Chester Dale papers, circa 1883-2003, bulk 1920-1970

Less than circa 0.3 linear feet of this series directly documents Dale's personal and professional activities through correspondence with artists, friends, businesses, museums and other art institutions. Dale's correspondence includes letters documenting gifts to museums including the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the National Gallery of Art. The series includes letters from friends and business associates congratulating Dale on his election as President of the National Gallery of Art in 1955; circa thirteen letters and postcards from Gala and Salvador Dali, including two illustrated postcards; copies of two 1944 letters from Diego Rivera in which Rivera expresses his admiration for all Dale has accomplished, and states his opinions of the Toulouse Lautrec painting Two Women; and a letter from President Harry Truman thanking Dale for his gift to the Ambassador's residence in Paris.

The remaining correspondence relates to Mary Dale's activities after Chester Dale's death, including arrangements relating to Dale's gift to Amherst College; correspondence with Neil MacNeill regarding MacNeil's manuscript for a book on Dale; and correspondence documenting Mary Dale's election to the board of trustees of the Allentown Art Museum in 1969, her appointment as an honorary trustee in 1971, and the assistance she provided to the museum in planning their exhibition schedule.

Thirteen folders of correspondence and related material document Mary Dale's involvement with the Parrish Art Museum during her tenure as exhibition chairman. In addition to correspondence, material includes loan forms, notes and lists, and minutes of the museum's board meetings which document arrangements for exhibitions of works by Mary Cassatt, Roland Oudot, the Wyeth family, and others. Correspondence includes letters from Andrew, Jamie, and Nicholas Wyeth.

The remainder of the series comprises condolence telegrams and letters sent to Mary Dale following Dale's death.

Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent in a combination of named and "general" files. Condolence letters are arranged alphabetically at the end of the series.

This bulk of this series has been digitized with the exception of floral arrangement cards from Dale's funeral.