Table of Contents

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

Information for Researchers

Separations List

Administrative Information

Description

Subject Headings

Inventory of the Robert Swain Gifford Papers

In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library

Biographical Note

Robert Swain Gifford (1840-1905) was born on the island of Naushon, Massachusetts, and later resided in Fairhaven and New Bedford, Massachusetts, where he showed an early talent for sketching. After tutelage under Alber van Beest, a maritime painter, Gifford left for Boston in 1864 to establish a studio, then moved on to New York in 1865 where he quickly made a name for himself in artistic circles. The years 1869, 1870, and 1874 were spent travelling, first to California to gather material for illustrating an article, then to Europe and Africa. Gifford's talent and reputation as an artist led to his membership in associations such as the American Art Association, the National Academy of Art, the Tile Club, the New York Etching Club, and the Royal Society of Painters-Etchers. He exhibited and won awards at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, 1876, and the International Exposition in Paris, 1889. He also served on selection and judging committees at such events as the World's Columbian Exposition, 1893, and the St. Louis World's Fair, 1904. In 1899, he served as an artist with the Harriman Expedition to Alaska.

In 1874, Gifford married Frances Eliot (1844-1931), daughter of lawyer and statesman Thomas Dawes Eliot. Children from the marriage included Ida Eliot Gifford (1875-ca. 1950), Rose Lamb Gifford Grinnell (1877-1943), Jessie Lloyd Gifford Ross (1879-1947), Frances Lincoln Eliot Gifford Kleiminger (b. 1883), and Margaret Eliot Gifford (1889-1946)

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Scope and Content Note

This collection consists primarily of the correspondence, writings, legal documents, and biographical material of Robert Swain Gifford dating from 1722-1968. Of particular note in his incoming correspondence, 1859-1905, are letters from contemporary American artists and writers, including Winslow Homer, William LeBaron Jenny, John LaFarge, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Henry Huttleston Rogers, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Elihu Vedder. In addition, the correspondence includes numerous letters from Samuel Colman, a landscape painter and president of the American Society of Painters in Watercolor; Samuel Putnam Avery, the founder of the Metropolitan Museum; and Abram Stevens Hewitt of Cooper, Hewitt & Co., founders of the Cooper Union Art School in New York City. Also of interest are Gifford's letters to Mrs. Lydia Swain in the 1860s and 1870s which illustrate his growth as an artist and his acceptance in artistic circles, and a series of letters to Frances Eliot during his journey to Europe and Africa in 1870, some of which contain colored sketches. Among his other papers are diaries from his trip west in 1869 and from the Harriman Expedition in 1899; travel and technical notes, 1874-ca. 1875; essays and poems, 1875-1884; a "College Notebook," ca. 1895; articles in Scribner's, Harper's and Christian Weekly magazines containing illustrations by Gifford, 1871-1887; architectural plans and specifications for his house, Moorlands, ca. 1885; legal documents, 1722-1906; articles and clippings about his work and exhibitions, 1869-1965; lists of paintings, ca. 1880-ca. 1906; exhibit catalogs, 1873-ca. 1906; notes, autographs, and other miscellany, ca. 1850-1909; bills and receipts, 1879-1903; and biographical material including Reminiscences of R. Swain Gifford... by Leroy Yale, 1905-1964. In addition, Gifford's papers contain correspondence, notes, and other writings generated or received by Philip Dechert, husband of Gifford's grand-daughter, Anne Ross, while he was conducting research concerning the artist's life and work.

Also represented by materials in this collection are members of the Gifford family and various relatives by marriage. Frances Eliot Gifford's papers consist of correspondence, 1855-1906, including three letters from Mary Mapes Dodge, ca. 1895, 1896, and 1900; a diary, 1833; travel notes, poems, and other writings, 1874-ca. 1900; legal documents, 1907-ca. 1933; financial records, 1880-1923; "Memoranda," 1905; and biographical sketches of her father, Thomas Dawes Eliot, ca. 1943. Frances' sister, Mary Rotch Eliot Rotch, is represented by her correspondence, 1862-1872. The papers of A. Frederick Kleiminger, husband of R. Swain Gifford's daughter, Frances, include correspondence, 1913-ca. 1934; biographical sketches, ca. 1929; clippings, 1929; and exhibit passes and memoranda, 1909 and 1914. Personal letters to or from Ida Eliot Gifford, Rose Lamb Gifford Grinnell, Jessie Lloyd Gifford Ross, Frances Lincoln Eliot Gifford Kleiminger, and Margaret Eliot Gifford, 1884-1935, are also included in the collection.

Materials in the Gifford Papers have been organized into sub-groups representing personal papers of family members. These sub-groups are listed in the inventory in chronological order by the birthdate of each person. Whenever possible, incoming correspondence has been divided by year, then alphabetically arranged within each year by name of writer. Other papers, organized into series by type of document, are arranged in chronological order.

Also among the holdings of the Old Dartmouth Historical Society are numerous watercolors, oils, and etchings by R. Swain Gifford, as well as a number of family photographs.

A list of Gifford sketchbooks in the Society's museum collection is appended to this inventory.

Arrangement of Collection

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Information for Researchers

Access to the Collection

Unrestricted. Consult librarian for an appointment.

Preferred Citation

New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library Mss 12 [sub-group, series, sub-series, folder/volume as appropriate], [item]

Copyright Notice

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 United States Code 552a) governs the use of materials that document private individuals, groups, and corporations.

Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a reproduction if the document does not infringe the privacy rights of an individual, group, or corporation. These specified conditions of authorized use include:

If the researcher later uses a copy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," the researcher is personally liable for copyright. privacy, or publicity infringement and agrees to indemnify the New Bedford Whaling Museum from any legal action as a result of the error. Permission to obtain a photographic, xerographic, digital, or other copy of a document does not indicate permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, sell, distribute, or prepare derivative works from the document without permission from the copyright holder and from any private individual, group, or corporation shown or otherwise recorded.

Permission to publish, exhibit, perform, reproduce, prepare derivative works from, sell, or otherwise distribute the item must be obtained separately in writing from the holder of the original copyright (or if the creator is dead, from his/her heirs) as well as from any individual(s), groups, or corporations whose name, image, recorded words, or private information (e.g. employment information) may be reproduced in the source material. The holder of the original copyright is not necessarily the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The New Bedford Whaling Museum is not legally liable for copyright, privacy, or publicity infringement when materials are wrongfully used after being provided to researchers for "fair use."

This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if fulfillment of the order is judged in violation of copyright or federal or state privacy law. This institution also places restrictions on the use of cameras, photocopiers, and scanners in the research room.

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Separations List

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Administrative Information

Provenance

The bulk of materials in this collection were given to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society by Mrs. Philip Dechert between 1973-1981. Some items in Sub-group 1, Series A, Sub-series 2, Folder 36 were donated to the Museum by Robert Ross in 2015 as part of Accession 2015.5.

Processing Information

Processed by: Barbara E. Austen, ca. 1982

Encoded by: Mark Procknik, 01 July 2011

Funds for processing this collection were provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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Description

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Subject Headings

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