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Biographical Information. Clippings and notes. Some photocopies, [1930-1933], 1973, undated

 File — Box: 4, Folder: 4

Scope and Contents

From the Sub-Series:

This sub-subseries contains photocopies and transcripts of primary source material related to Thomas Eakins gathered from a variety of sources. The majority of the sub-subseries is comprised of photocopies and transcriptions of Eakins letters from 1863 to 1916. Many of these letters date from 1866 to 1869 when Eakins studied in Paris at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, and from late 1869 to mid 1870 when Eakins lived in Spain for six months. During these years, Eakins wrote his father weekly, and corresponded regularly with his favorite sister, Frances, known as Fanny, and the siblings William and Emily Sartain. The sub-subseries also includes letters of a later date with Susan Macdowell Eakins, Earl Shinn, J. Laurie Wallace, and Harrison S. Morris of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, among others.

Of particular importance are Goodrich's transcriptions from the early 1930s of some of Thomas Eakins's letters then owned by his widow, Susan Eakins, as well as her transcriptions of a handful of Eakins's letters which she edited or redacted without Goodrich's knowledge. Following Susan Eakins's death in 1938, some of these letters were apparently destroyed, while others were rescued and saved by Charles Bregler. Bregler sold some of the letters around 1944; what he kept he guarded from scholars. Thus from 1944 until 1985, when the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts bought the Bregler Collection from his widow, Goodrich's transcriptions were the only copies available, albeit on a very limited basis, to other Eakins scholars. For those original letters which have not yet been located or which were destroyed, Goodrich's transcriptions remain the only record of their existence.

The sub-subseries also includes Goodrich's transcription of two painting registers kept by Thomas and Susan Eakins, as well as photographs of the first of the two volumes, now owned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art (the second volume is in the collection of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts); transcriptions of two account books; copies of some of Eakins's lecture notes; Goodrich's transcription of an inventory of Thomas Eakins's paintings compiled by Susan Eakins; and Goodrich's transcription of Eakins's notebook which he kept while in Europe, the original of which is now in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. The sub-subseries also includes a small amount of secondary source material, mainly biographical material published in encyclopedias and other reference sources.

Dates

  • [1930-1933], 1973, undated

Language of Materials

From the Collection:

English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research, and it is stored in the American Art Department. For access and general inquiries about this collection, please contact the American Art Department at amartinfo@philamuseum.org.

Extent

From the Series: 3 linear feet