MSS 22:  Clement Nye Swift Papers, 1872-1947 - New Bedford Whaling Museum

Inventory of the Clement Nye Swift Papers In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research LibraryProcessed by: Judith Downey; machine-readable finding aid created by: Kermit DeweyFunds for processing this collection were provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities.Inventory of the Clement Nye Swift Papers In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library

Table of Contents

Biographical Note

Scope and Content Note

Information for Researchers

Separations List

Administrative Information

Description

Added Entries

Inventory of the Clement Nye Swift Papers

In the New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library



Title:
Clement Nye Swift Papers
Date Span:
1872-1947
Creator:
Clement Nye Swift, 1846-1918
Mss Number:
Mss 22
Extent:
5 inches
Abstract:
Correspondence, stories, poems, and other materials concerning a New Bedford, Massachusetts, artist and writer, 1872-1947.
Repository:
New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library
Phone: (508) 997-0046

Biographical Note

Clement Nye Swift was born in Acushnet, Massachusetts, in 1846. He attended Friends Academy, then pursued studies in art in Paris at the Ecoles des Beaux Arts and in the studios of Adolph Yvon and Henri Harpignes. In 1870 Swift left Paris and settled in Brittany, where he executed some of his most important works. He exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1872 to 1881, then returned to the United States to continue his work. In addition, Swift also started writing short stories and poems during this period. He died in 1918.

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Scope and Content Note

Papers in this collection reflect the artistic and literary activities of Clement Nye Swift between 1872-ca. 1915. These materials include personal correspondence, 1872-1880; short stories and poems, ca. 1881-1918; catalogs and other art exhibit items, 1872-1881; and notes on paintings, ca. 1885. In addition, the collection contains biographical sketches and clippings, 1875-ca. 1920, and a 1947 letter by Swift's cousin, Robert W. Swift, concerning the artist's career and works.

Arrangement of Collection

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Access to the Collection

Unrestricted. Consult librarian for an appointment.

Preferred Citation

New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library Mss 22 [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:

- non-commercial and non-profit study, scholarship, research, or teaching
- criticism or commentary
- as a NBWM archives preservation or security copy for research use
- as a research copy for deposit in another institution

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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Removed to Photographs Collection

- "Brittany Pictures" by Clement Nye Swift, ca. 1870-1881. 2 volumes.
- Seal of Old Dartmouth Historical Society, designed by Swift in 1904.
- Approx. 175 photographs of animals and scenes in Acushnet, Mass., and Brittany, France, and of Swift and his works, ca. 1870-1918.

Removed to Printed Collection

- "The Secret of Point Mishaum", ca. 1889. 2 copies.
- Untitled poem by Samuel P. Place, 1884.

Removed to Objects Collection

- 2 small oil paintings, ca. 1872-1918.
- 27 sketches of animals, scenes and people probably in Brittany, France, ca. 1870-1881.

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Provenance

This collection was donated to the Old Dartmouth Historical Society by Sylvia Knowles on 3 April 1973.

Processing Information

Processed by: Judith Downey, ca. 1982

Encoded by: Kermit Dewey, 18 July 2011; box list appended by Mark Procknik, 27 December 2011

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

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Description

Series A: Correspondence, 1872-1874, 1878, 1880 [4 items]
Box 1
Folder 1
1872-1874, 1878, 1880
Series B: Stories, ca.1881-1918 [6 items]
Folder 1
The Cry of the Chouette
Folder 2
The Key to Bird Speech
Folder 3
Kroaz Ar Laer Kromm
Folder 4
L'Oiseau Mon Pere
Folder 5-6
The Rose of Pen-Killan
Folder 7
The Spirit of White Thorn
Series C: Poems, ca.1881-1918 [10 items]
Folder 1
In the Whaling Museum
Folder 2
New England Subjects
Folder 3
Of the Sky
Folder 4
Of the Sky
Folder 5-6
Whaling
Folder 7
Miscellaneous poems
Folder 8-9
Collection of poems
Series D: Exhibition Materials and Notes on Paintings, 1872-1881, ca.1885 [6 items]
Folder 1-2
Exhibit catalog, ticket, receipt, and memorandum, 1872-1881
Folder 3
Notes on paintings, ca. 1885
Series E: Biographical Sketches and Clippings, 1875-1918, ca.1920, 1947 [15 items]
Folder 1
Biographical sketches, ca. 1920
Folder 2
Clippings of obituary, art exhibitions, etc., 1875-1918
Folder 3
Letter by Robert W. Swift concerning artist's career and works, 1947

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Added Entries

Art--France--Paris--Exhibitions
Art--Mass.--New Bedford--Exhibitions
Artist colonies--France--Brittany
Artists--France--Brittany
Artists--France--Paris
Artists--Mass.--New Bedford
Artists--Mass.--New Bedford--Correspondence, reminiscences, etc.
Authors
Authors, American--Mass.--New Bedford
Authors--Correspondence, reminiscences, etc.
Brittany in literature
New Bedford, Mass.--Authors
New Bedford, Mass.--Description--Poetry
New England--Poetry
Paris in literature
Poetry
Poetry--Themes, motives
Poets, American--Mass.--New Bedford
Sea Poetry
Short stories, American--Mass.--New Bedford
Swift family
Swift, Clement Nye, 1846-1918

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