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Finding Aid for the J. Hall Pleasants Research Files, 1924-1959 MS.12
Table of Contents
Summary Information
- Repository
- The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives10 East 71st Street
New York, NY, 10021
archives@frick.org
© 2010 The Frick Collection. All rights reserved. - Creator
- Pleasants, J. Hall (Jacob Hall), 1873-1957.
- Title
- J. Hall Pleasants Research Files
- ID
- MS.12
- Date
- 1924-1959
- Extent
- 5.0 Linear feet (10 boxes, oversize material)
- Abstract
- Dr. J. Hall Pleasants (1873-1957), an authority on early Maryland painters and their works, provided the Frick Art Reference Library with information on thousands of Maryland paintings, and also organized and participated in the Library's photographing expeditions to Maryland. The correspondence and notes in this collection contain information on the genealogy of portrait subjects, painting provenance, attributions, owners, dates, and locations, with the bulk of the research concerning paintings represented in the Library's Photoarchive. Also documented is his research on the artists John and Gustavus Hesselius, Saint Mémin, Justus Engelhardt Kühn, and Joshua Johnson [Johnston], an early African-American portrait painter he is credited with identifying.
Preferred Citation
J. Hall Pleasants Research Files. The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives.
Biographical Note
Dr. J. Hall Pleasants (1873-1957), an authority on early Maryland painters and their works, earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1899. He served on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine as an instructor in medical diagnosis from 1900 to 1935. He also established a private practice, but soon shifted his focus to advocacy for patients with tuberculosis. After resigning as a member of the Maryland Tuberculosis Sanatorium Commission in 1921, Dr. Pleasants became interested in early Maryland paintings and began documenting thousands of works in his home state.
Dr. Pleasants first became associated with the Frick Art Reference Library in 1924, in response to a letter from Library Director Helen Clay Frick requesting his assistance in identifying paintings to photograph in the Baltimore area. The Library had begun photographing artwork in both private and public collections in 1922 in order to acquire photographs for its Photoarchive. Dr. Pleasants' involvement in organizing and participating in Frick Art Reference Library photographing expeditions in Maryland led to a mutual exchange of research and photographs with the Library that lasted 33 years. Dr. Pleasants provided the Library with information on thousands of Maryland paintings and miniatures, but the bulk of the research he shared concerned the paintings that had been photographed by the Library.
His other areas of research included genealogy, history, and Maryland silver. His publications include Four Late Eighteenth-Century Anglo-American Landscape Painters (1943), Maryland Silversmiths, 1715-1830 (1930), Two Hundred and Fifty Years of Painting in Maryland (1945), and Joshua Johnston, the First American Negro Portrait Painter (1942). He was a trustee of the Baltimore Museum of Art, Johns Hopkins University, and the Peabody Institute, and vice president of the Maryland Historical Society for 23 years. Dr. Pleasants' personal archive of approximately 4,000 photographs and accompanying notes, which he had organized using a modified version of the Frick Art Reference Library classification system, were bequeathed to the Maryland Historical Society upon his death in 1957.
Scope and Content Note
The collection documents Dr. J. Hall Pleasants' research on early Maryland paintings and contains his correspondence with Frick Art Reference Library staff and the detailed research notes he shared with them. The bulk of the collection concerns paintings that were photographed by the Frick Art Reference Library for inclusion in its Photoarchive. Papers date from 1924-1959. Some of the research notes contain annotations and additions made by Frick Art Reference Library staff through the 1990s.
The collection is organized in three series: Series I: Correspondence, Series II: Research Notes, and Series III: Lists. The correspondence includes Dr. Pleasant's original letters to Library staff and carbon copies of their responses. Correspondence concerns the exchange of research notes and photographs with the Library, details of the Library's photographing expeditions in Maryland, and his research on the paintings photographed by the Library. Some letters contain detailed discussions on the identification of portrait subjects and artist attribution. Letters also contain information on Dr. Pleasants' research on John and Gustavus Hesselius, Saint Mémin, Justus Engelhardt Kühn, and Joshua Johnson [Johnston], an early African-American portrait painter he is credited with identifying.
Series II: Research Notes contains biographical sketches and descriptive information on hundreds of early Maryland paintings, including details on the genealogy of portrait subjects, painting provenance, artists, attribution, owners, dates, locations of the works, reproductions, and exhibitions. Series III: Lists consists of lists of paintings either located in Maryland or of Maryland subjects, the bulk concerning works photographed by the Library.
