Archives of American Art
Margaret Brown Gallery records
Margaret Brown Gallery (Boston, Mass.)
AAA.margbrow
Archival Resource Key
9.3 Linear feet
1921-1958
The records of Boston art gallery and framing shop Margaret Brown Gallery measure 9.3 linear feet and date from 1921 to 1958. The collection comprises correspondence with artists, customers, museums and galleries, and Brown's personal correspondence with her son Rodney and friends; artist files containing correspondence, and to a lesser extent, printed materials, price lists, and letters with potential buyers; gallery records containing administrative and financial files; printed materials that include programs for events in which the gallery participated; and photographic materials including photos of works of art and a few artists, and Brown's personal photographs.
English
.
Biographical / Historical
The Margaret Brown Gallery (est. 1945) was an art gallery and frame shop in Boston, M.A.
Margaret Brown was an assistant at the Grace Horne Gallery before opening her own gallery in 1945 on Newbury Street in Boston. The gallery exhibited prominent New England artists, as well as some New York and European artists. Channing Hare, Hopkins Hensel, Aimee Lamb, and Ethel Edwards were among some of the artists who maintained strong relationships with the gallery. Brown was involved in arranging art exhibitions for Boston arts festivals, and became an esteemed member of Boston's art community despite her short career.
Brown died of a brain tumor in the summer of 1957 at age 49.
Scope and Contents
The records of Boston art gallery and framing shop Margaret Brown Gallery measure 9.3 linear feet and date from 1921 to 1958. The collection comprises correspondence with artists, customers, museums and galleries, and Brown's personal correspondence with her son Rodney and friends; artist files containing correspondence, and to a lesser extent, printed materials, price lists, and letters with potential buyers; gallery records containing administrative and financial files; printed materials that include programs for events in which the gallery participated; and photographic materials including photos of works of art and a few artists, and Brown's personal photographs.
Conditions Governing Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Margaret Brown Gallery records were donated in 1972 by Harold W. Palmer, a shop assistant at the gallery.
Existence and Location of Copies
Photographs of artwork are available on 35mm microfilm reels 672-673. The remainder of the collection, except for material related to the framing shop, are on 35mm microfilm reels 653-663. All reels are available for use at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
Preferred Citation
Margaret Brown Gallery records, 1921-1958. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Processing Information
The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Mundy in 2021.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged as five series.
- Series 1: Correspondence, 1942-1958 (2.6 linear feet; boxes 1-3, OV 12)
- Series 2: Artist's Files, 1946-1958 (2 linear feet; boxes 3-5)
- Series 3: Gallery Records, 1934-1958 (3.7 linear feet; boxes 5-7, 9-11)
- Series 4: Printed Materials, circa 1952-1957 (0.3 linear feet; box 8)
- Series 5: Photographic Materials, 1921-circa 1950 (0.7 linear feet; box 8)
Art galleries, Commercial -- Massachusetts -- Boston
Brown, Margaret E., d. 1957
Cox, Gardner, 1906-1988
Edwards, Ethel, 1914-1999
Kepes, Gyorgy, 1906-2001
Lamb, Aimée, 1893-1989
Correspondence
Series 1
Archival Resource Key
2.6 Linear feet
Boxes 1-3, OV 12
1942-1958
Scope and Contents
Professional correspondence is with artists and customers, and museums, galleries, and institutions discussing transfers of artwork, pricing and payments, framing orders, exhibitions, and other business. Also included is general business correspondence with publications, arts organizations, and vendors regarding services rendered, advertising, and other administrative activities.
The file for store assistant Harold Palmer includes correspondence relating to the closing of the gallery due to Margaret Brown's illness. Personal correspondence is with friends and Brown's son, Rodney Brown.
