Correspondence with Library of Congress, July 1951-1953

Kimball organized the Societe Mansart in 1950 for the purpose of raising funds by private subscription to purchase the Alfred Marie Collection of architectural tracings and other documents on French architecture under the Bourbons for the Library of Congress. As the organization's President, Kimball was in charge of fund raising and negotiating the acquisition of the collection's more than 3,000 documents, including those regarding Versailles, the Trianons, the Menagerie, Fontainebleau and other sites. The records are comprised primarily of correspondence with potential and actual subscribers; the staff of the Library of Congress, particularly Paul Vanderbilt; the American Institute of Architects regarding the exhibition of part of the Alfred Marie Collection at the 1951 annual convention; and with Kimball's close friend Alfred Marie.