The collection is of special value to users of photographs in the Frick Art Reference Library Photoarchive that correspond to the biographical and subject notes in Dr. Pleasants' papers. Photo mounts containing a JHP number (Dr. Pleasants' personal numbering system) are linked to notes in this collection, which may provide additional information on the paintings.
Arrangement
The collection is organized in three series:
Series I: Correspondence, 1924-1959
Series II: Research Notes, 1931-1957
Series III: Lists, 1924-1939
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
These records are open for research under the conditions of The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives access policy. Contact the Archives Department for further information at archives@frick.org.
Processing Information
Arranged and described by Susan Chore, 1999.
Related Materials
Related Materials
Frick Art Reference Library - Central Correspondence - Maryland Historical Society files. The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives.
Katharine McCook Knox files. The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives.
J. Hall Pleasants Papers. Maryland Historical Society.
Controlled Access Headings
Corporate Name(s)
- Frick Art Reference Library.
Genre(s)
- Correspondence.
- Research notes.
Personal Name(s)
- Hesselius, Gustavus, 1682-1755.
- Johnson, Joshua, fl. 1796-1824.
- Pleasants, J. Hall (Jacob Hall), 1873-1957.
Subject(s)
- Art--Private collections--Maryland.
- Art--Provenance--Research.
- Artists--Maryland.
- Maryland--Genealogy.
- Portrait painters.
- Portraits, American.
Collection Inventory
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| Box | Folder | Date | ||
| 1 | 1 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
November 26, 1924 letter from Helen Clay Frick describes the Frick Art Reference Library and asks for Dr. Pleasants' permission to photograph his art collection, and for his assistance in identifying collections for a photographing expedition to Baltimore in December, 1924. |
1924-1925 | |
| 1 | 2 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
April 24, 1926 letter describes systems of Library's photograph archives and storage. September 27, 1926 letter describes how Dr. Pleasants' notes and additions are incorporated into the photo collection. 1926 letters refer to four Baltimore photographing expeditions. |
1926 | |
| 1 | 3 |
Correspondence
|
1927 Jan. - May | |
| 1 | 4 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
Dr. Pleasants sent 175 pages of biographical notes on portraits and miniatures photographed by the Library in Maryland. December 21, 1927 Library letter describes the photo classification system: "As you will see, this classification is very faulty and I should certainly not advise you to copy it as it stands. We did not realize when we first adopted it how bad it was and now it is too late for us to change." |
1927 Jul. - Dec. | |
| 1 | 5 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
October 10, 1928 letter details photographing expedition to Annapolis and surrounding area, reaction of owners, and problems encountered. |
1928 | |
| 1 | 6 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
April 10, 1929 letter contains description of Pleasants' work on his book on early Maryland silversmiths. April 17, 1929 letter contains Library research (five pages) for Pleasants on Gustavus Hesselius for an article he is writing, with an additional ten pages on April 20. |
1929 | |
| 1 | 7 |
Correspondence
|
1930 | |
| 1 | 8 |
Correspondence
|
1931 | |
| 1 | 9 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
March 31, 1932 letter notes that the photographs Dr. Pleasants orders from the Library are to be a gift, per Miss Frick. November 12, 1932 letter contains Dr. Pleasants' information on possibly the earliest African-American portrait painter. |
1932 | |
| 1 | 10 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
November 15, 1933 letter includes discussion of December photographing expedition in Maryland. |
1933 | |
| 1 | 11 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
November 20, 1934 letter contains additional information on blacksmith artist/African-American artist. Pleasants mentions plans to read voluminous diaries of John P. Kennedy to find clues as to who painted family portraits. |
1934 | |