Artists, A
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
1
1
Artists, B
Archival Resource Key
1950-1957
1
2
Artists, C
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
1
3
Artists, D-E
Archival Resource Key
1949-1956
1
4
Artists, F
Archival Resource Key
1948-1955
1
5
Artists, G
Archival Resource Key
1947-1957
1
6
Artists, Naum Gabo
Archival Resource Key
1955-1957
1
7
Artists, H-I
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
1
8
Artists, J-L
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
1
9-10
Artists, M-O
Archival Resource Key
1948-1957
1
11
Artists, P-Q
Archival Resource Key
1948-1957
1
12
Artists, R
Archival Resource Key
1948-1957
1
13
Artists, David Smith
Archival Resource Key
1951-1953
1
14
Artists, S-U
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
1
15-16
Artists, V-W
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
1
17
Artists, X-Z
Archival Resource Key
1951-1956
1
18
Customers, A
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
1
19
Customers, B
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
1
20
Customers, C
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
1
21
Customers, D
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
1
22
Customers, E-F
Archival Resource Key
1949-1956
1
23
Customers, G
Archival Resource Key
1950-1957
1
24
Customers, H-J
Archival Resource Key
1948-1956
1
25
Customers, K-L
Archival Resource Key
1951-1958
1
26
Customers, M-N
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
1
27
Customers, O
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
1
28
Customers, O
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
2
1
Customers, P-R
Archival Resource Key
1948-1957
2
2
Customers, S
Archival Resource Key
1948-1957
2
3
Customers, T-V
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
2
4
Customers, W-Z
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
2
5
General Business, A
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
2
6
General Business, B-D
Archival Resource Key
1948-1957
2
7
General Business, E-K
Archival Resource Key
1942-1957
2
8
General Business, Re: Gallery Finances
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
2
9
General Business, L-M
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
2
10
General Business, N-Q
Archival Resource Key
1948-1957
2
11
General Business, P-S
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
2
12
General Business, T-Z
Archival Resource Key
1948-1957
2
13
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - A
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
2
14
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - B
Archival Resource Key
1950-1957
2
15
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - Boston Arts Festival
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
2
16-17
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - C
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
2
18
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - D
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
2
19
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - E-G
Archival Resource Key
1950-1957
2
20
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - H-J
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
2
21
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - H-J
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
3
1
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - K-L
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
3
2
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - M
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
3
3-4
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - N-P
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
3
5
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - Q-R
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
3
6
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - S
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
3
7
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - T-V
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
3
8
Museums, Galleries, and Institutions - W-Z
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
3
9-10
Palmer, Harold W. (Shop Assistant at the Gallery)
Archival Resource Key
1953-1958
3
11
Personal, Postcards
Archival Resource Key
circa 1953-1957
3
12
Personal, Rodney Brown (Son)
Archival Resource Key
1949-1955
3
13-14
Personal, General
Archival Resource Key
circa 1953
3
15
Personal, Illustrated Letter from Sender Identified as "Venus"
Archival Resource Key
circa 1951
OV 12
Artist's Files
Series 2
Archival Resource Key
2 Linear feet
Boxes 3-5
1946-1958
Scope and Contents
The bulk of the correspondence in this series discusses artworks sent for loan or sale, and returns of artwork to artists. Files may also include printed materials, price and consignment lists, and correspondence with potential buyers.
