Bicentennial Corporation, visual arts task force, 1968

The “Special projects” series contains material related to notable events that took place during Turner’s tenure as museum director. Projects include the installation of a new HVAC, or climate control system, and the subsequent reinstallation of works of art, planning for the museum’s Centennial anniversary and the Bicentennial of the United States, the creation of a Rodin Museum catalog, and the re-drafting of the museum’s by-laws. The records are divided into sub-series accordingly.

The “Centennial of the Philadelphia Museum of Art / Bicentennial of the United States” sub-series contains planning materials related to both the museum’s centennial celebration and the 1976 Bicentennial of the United States; most of the documentation relates to the City’s Bicentennial events. Much of the material is published and unpublished reports, clippings, and memoranda from Philadelphia planning organizations like the Bicentennial Corporation and Philadelphia 76, Inc. The material dates from 1967 to 1978 and is arranged chronologically.

The “Closing and reinstallation” sub-series contains records related to the installation of the museum’s new climate control system. Due to this project, the museum closed in April of 1975, and did not reopen until February 1976. During this time period, air conditioning was installed in the museum building for the first time, galleries underwent reconstruction, and works of art were relocated. The correspondence, reports, and memoranda found here evidence this process, especially the museum’s closing and reopening. Many files contain information on paint and lighting choices for the galleries, trace the movement of works of art around the museum, and chronicle the renovation decision-making process. The files are arranged alphabetically, and date from 1974-1976.

The “Philadelphia Museum of Art By-laws” sub-series includes correspondence, memoranda, reports, and drafts related to the re-write of the museum’s by-laws. By-law drafts that were circulated among the administrative staff and the Board for review include notes and edits. This subseries also houses copies of by-laws from many other museums. The files date from 1972-1976, and are arranged chronologically.

The “Rodin catalog and Professor Albert Elsen correspondence” sub-series includes copies of correspondence between Turner, Albert Elsen, an art historian and leading authority on Rodin, and others, generated during the creation of a Rodin Museum catalog. A portion of a catalog draft can also be found here. The material spans the years 1966 to 1974, and is arranged chronologically.