Anne d'Harnoncourt Records
Scope and Contents
The records are arranged in four series, beginning with the most voluminous, "NAMES AND SUBJECTS" (SERIES I). Comprised of alphabetically arranged files, the series documents d'Harnoncourt's steady contact with colleagues, artists and patrons of the arts, as well as city officials, government and private funders, corporate leaders, scholars and educators and a number of PMA visitors. Subject files track the development of social, cultural and political trends, topics and events, as well as projects, programs and issues specific to Museum operations. The series is comprised of six date-defined subseries that adhere to the bulk dates of materials as transferred to the Archives: 1982-1985; 1986-1991; 1992-1996; 1997-1999; 2000-2003; and 2004-2008.
While the lengthy lists of names and subjects suggest the scope of d'Harnoncourt's responsibilities, the singular focus of the second series, "EXHIBITIONS" (SERIES II), indicates her maintaining at the least an overview of the approximately 200 exhibitions PMA presented to the public during her tenure. As the number of folders per exhibition makes evident, d'Harnoncourt's involvement varied. For some exhibitions, she'd receive general updates. With others, files of correspondence document her communicating directly with lenders, funders, and directors and curators of participating museums. Notes and annotated typescripts show d'Harnoncourt's work in drafting catalogue forewords as well as remarks she gave at gala openings, press previews and symposiums accompanying some of the exhibitions. Arranged chronologically in subseries of date ranges similar to those in Series I, each exhibition is processed as a sub-subseries, with files of unrealized exhibitions and other records at the end of each subseries.
Although not to the extent of her exhibition files, d'Harnoncourt maintained record groups for several other subjects for extended lengths of time. These records comprise the third series, "LONG-TERM RECORDS" (SERIES III), with each subject processed as a subseries. The subjects are: "Barnes Foundation," "Board of Trustees," "Calder Museum," "Duchamp, Marcel," and "Reinstallation project." Because d'Harnoncourt also kept a running file of the lectures and other talks she gave on behalf of the Museum, those records have also been processed here as the "Remarks" subseries. Both the "Barnes Foundation" and "Calder Museum" records pertain to PMA's involvement in projects outside the Museum that, respectively, sought to preserve intact a world-renown collection of art and to create a new venue in Philadelphia for the works of one of America's most distinguished family of artists. An ambitious undertaking at this Museum is the subject of the "Reinstallation project" subseries. A decade in the making, the project significantly changed the way visitors would experience PMA's exceptional collection of European art. D'Harnoncourt's files cover every aspect of the project, including gallery construction and renovations, object conservation and reinstallation, the development of new interpretive materials, as well as the studies and funding that enabled all the work. It is no wonder that Marcel Duchamp, the artist best associated with d'Harnoncourt's scholarship and curatorial tenure should be the subject of another subseries, "Duchamp, Marcel, 1887-1968." These records document the evolution of that association, which grew into the close relationship d'Harnoncourt shared with the artist's widow and step-daughter. The substantial amount of correspondence attests to how frequently the three consulted in order to insure the integrity of the artist's body of work. Other files make evident d'Harnoncourt's regular contact with her curatorial and library staff on matters of collection development for works of art and archival material in order to strengthen the Museum's reputation as an important center of Duchampian studies. Completing the series of long-term records is the "Board of Trustees" subseries, which documents d'Harnoncourt's work with members of the Museum's Board of Trustees. Most of the files pertain to the discussions and decisions of the Nominating Committee, charged with identifying new or re-nominating previous members to the board.
The last series, "OTHER MATERIALS" (SERIES IV), consists of records compiled and used by d'Harnoncourt and her staff to manage her daily activities and travel. Records are arranged in two subseries: "Administrative records" and "Assistant's files." The types of records created and the length of time such records were used no doubt reflect the different office practices of the approximately 20 assistants engaged over the course of d'Harnocourt's tenure. It is just as likely that the change of pace in the director's office that accompanied d'Harnoncourt's expanded responsibilities in 1997 when she was appointed CEO and her increased involvement in professional affiliations around the world also made an impact on recordkeeping.