| 2 | 1 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
Dr. Pleasants sent biographical notes for 320 portraits on March 28, 1935. April 5, 1935 letter refers to Pleasants' contribution to the Dictionary of American Biography entries on Gustavus and John Hesselius. |
1935 | |
| 2 | 2 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
Dr. Pleasants provides information on first African-American portrait painter in October 28, 1936 letter; the artist is named "William Johnson," but Pleasants had not completed his research and requested that they not place this information on photo mounts. Correspondence also discusses Wertmuller journal and the value it may have in identifying sitters. |
1936 | |
| 2 | 3 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
In May 14, 1937 letter, Dr. Pleasants notes that he had begun writing on Justus Engelhardt Kühn for publication by American Antiquarian Society. In September 20, 1937 letter, Dr. Pleasants mentions he is writing a catalogue of the Baltimore Museum of Art exhibition celebrating the 200th anniversary of Charles Carroll of Carrollton. |
1937 | |
| 2 | 4 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence contains reference to a photographing expedition April 4-13 with Frick Art Reference Library staff member Katharine McCook Knox and Library photographer Ira W. Martin. |
1938 | |
| 2 | 5 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
Contains reference to April photographing expedition in Baltimore. |
1939 | |
| 2 | 6 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
February 26, 1940 letter notes that Pleasants' article on Joshua Johnson is to be published by the Walpole Society. |
1940 | |
| 2 | 7 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
March 6, 1941 Library letter mentions Library microfilming project, and the postponement of photographing trips for eight months to a year, as Ira W. Martin, the Library photographer, is operating the microfilm machine. June 13, 1941 letter from Dr. Pleasants discusses the safety of collections in D.C. and New York. |
1941 | |
| 2 | 8 |
Correspondence
|
1942 | |
| 2 | 9 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
April 26, 1943 letter mentions Dr. Pleasants' article on Beck, Groombridge, Guy and Winstanley being published in the Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society. |
1943 | |
| 2 | 10 |
Correspondence
|
1944 | |
| 3 | 1 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
May 18, 1945 letter from Pleasants describes Baltimore Museum of Art exhibition and catalogue, 250 Years of Painting in Maryland, and his contributions to both. |
1945 | |
| 3 | 2 |
Correspondence
|
1946 | |
| 3 | 3 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
April 9, 1947 letters discusses photographing expedition to Baltimore, and the selection of paintings. In November 6, 1947 letter, Dr. Pleasants notes that Art in America will publish his paper on George William West. |
1947 | |
| 3 | 4 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
In January 5, 1948 letter, Dr. Pleasants refers to paper on St. Memin as a miniaturist that he is preparing for the Walpole Society Note Book. In October 18, 1948 letter, Pleasants refers to his visit to Henry F. Dupont at Winterthur, as well as attempts to see Joshua Johnson paintings in Wilmington. November 9, 1948 Library letter discusses photographs taken at Winterthur in 1947. |
1948 | |
| 3 | 5 |
Correspondence
|
1949 | |
| 3 | 6 |
Correspondence
|
1950 | |
| 3 | 7 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
June 19, 1951 Pleasants' letter to Katharine McCook Knox describes how he became interested in early American art, his areas of expertise, and how he mounts and classifies paintings. |
1951 | |
| 3 | 8 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
June 20, 1952 Library letter describes tour of Winterthur given by Mr. DuPont. |
1952 | |
| 3 | 9 |
Correspondence
|
1953 | |
| 4 | 1 |
Correspondence
|
1954 | |
| 4 | 2 |
Correspondence
|
1955 | |
| 4 | 3 |
Correspondence
|
1956 | |
| 4 | 4 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
Includes his August 24, 1957 obituary and correspondence with Dr. Pleasants' secretary, Mrs. Clyde (Margaret) Loose. In October 11, 1957 letter, Mrs. Loose notes that his collection will be moved to the Maryland Historical Society in November. |
1957 | |
| 4 | 5 |
