Scope and Contents
The Jerome Mellquist papers contain correspondence, writings, and personal papers documenting the life and work of art historian and critic Jerome Mellquist.
Correspondence includes original incoming letters and carbons of outgoing letters between Jerome Mellquist and family, friends, writers, artists, musicians, and cultural critics in the United States and Europe from 1918 to 1962, with the bulk dating from the early 1930s to early 1960s. Correspondence dating from 1946 to 1948 relates chiefly to the journalist and music critic Paul Rosenfeld (1890-1946), for whom, along with Lucie Wiese, Mellquest compiled a memorial volume entitled Paul Rosenfeld: Voyager in the Arts (1948). Mellquist solicited contributions to the volume, and some correspondence files include drafts of tributes. Correspondence is chiefly in English, but letters can also be found in French, Spanish, and German. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically, with unsorted material at the end.
Writings contains drafts of numerous short articles and essays, materials relating to published and unpublished book projects, and unsorted writings. Articles and essays relate chiefly to art criticism. Book projects include research materials, plans, and drafts for the following: Mellquist's memorial volume to his friend Paul Rosenfeld, Paul Rosenfeld: Voyager in the Arts (1948); a book relating to French art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel, entitled "The Pilot of Impressionism"; another relating to a 1962 colloquim, "Liaison des Arts"; and one on heroism in pictures, entitled "World Art in War". Unsorted writings and materials appear to include short works, plays, and a novel.
Personal Papers, arranged alphebtically by material type, include address books, agenda books, diaries, journals, and notebooks, photographs, printed ephemera, and scrapbooks. Materials date from 1928 to 1963, though the runs of agenda books and journals, dating from 1954 to 1963, provide a rich and detailed account of Mellquist's activities during the last decade of his life.
Correspondence includes original incoming letters and carbons of outgoing letters between Jerome Mellquist and family, friends, writers, artists, musicians, and cultural critics in the United States and Europe from 1918 to 1962, with the bulk dating from the early 1930s to early 1960s. Correspondence dating from 1946 to 1948 relates chiefly to the journalist and music critic Paul Rosenfeld (1890-1946), for whom, along with Lucie Wiese, Mellquest compiled a memorial volume entitled Paul Rosenfeld: Voyager in the Arts (1948). Mellquist solicited contributions to the volume, and some correspondence files include drafts of tributes. Correspondence is chiefly in English, but letters can also be found in French, Spanish, and German. Correspondence is arranged alphabetically, with unsorted material at the end.
Writings contains drafts of numerous short articles and essays, materials relating to published and unpublished book projects, and unsorted writings. Articles and essays relate chiefly to art criticism. Book projects include research materials, plans, and drafts for the following: Mellquist's memorial volume to his friend Paul Rosenfeld, Paul Rosenfeld: Voyager in the Arts (1948); a book relating to French art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel, entitled "The Pilot of Impressionism"; another relating to a 1962 colloquim, "Liaison des Arts"; and one on heroism in pictures, entitled "World Art in War". Unsorted writings and materials appear to include short works, plays, and a novel.
Personal Papers, arranged alphebtically by material type, include address books, agenda books, diaries, journals, and notebooks, photographs, printed ephemera, and scrapbooks. Materials date from 1928 to 1963, though the runs of agenda books and journals, dating from 1954 to 1963, provide a rich and detailed account of Mellquist's activities during the last decade of his life.
Dates
- 1918-1963
Creator
Language of Materials
Chiefly in English; some materials in French, Spanish, and German.
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Jerome Mellquist Paper is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Aquired through gifts from the Estate of Jerome Mellquist, 1963 and 1972.
Arrangement
Organized into three series: I. Correspondence, 1918-1962. II. Writings, 1930s-1962. III. Personal Papers, 1928-1963.
Extent
9.27 Linear Feet (21 boxes)
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
Collection consists of correspondence, writings, and personal papers documenting the life and work of Jerome Mellquist. Correspondence includes letters between Mellquist and family, friends, writers, artists, musicians, and cultural critics in the United States and Europe from 1918 to 1962, with the bulk dating from the early 1930s to early 1960s. Correspondence dating from 1946 to 1948 relates chiefly to the journalist and music critic Paul Rosenfeld (1890-1946), for whom, along with Lucie Wiese, Mellquist compiled a memorial volume entitled Paul Rosenfeld: Voyager in the Arts (1948). Correspondence is chiefly in English, but letters can also be found in French, Spanish, and German. Writings include drafts of numerous short articles and essays, materials relating to published and unpublished book projects, and unsorted writings. Articles and essays relate chiefly to modern art and aesthetics. Book projects include research materials, plans, and drafts for the following: Mellquist's memorial volume to his friend Paul Rosenfeld; a book relating to French art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel; another relating to a 1962 colloquium; and one, entitled "World Art in War", on heroism in pictures. Unsorted writings and materials include short works, plays, and a novel. Personal Papers include address books, agenda books, diaries, journals, notebooks, photographs, printed ephemera, and scrapbooks.
Jerome Mellquist (1905-1963)
Jerome Mellquist, born in Minnesota and educated at Carleton College (1926), Columbia University, and Yale University, was an art historian and critic. Mellquist contributed freelance criticism to journals in the United States and Europe and worked as an editor and art consultant, first as the Art Editor for the Brooklyn Eagle in 1936, and later, in the early to mid-1950s, for the American Art section of Collier's Encyclopedia and Unesco. Published works include The Emergence of an American Art (1942) and Paul Rosenfeld: Voyager in the Arts (1948).
Information taken from biographical statements in the Jerome Mellquist papers.
Information taken from biographical statements in the Jerome Mellquist papers.
Processing Information
Formerly classed as Za Mellquist and Uncat Za Ms 165.
Creator
- Title
- Guide to the Jerome Mellquist Papers
- Author
- by Michael L. Forstrom
- Date
- 2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.