Researchers should note that there is no electronically-formatted material in the Anne d'Harnoncourt Records. Although the Museum was making use of electronic communications by 1998, these paper-only records make clear that e-mail was not d'Harnoncourt's preferred medium of correspondence. Instead, she continued to write a significant amount of her letters and memos by hand, in her ubiquitous blue or black felt-tip pens. Notes, often of multiple pages, were also handwritten. And it was not uncommon for d'Harnoncourt to add whimsical images to her writings--literally illustrating her point. Her access to e-mail was often through an intermediary, with staff opening messages and printing them for her review. Neither did d'Harnoncourt frequently access the World Wide Web. Staff or others would provide printouts of pertinent websites and news articles.
Dates
- 1973-2008, undated
Creator
- D'Harnoncourt, Anne, 1943-2008 (Creator, Person)
Language of Materials
Conditions Governing Access
Conditions Governing Use
Biographical / Historical
1943 (Sept. 7) Anne Julie d'Harnoncourt is born in Washington, D.C. to René and Sarah (Carr) d'Harnoncourt.
1944 René d'Harnoncourt is appointed Vice President in charge of Foreign Activities and Director of the Department of Manual Industries at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Family moves to New York, NY.
1949 René d'Harnoncourt is appointed Director of MoMA.
1949-1961 Anne d'Harnoncourt attends Brearley School, 12-year preparatory school in New York.
1959 Travels to Kenya, Northern Rhodesia, and Ghana in Africa to participate in four-week International Affairs seminar.
1961-1965 Attends Radcliffe College, majoring in History and Literature of Europe and England since 1740.
1962 Travels to what is now Tanzania in Africa as a member of volunteer group, Project Tanganyika, to teach reading and writing to the local population.
1965 Awarded B.A. magna cum laude, Radcliffe College.
1965-1967 Attends Courtauld Institute of Art, London University.
1966-1967 As part of M.A. thesis, works at Tate Gallery, London, to prepare catalogue entries of 30 Pre-Raphaelite paintings and drawings.
1967 Awarded M.A. with distinction, Courtauld Institute of Art.
1967-1969 Serves as Curatorial Assistant, Department of Painting and Sculpture, Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA).
1968 (Mar. 25) Interviews Marcel Duchamp at his studio in New York City.
1968 (Aug. 13) René d'Harnoncourt dies at the age of 67.
1968 (Oct. 2) Marcel Duchamp dies. Soon thereafter, the Cassandra Foundation presents to PMA the artist's mixed-media assemblage "Étant donnés: 1° la chute d'eau, 2° le gaz d'éclairage . . . ". D'Harnoncourt participates in the dismantling and reinstallation of piece.
1969 (July 7) "Étant donnés" is unveiled to the public. D'Harnoncourt and Walter Hopps co-author an essay about the piece for the PMA Bulletin.
1969-1971 Serves as Assistant Curator of 20th Century Art, Art Institute of Chicago. Meets Joseph J. Rishel, Assistant Curator of European Painting.
1971 (June 19) Marries Joseph J. Rishel in New York
1971 Returns to Philadelphia Museum of Art as Associate Curator, Department of 20th Century Painting. Joseph J. Rishel joins PMA as Associate Curator of Painting before 1900.
1972-1982 Serves as Curator, Department of 20th Century Painting, Philadelphia Museum of Art.
1982 (July)-1996 (Dec.) Serves as George D. Widener Director, Philadelphia Museum of Art.
1995 (Jan.) Awarded the Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, Republic of France.
1995 PMA milestone: Reinstallation of Museum's collection of European art from 1100 to 1900 is completed. Project resulted in the renovation of 55,000 square feet of exhibition space, conservation of thousands of objects and development of new interpretive materials.
1996 (May-Sept.) PMA milestone: "Cézanne" exhibition generates $122.5 million in tourism for the city of Philadelphia. Attendance of 548,000 visitors exceeds original estimates two-fold.
1996 (Dec.) PMA milestone: Museum acquires the marble bust of "Benjamin Franklin" carved by Jean-Antoine Houdon in 1779 at auction for nearly $3 million. Considering the importance of the artist to the Museum and Franklin's historical significance to the city of Philadelphia, d'Harnoncourt describes the acquisition as "everything rolled into one."
1997 (Jan.)-2008 (June) Serves as George D. Widener Director and Chief Executive Officer, Philadelphia Museum of Art.
1998 (June) Receives Philadelphia Award (1997 award).