Barrett, Thomas
Archival Resource Key
1951-1954
3
16
Barss, William (Ville)
Archival Resource Key
1948-1952
3
17
Bartlett, Clay
Archival Resource Key
1948-1954
3
18
Bernhardt, John
Archival Resource Key
1953-1957
3
19
Berry, Donald
Archival Resource Key
1953-1957
3
20
Cadmus, Paul
Archival Resource Key
1949-1954
3
21
Caesar, Doris
Archival Resource Key
circa 1956
3
22
Calder, Alexander
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
3
23
Chen, Chi Kwan
Archival Resource Key
1953-1957
3
24-25
Callery, Mary
Archival Resource Key
1951
3
26
Congdon, William
Archival Resource Key
1949-1956
3
27
Congdon, William
Cook, Robert
Archival Resource Key
1948-1956
3
28
Cook, Robert
Corbridge, Edgar
Archival Resource Key
1947-1951
3
29
Cox, Gardner
Archival Resource Key
1948-1957
3
30
Cox, Gardner
Archival Resource Key
1948-1957
4
1-2
Crite, Allan
Archival Resource Key
1946-1957
4
3
Cummings, Willard
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952
4
4
Dali, Salvador
Archival Resource Key
1950-1952
4
5
Dolejska, Frank
Archival Resource Key
1950-1955
4
6
Draper, William
Archival Resource Key
1948-1956
4
7
Edwards, Ethel
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
4
8
Etnier, Stephen
Archival Resource Key
circa 1953
4
9
Feldman, Walter
Archival Resource Key
circa 1953
4
10
Fink, Herbert
Archival Resource Key
1954-1957
4
11
Fitz-Gerald, Clark
Archival Resource Key
1954-1957
4
12
Folsom, Janet
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950-1957
4
13
Fontaine, Paul
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
4
14
Fransioli, Thomas
Archival Resource Key
1948-1957
4
15-17
Ghikas, Panos
Archival Resource Key
1948-1955
4
18
Gibbs, Howard
Archival Resource Key
1948-1958
4
19
Gibran, Kahlil
Archival Resource Key
1949-1953
4
20
Goodall, Robert
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
4
21
Graves, Morris
Archival Resource Key
1949-1956
4
22
Hare, Channing
Archival Resource Key
1948-1957
4
23
Harriman, Mary
Archival Resource Key
1956
4
24
Healy, Arthur K.D.
Archival Resource Key
1948-1951
4
25
Hensel, Hopkins
Archival Resource Key
1947-1957
4
26
Hooper, Katrine Amory
Archival Resource Key
1946-1950
4
27
Hopkinson, Charles
Archival Resource Key
1948-1954
4
28
James, Michael
Archival Resource Key
1950-1956
4
29
Kamys, Walter
Archival Resource Key
1949-1954
4
30
Kepes, György
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
4
31
Kline, Franz
Archival Resource Key
1955-1957
4
32
Kupferman, Lawrence
Archival Resource Key
1950
4
33
Lachaise, Gaston
Archival Resource Key
1956-1957
4
34
Lamb, Aimee
Archival Resource Key
1949-1955
4
35
Levinson, Lincoln
Archival Resource Key
1949-1950
4
36
Lippold, Richard
Archival Resource Key
1950-1953
4
37
Lutz, Herbert
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
4
38
MacIver, Lauren
Archival Resource Key
1949-1951
5
1
Metcalf, Conger
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
5
2
Morgan, Maud
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
5
3
Morgan, Patrick
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
5
4
Morin, Thomas
Archival Resource Key
1954-1957
5
5
Neroni, Shlomo
Archival Resource Key
1950
5
6
Ohashi, Yutaka
Archival Resource Key
1955-1957
5
7
Outerbridge, Donald
Archival Resource Key
1950-1956
5
8
Pantz, Kurt
Archival Resource Key
1951-1954
5
9
Pezzati, Peter
Archival Resource Key
1948-1953
5
10
Pickhardt, Carl
Archival Resource Key
1950-1955
5
11
Prendergast, Maurice
Archival Resource Key
1949-1951
5
12
Rickey, George
Archival Resource Key
1953-1956
5
13
Roberts, Elizabeth Converse
Archival Resource Key
1949-1952
5
14
Saarinen, Lily Swann
Archival Resource Key
1956-1957
5
15
Schroeder, Eric
Archival Resource Key
1949-1950
5
16
Simms, Carroll
Archival Resource Key
1950
5
17
Smith, Sibley
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
5
18
Snyder, Dan
Archival Resource Key
1951-1956
5
19
Stamos, Theodoros
Archival Resource Key
1948-1954
5
20
Stoltenberg, Donald
Archival Resource Key
1954-1957
5
21
Stone, Paul
Archival Resource Key
1948-1954
5
22
Stone, Paul
Sturgis, Katherine
Archival Resource Key
1946-1957
5
23
Tobey, Mark
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
5
24
Trefonides, Steven
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
5
25
Tulysewski, Michaell
Archival Resource Key
1953-1957
5
26
Vander Sluis, George
Archival Resource Key
1951
5
27
Wadsworth, Charles
Archival Resource Key
1953-1957
5
28
Wagner, Richard
Archival Resource Key
1954-1956
5
29
Wells, Cady
Archival Resource Key
1949-1950
5
30
Wolfe, Jack
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
5
31
Zerbe, Karl
Archival Resource Key
1948-1951
5
32
Gallery Records
Series 3
Archival Resource Key
3.7 Linear feet
Boxes 5-7, 9-11
1934-1958
Arrangement
The series is arranged as two subseries.
