permanently restricted. Because of their poor condition, cracked or broken glass plate negatives are also restricted but they have all been digitized.

Extent

From the Series: 8.25 linear feet

Creator

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