Agenda re library research for Edith Havens Goodrich. Notes and ephemera, 1970-1980, undated

The material in this subseries divides into two general groups. The first consists of papers now identified by subjects that describe Goodrich's research and format strategies, as well as his general analyses of Eakins works. For the latter, Goodrich created lists and charts that incorporated his numbering and coding systems for each catalog entry and reference, respectively. These are the same codes referenced in the "Master Catalog" files, but used here to examine Eakins' works collectively rather than individually. Also duplicated here are Goodrich's annotated copies of his 1933 catalog and additions to it, as well as notes concerning works not included in that edition. The "Agenda" folders, as identified by Goodrich, consist primarily of to-do checklists and notes. The various tasks included researching, writing, conferring, traveling and photocopying. Some notes are general comments ending with a query. From notations obviously made at a later date, many of the tasks and queries were acted upon, if not completely resolved. Many of the notes regarding research include bibliographic citations, library sources, and occasional call numbers. As indicated by the folder title and size, Edith Havens Goodrich performed a good deal of this library research for her husband. The "Exhibitions," "Illustrations," and "Publications" folders contain the analytical lists and chart described above. In the notes comprising the "Format" folders, Goodrich explains, sometimes in detail more complicated than clear, his criteria and strategies in selecting and recording exhibitions and published references as well as his ideas on the content and format for the catalog entries. While the exhibition and reference notes appear to be earlier versions of what he kept in the "Master Catalog" files, his notes on record keeping and format are not duplicated elsewhere in this series. He gives his most detailed description, however, of all the elements comprising a catalog entry in the enclosure to his December 20, 1985 letter to the Philadelphia Museum of Art regarding the transfer of his papers. That letter is in the "Correspondence" series. As to research methodology, Goodrich's notes from his 1933 study, which are part of that series, offer a thoughtful discussion of his strategies and sources.

The second group of material appears to be two earlier, but incomplete, versions of the "Master Catalog" files. Most of the papers are photocopies that were, according to the dates noted on the original folders, compiled at two different times--the mid- to late 1970s and 1983-1984. The earlier set also includes material not included in the "Master Catalog" files, namely, a set of carbon copies dated 1976 regarding Eakins's "Juvenilia" drawings. In these manuscripts, Goodrich includes a brief physical description, provenance, and occasional subject background. In addition to photocopies and carbons, some files contain original correspondence, notes, clippings, ephemera and photographs.