- 3.1: Administrative Files, 1945-1957
- 3.2: Financial Files, 1934-1958
Scope and Contents
The series is divided into administrative and financial files documenting the activities of the art gallery, and the activities of the framing shop where framing services were provided both in-house and by outside vendors.
Administrative Files
3.1
Archival Resource Key
1945-1957
Scope and Contents
Administrative files include three sets of card files. The first set contains contact information for artists; the second set contains contact information for galleries and customers; and the third set tracks paintings sold or returned to artists. The series also documents drawings, and includes notes and other material documenting the gallery's exhibition of portraits. Also found are insurance documents; loan, artwork, price, and portrait lists; printing proofs; and a few other files relating to the gallery's daily administrative activities.
Arrangement
Portions of the card files were received out of their original order but were rearranged in the most logical order during processing.
Card File, Arranged by Artist Name
Archival Resource Key
circa 1951
9
Card File, Arranged by Gallery or Customer Name
Archival Resource Key
circa 1951
10
Card File, Paintings Sold or Returned Arranged by Artist Name
Archival Resource Key
circa 1951
11
Drawings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952
5
33
Exhibition Notes and Preparation Materials
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952
5
34-35
Exhibition of Portraits, Photographs of Gallery and Catalog
Archival Resource Key
1945
5
36
Insurance Documents
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
5
37
Lists, General
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952
5
38
Lists, Artwork Loans
Archival Resource Key
1954-1957
5
39
Lists, Group Show Artwork and Price Lists
Archival Resource Key
1954-1957
5
40
Lists, Paintings Loaned Out
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952
5
41
Lists, Portraits
Archival Resource Key
circa 1953
5
42
Scope and Contents
Includes clippings and photograph of portrait.
Meeting Minutes for Score and Script, Inc. Board of Directors
Archival Resource Key
1952
6
1
Notes
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952
6
2
Printing Proofs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1951
6
3
Financial Files
3.2
Archival Resource Key
1934-1958
Scope and Contents
Financial files contain statements, invoices, and receipts for artist accounts, accounts with gallery and framing store customers, shipping and mailing companies, and other service providers. The majority of the shipping records include delivery destinations and item lists. This subseries also contains a sales order book recording a small number of paintings ordered and a sales ledger documenting frame orders and sales.
Artist Statements, A-F
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
6
4
Artist Statements, G-M
Archival Resource Key
1950-1957
6
5
Artist Statements, N-Z
Archival Resource Key
1952-1958
6
6
Bills, A-C
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952-1956
6
7
Bills, D-J.G.