2000 (Dec.) PMA milestone: 2001 Fund 125th Anniversary Campaign is launched. Raises nearly $250 million by its conclusion in 2004.
2001 (Aug. 7) Sarah d'Harnoncourt dies at the age of 97.
2005 (Feb.-May) PMA milestone: "Salvador Dalí" exhibition draws more than 370,000 visitors, an attendance second only to the "Cézanne" exhibition of 1996. On average, visitors spend nearly two hours at the restrospective, a significantly longer time than one typically spends at one of the Museum's special exhibitions.
2006 (Dec.) PMA milestone: With the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Museum raises $68 million to jointly purchase "Portrait of Dr. Samuel D. Gross (The Gross Clinic)."
2007 (Sept.) PMA milestone: Ruth and Raymond G. Perleman Building opens as annex to main museum building.
2007 (Nov.) Awarded the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle, Government of Mexico.
2008 (June 1) Anne d'Harnoncourt dies of cardiac arrest at the age of 64.
2008 (June 4) At the request of U.S. Representatives Robert Brady, the Flag of the United States is flown over the United States Capitol in memory of d'Harnoncourt.
2008 (June 19) Official day of appreciation of Anne d'Harnoncourt declared by Museum and City officials, and joined by the Governor of Pennsylvania. Outdoor tribute with performance by the Philadelphia Boys Choir held later that day on what would have been d'Harnoncourt and Rishel's 37th wedding anniversary.
2008 (Sept. 7) "Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Anne d'Harnoncourt" held at the Academy of Music (Philadelphia) on what would have been d'Harnoncourt's 65th birthday.
Extent
216.75 linear feet
Abstract
Arrangement
Throughout this finding aid and within folder titles, the abbreviation "PMA" refers to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In folder titles, "AdH" refers to Anne d'Harnoncourt. For purposes of preservation, photocopies were made during processing to replace post-it notes and thermofax pages, used for printing facsimile transmissions in the earlier-dated files. Photocopies were made on 8 1/2 x 11 paper, and in the case of the former, copies were folded around or clipped to the document on which the note was affixed. Clippings from newspapers and other publications are identified as "press clippings," maintaining d'Harnoncourt's nomenclature. Print outs of news articles posted online have also been processed as press clippings.
As director, d'Harnoncourt regularly received copies of documents as a matter of procedure. During processing, it was determined that certain documentation need not be retained and that the removal of such items from the records would not compromise informational value. Exceptions were made for any documents that d'Harnoncourt annotated or letters of gifts addressed to her. These were retained. Documents removed and discarded are: checks (photocopies); conservation reports, including examination, proposal and treatment reports; drafts not prepared by AdH; expect notices (from Registrar); gift processing forms and attachments, except for cover letters addressed to AdH; grant applications and interim reports submitted by staff other than AdH; invoices, invoice transmittals or purchase requisitions (object-related); loan-out cards; restricted contribution forms. If access to such records is needed, researcher should consult with Archivist and/or the department of record for this documentation.
Separated Materials
Transferred to the Robert Montgomery Scott Records. A folder level inventory of this material is available in the Museum archives. Corporation files.
Transferred to the Twentieth Century Art Department Records. A folder level inventory of this material is available in the Museum archives. Curatorial files.
Transferred to the Jean Sutherland Boggs Records. A folder level inventory of this material is available in the Museum archives. Director files.
Transferred to the Evan Turner Records. A folder level inventory of this material is available in the Museum archives. Director files.
Processing Information
Creator
- D'Harnoncourt, Anne, 1943-2008 (Creator, Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Anne d'Harnoncourt Records
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Bertha Adams, Tanya Brun, and Rose Chiango, with the assistance of Alva Barozzi, Katherine Gambaccini, Anne Hagele, Insley Julier, Phoebe Kowalewski, Ashley Lazevnick, Ryan McNally, Katherine Miller, Leslie O'Neill, Jeanne Pond, Scott Radway, Elizabeth Snowdon, Jennifer Stettler, and Paula Zamora.
- Date
- 2016
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
- Sponsor
- Funded by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
- Edition statement
- 05/10/2016
Repository Details
Part of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Library and Archives Repository
Philadelphia Museum of Art
PO Box 7646
Philadelphia PA 19101-7646 United States
archives@philamuseum.org