Correspondence
Scope and Contents note
Correspondence with Mrs. Clyde Loose and Mrs. Pleasants, concerning notes of Dr. Pleasants and his Memorial Exhibition at the Baltimore Museum of Art. |
1958-1959 | |
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|
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| Box | Folder | Date | ||
| 4 | 6 |
Abell - Atkinson
|
1937-1957 | |
| 4 | 7 |
Bailey - Black
|
1936-1956 | |
| 4 | 8 |
Blackford - Boyd
|
1936-1954 | |
| 4 | 9 |
Brady - Byrd
|
1937-1958 | |
| 4 | 10 |
Cadmus - Carmichael
|
1937-1958 | |
| 4 | 11 |
Carnan - Carroll
|
1937-1957 | |
| 4 | 12 |
Carter - Charlton
|
1937-1957 | |
| 5 | 1 |
Chase - Cockey
|
1937-1957 | |
| 5 | 2 |
Cohen - Custis
|
1934-1957 | |
| 5 | 3 |
Dandridge - Digges
|
1938-1957 | |
| 5 | 4 |
Doane - Dyer
|
1940-1957 | |
| 5 | 5 |
Earle - Evans
|
1936-1956 | |
| 5 | 6 |
Faris - Frisby
|
1940-1956 | |
| 5 | 7 |
Gaither - Glenn
|
1936-1957 | |
| 5 | 8 |
Goddard - Gwynn
|
1937-1957 | |
| 5 | 9 |
Hack - Heister
|
1931-1957 | |
| 6 | 1 |
Hemsley - Hynson
|
1936-1957 | |
| 6 | 2 |
Ingham - Irons
|
1949-1954 | |
| 6 | 3 |
Jakes - Judah
|
1936-1957 | |
| 6 | 4 |
Kaufman - Kent
|
1938-1956 | |
| 6 | 5 |
Kerr - Krebs
|
1937-1954 | |
| 6 | 6 |
Lapowinsa - Lincoln
|
1936-1957 | |
| 6 | 7 |
Lindenberger - Lyne
|
1937-1951 | |
| 6 | 8 |
Maccubbin - Mayer
|
1936-1957 | |
| 6 | 9 |
McAllister - Milbanke
|
1936-1957 | |
| 6 | 10 |
Miller - Myers
|
1936-1957 | |
| 6 | 11 |
Neal - Nowan
|
1936-1957 | |
| 7 | 1 |
O'Donnell - Otterbein
|
1938-1954 | |
| 7 | 2 |
Paca - Pignatelli
|
1936-1956 | |
| 7 | 3 |
Pinkney - Purviance
|
1936-1957 | |
| 7 | 4 |
Raborg - Ridgeley
|
1936-1957 | |
| 7 | 5 |
Riggs - Rodgers
|
1938-1955 | |
| 7 | 6 |
Rogers - Rutter
|
1936-1952 | |
| 7 | 7 |
Salmon - Shippen
|
1938-1957 | |
| 7 | 8 |
Shure - Stewart
|
1936-1956 | |
| 7 | 9 |
Stirling - Sydebotham
|
1936-1957 | |
| 7 | 10 |
Talma - Tilghman
|
1936-1957 | |
| 8 | 1 |
Tilyard - Tyson
|
1937-1956 | |
| 8 | 2 |
Ulrich - Upton
|
1937-1956 | |
| 8 | 3 |
Valentine - Voorhees
|
1937-1955 | |
| 8 | 4 |
Waggaman - Webster
|
1937-1957 | |
| 8 | 5 |
West - Wilmans
|
1936-1957 | |
| 8 | 6 |
Wilson - Wright
|
1937-1957 | |
| 8 | 7 |
Yeates - Young
|
1937-1956 | |
| 8 | 8 |
Zinzendorf
|
1948 | |
|
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| Box | Folder | Date | ||
| 8 | 9 |
JHP no. 1541-1929
|
1936-1957 | |
| 8 | 10 |
JHP no. 1950-2653
|
1939-1955 | |
| 8 | 11 |
JHP no. 2660-2800
|
1942-1953 | |
| 8 | 12 |
JHP no. 2801-2889
|
1943-1955 | |
| 8 | 13 |
JHP no. 2906-3198
|
1946-1957 | |
| 9 | 1 |
JHP no. 3200-3469
|
1949-1951 | |
| 9 | 2 |
JHP no. 3474-3652
|
1951-1956 | |
| 9 | 3 |
JHP no. 3672-3824
|
1954-1957 | |
| 9 | 4 |
Research incomplete - Library (FARL) no. 2205-50861
|
1924-1953 | |
| 9 | 5 |
Research incomplete - Not Library negatives - Baltimore - Wellesley
|
1942-1958 | |
| 9 | 6 |
Paintings of multiple subjects - Additional Notes
|
1949-1950 | |
| 9 | 7 |
Photographs not in Library ("Photographs not wanted")
|
1940-1957 | |
|
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| Box | Folder | Date | ||
| 10 | 1 |
Miniatures photographed by Library in Baltimore
|
1924 Dec. | |
| 10 | 2 |
Portraits photographed by Library in Maryland
Scope and Contents note
Material stored in oversize flat box. |
1925 | |
| 10 | 3 |
Biographical notes on portraits owned in Annapolis, photographed by Library
|
1928 Oct. | |
| 10 | 4 |
Portraits of Maryland subjects owned in New York, Maine, Maryland, and Virginia
|
1932 | |
| 10 | 5 |
Portraits in private collections, the Maryland Historical Society, and the Baltimore Museum of Art
|
1932 | |
| 10 | 6-7 |
List of paintings photographed by Library - Baltimore and vicinity
Scope and Contents note
Photostat with annotations and corrections by Dr. Pleasants. |
1933 Dec. | |
| 10 | 8 |
List of paintings photographed by Library - Baltimore and vicinity
Scope and Contents note
Copy 2. |
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| 10 | 9 |
Maryland miniatures in Washington exhibition (1925-1926)
Scope and Contents note
Material stored in oversize flat box. |
1936 | |
| 10 | 10 |
List of paintings photographed by Library - Baltimore and vicinity
|
1938 April | |
| 10 | 11 |
List of paintings photographed by Library - Baltimore and vicinity
|
1939 April | |
|
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