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952-1956
6
8
Bills, Jo-K
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952-1956
6
9
Bills, L-P
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952-1956
6
10
Bills, R-S
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952-1956
6
11
Bills, T-W
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952-1956
6
12
Bills, General
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952
6
13
Customer Invoices and Statements, A-B
Archival Resource Key
1948-1957
6
14
Customer Invoices and Statements, C-I
Archival Resource Key
1947-1958
6
15
Customer Invoices and Statements, J-N
Archival Resource Key
1949-1957
6
16
Customer Invoices and Statements, O-R
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
6
17
Customer Invoices and Statements, S
Archival Resource Key
1952-1958
6
18
Customer Invoices and Statements, T-Z
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
6
19
Framing, Customer Invoices and Statements, A-B
Archival Resource Key
1952-1956
6
20
Framing, Customer Invoices and Statements, B-C
Archival Resource Key
1952-1956
6
21
Framing, Customer Invoices and Statements, C-F
Archival Resource Key
1952-1956
7
1
Framing, Customer Invoices and Statements, F-G
Archival Resource Key
1952-1956
7
2
Framing, Customer Invoices and Statements, H
Archival Resource Key
1952-1956
7
3
Framing, Customer Invoices and Statements, H-L
Archival Resource Key
1952-1956
7
4
Framing, Customer Invoices and Statements, M
Archival Resource Key
1952-1956
7
5
Framing, Customer Invoices and Statements, M-O
Archival Resource Key
1952-1956
7
6
Framing, Customer Invoices and Statements, P-R
Archival Resource Key
1952-1956
7
7
Framing, Customer Invoices and Statements, S
Archival Resource Key
1952-1956
7
8
Framing, Customer Invoices and Statements, T
Archival Resource Key
1953-1956
7
9
Framing, Customer Invoices and Statements, V-W
Archival Resource Key
1953-1956
7
10
Framing Orders for House of Heydenryk
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
7
11-12
Mail Receipts
Archival Resource Key
1934-1953
7
13
Sales Order Book for Artwork
Archival Resource Key
1957
7
14
Sales Order Ledger for Framing
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952
7
15
Shipping Instructions, Boston Truck Co.
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
7
16
Shipping Invoices, Boston Truck co.
Archival Resource Key
1951-1957
7
17-18
Shipping, J.W. McBrine
Archival Resource Key
1952-1957
7
19
Shipping Receipts, Railway Express Agency
Archival Resource Key
1944-1957
7
20-21
Printed Materials
Series 4
Archival Resource Key
0.3 Linear feet
Box 8
circa 1952-1957
Scope and Contents
Series consists of booklets, a few clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs for other galleries, gallery letterhead, and event programs for Boston jazz festivals where exhibitions were held by the Margaret Brown Gallery.
Booklets
Archival Resource Key
circa 1955
8
1
Clippings
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952
8
2
Event Programs, Jazz Festivals
Archival Resource Key
1953-1957
8
3-4
Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs, Other Galleries
Archival Resource Key
circa 1953
8
5
Gallery Letterhead
Archival Resource Key
circa 1952
8
6
Photographic Materials
Series 5
Archival Resource Key
0.7 Linear feet
Box 8
1921-circa 1950
Scope and Contents
Series consists of photographs, and a few transparencies, primarily of works of art. Also found are photographs of the artist Kurt Pantz, and personal photographs of unidentified people who are probably friends of Margaret Brown or Brown family members. The files containing works of art may also include photographs of artists.
Personal
Archival Resource Key
1921-circa 1950
8
7
Artist, Kurt Pantz
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
8
Works of Art, Artis-Burroughs
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
9
Works of Art, Calder-Cutler
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
10
Works of Art, Cox
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
11
Works of Art, Dali-Fontaine
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
12
Works of Art, Fransioli
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
13
Works of Art, Ghikas
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
14
Works of Art, Graves-Jones
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
15
Works of Art, Kamys-Morrill
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
16
Works of Art, Nevoui-Pacelli
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
17
Works of Art, Pezzati
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
18
Works of Art, Pickhardt-Roberts
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
19
Works of Art, Sanchez-Tredonides
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
20
Works of Art, Still Lifes
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
21
Works of Art, Unidentified
Archival Resource Key
circa 1950
8
22