Disposition, 1930-1977, undated

This sub-subseries documents in chronological order decisions in the disposition of the Johnson Collection, most of which pertain to its display. First and foremost is the 1933 relocation of the entire collection from Johnson's 510 S. Broad Street residence to the museum and the museum's construction of gallery, storage and office spaces to accommodate the transfer. (In 1949 Henri Marceau drafted an argument for not transferring the collection back to Johnson's mansion. His explanatory letter and report are also included here in a separate folder.) The documentation that follows the 1933 relocation pertains, for the most part, to additional gallery construction as well as the installation and reinstallation of objects in the galleries and study space that the museum directors and Johnson Collection curators initiated through 1976.

A significant number of files, however, pertain to a very different type of disposition that took place from 1970 to 1972; namely, the auctioning off of objects that were never displayed, but rather kept in storage areas. As set out in the Report of Amicus Curiae that was filed with the Orphans' Court in 1969, the furniture and "bric a brac" kept in storage had no artistic value, and Johnson's will gave no legal prohibition to sell. With the Court's approval the following year, some of Johnson's furniture, rugs, sculpture and other miscellaneous items were sold at auctions conducted in Philadelphia at Samuel T. Freeman & Co. and in New York at Parke-Bernet Galleries. Most of the documentation consists of Barbara Sweeny's itemized lists and annotated auction catalogs. Among the several correspondence files are those with John W. Thorn, Trustee representative, and William Wells, attorney for the Trustee. Copies of the 1969 appraisal conducted at the request of the Amicus are also included. The Amicus report and other related legal documents are part of the preceding sub-subseries, "Legal Proceedings."

Currently, the only available documentation of the major 1993 reinstallation of the Johnson Collection is included in the "Clippings" subseries of this collection and in the Anne d'Harnoncourt Records, referenced below.