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Allessandra Liberati
Scope and Contents
The Alexander Robertson James papers measure 3.9 linear feet and date from circa 1885-1986. Biographical materials include several passports for Alexander and Frederika James, a marriage certificate, and a family genealogy. Correspondence is to and from James and is with family and professional colleagues. Writings include several diaries by James, his mother, and Frederika, as well as a notebook containing descriptions of his gesso technique, Frederika's notes on her husband's paintings, and an account of the family's time in Paris. Personal business records consist of James' name change application and certificates and his last will and testament, as well as files regarding commissions, various exhibitions, and multiple expense legers. Also included are art valuations by an insurance company and records of art sales.
Printed material contains exhibition catalogs, various art publications, and news clippings. Photographic material includes photographs of James and his family, his studio, and his artwork, as well as a photograph album of William James and other family members. There are also two albums of exhibition photographs, and photographs of two sketches, one by John Singer Sargent and one by Barry Faulkner. Artwork includes various loose sketches, five sketchbooks, an oil portrait of James' father, three watercolors of Giverny, France, three pigment studies, and sketches of James.
Language
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
A bound volume containing thirty-seven letters from William James to his youngest son, Alexander James, one letter from his mother, Alice Howe Gibbens James, and eleven postcards were lent for microfilming by Michael James, the son of Alexander James, and returned in 1986. The bulk of the microfilmed material and additional papers were donated in 1986 by Michael James.
Separated Materials
The Archives of American Art also holds microfilm of material lent for microfilming (reel 4195) including original letters from William James (1842-1910) to Alexander James. Loaned materials were returned to the donor and are not described in the collection container inventory.
Related Materials
The Archives of American Art also hold, on microfilm reel 3828 only, a bound volume containing thirty-seven letters from William James to his youngest son, Alexander James, one letter from his mother, Alice Howe Gibbens James, and eleven postcards.
Funding
Sponsor
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
Processing Information
This collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared, by Allessandra Liberati in 2023.