Fiske Kimball Papers : III. Architectural projects : F. Jefferson Memorial Foundation (Monticello) : 2. Curatorial records
Kimball's zealous campaign to acquire through loans, purchases and gifts as many pieces of Jefferson's original furniture and decorative arts as possible for the Jefferson Memorial Foundation is documented here. Relying in large part on his contacts with the Coolidge family and other Jefferson descendants, initially gained when editing Jefferson's architectural drawings for the Massachusetts Historical Society, Kimball successfully located, and in more cases than not, acquired a large portion of the original Jefferson furnishings held by descendants. Kimball also acted as arbiter, determining what pieces offered for sale to the Foundation were authentic and which were fake, basing these decisions on his broad knowledge of French and American furniture, as well as his extensive research and writings on Jefferson. Working with André Carlhain in Paris, Kimball also negotiated the purchase of period pieces to supplement the original furnishings.
These files also document Kimball's involvement in the recreation of curtains, draperies, and bedspreads for Monticello, as well as the reupholstering of chairs and sofas, all in the manner he felt was most historically accurate. In one case, Kimball went so far as to have silk fabrics especially woven. The subseries also includes Kimball's inventories, object labels, and installation records, as well as correspondence with the house's caretaker. Object labels in the hand of Kimball's wife, Marie, attest to the couple's collaboration on some curatorial functions.
ArrangementAlphabetical by subject.
| Box | Folder | Author/Title | Date |
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| 78 | 15 | Caretaker. Correspondence. | 1924-1925, 1943-1949 |
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| 78 | 16 | Curtains, draperies, and upholstery. | 1947-1950 |
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| 78 | 17 | Curtains, draperies, and upholstery. See Also:
Fiske Kimball Papers / III. Architectural projects / F. Jefferson Memorial Foundation (Monticello) / 2. Curatorial records / f. Furnishings purchased through Robert Carlhian. Similar to those owned by Jefferson.
Fiske Kimball Papers / III. Architectural projects / F. Jefferson Memorial Foundation (Monticello) / 2. Curatorial records / f. Furnishings purchased through Robert Carlhian. Similar to those owned by Jefferson.
| 1939-1946 |
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| 78 | 18 | Curtains, draperies, and upholstery. | 1931, 1937-1938 |
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| 79 | 1 | Exhibition "cases". | 1946, 1948, n.d. |
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| 79 | 2 | Exhibition "ropes". | 1948, n.d. |
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| 79 | 3 | Furnishings considered and/or acquired. Authentic. | 1921-1922, 1928-1939 |
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| 79 | 4 | Furnishings considered and/or acquired. Authentic. | 1940-1944 |
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| 79 | 5 | Furnishings considered and/or acquired. Authentic. | 1945-May 1946 |
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| 79 | 6 | Furnishings considered and/or acquired. Authentic. | June 1946-1949 |
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| 79 | 7 | Furnishings considered and/or acquired. Authentic. | 1950-1954 |
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| 79 | 8 | Furnishings. Disposition of Jefferson Levy Collection. | 1946 |
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| 79 | 9 | Furnishings in the family's possession. Authentic. | 1927, 1946, 1952-1953 |
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| 79 | 10 | Furnishings. Inventories and insurance. | 1940, 1948, n.d. |
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| 79 | 11 | Furnishings from Poplar Forest. Authenticity unknown. | 1928-1931 |
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| 79 | 12 | Furnishings. Loans requested and/or approved. Incoming. | 1941, 1948 |
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| 79 | 13 | Furnishings. Loans requested and/or approved. Outgoing. | 1948-1949 |
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| 79 | 14 | Furnishings offered for sale. Authenticity undetermined. | 1925-1931, n.d. |
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| 79 | 15 | Furnishings offered for sale. Not authentic. | 1925-1926 |
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| 79 | 16 | Furnishings offered for sale. Not authentic. | 1927-1928, 1931 |
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| 80 | 1 | Furnishings offered for sale. Not authentic. | 1937-1952 |
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| 80 | 2 | Furnishings purchased through Robert Carlhian. Similar to those owned by Jefferson. See Also:
Fiske Kimball Papers / III. Architectural projects / F. Jefferson Memorial Foundation (Monticello) / 2. Curatorial records / f. Portrait busts (plaster casts).
Fiske Kimball Papers / III. Architectural projects / F. Jefferson Memorial Foundation (Monticello) / 2. Curatorial records / f. Curtains, draperies, and upholstery.
Fiske Kimball Papers / I. General correspondence and related material / C. 1943-1955 / f. Carlhian, Andre.
| 1945-1947 |
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| 80 | 3 | Furnishings purchased through Robert Carlhian. Similar to those owned by Jefferson. See Also:
Fiske Kimball Papers / III. Architectural projects / F. Jefferson Memorial Foundation (Monticello) / 2. Curatorial records / f. Portrait busts (plaster casts).
Fiske Kimball Papers / III. Architectural projects / F. Jefferson Memorial Foundation (Monticello) / 2. Curatorial records / f. Curtains, draperies, and upholstery.
Fiske Kimball Papers / III. Architectural projects / F. Jefferson Memorial Foundation (Monticello) / 2. Curatorial records / f. Surtout de table (table mirror) considered.
| 1948 |
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| 80 | 4 | Melodeon and bookcase descending through Jajes T. Barclay. | 1930, n.d. |
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| 80 | 5 | Object "labels" text for various Jefferson items. | 1951-1953, n.d. |
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| 80 | 6 | Piano (owned by Jefferson; donated by Laurence Gouverneur Hoes) | 1950-1952 |
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| 80 | 7 | Portrait busts (plaster casts). See Also:
Fiske Kimball Papers / III. Architectural projects / F. Jefferson Memorial Foundation (Monticello) / 2. Curatorial records / f. Furnishings purchased through Robert Carlhian. Similar to those owned by Jefferson.
Fiske Kimball Papers / III. Architectural projects / F. Jefferson Memorial Foundation (Monticello) / 2. Curatorial records / f. Furnishings purchased through Robert Carlhian. Similar to those owned by Jefferson.
| 1941, 1948, 1954 |
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| 80 | 8 | Portrait of Alexander Von Humboldt. | 1952-1954 |
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| 80 | 9 | Sideboard descending through Reverand William Brown. Authenticity uncertain. | 1928-1929, 1932 |
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| 80 | 10 | Surtout de table (table mirror) considered. | 1947-1948 |
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| 80 | 11 | Violin descending through Huddleston family. Authenticity doubtful. | 1954-1955 |
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| 80 | 12 | Wine Cellar. Contents of Jefferson's. | 1949, 1953-1954, n.d. |
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