Research material gathered by Leah Lipton regarding portrait painter Chester Harding (1792-1866), including correspondence with reference librarians, archivists, scholars, private collectors, Harding's descendants, and others; printed material, notes, and photographs.
Scope and Contents:
These papers are the research materials of Leah Lipton on the subject of American portrait painter Chester Harding. The research material was compiled by Lipton for a biography and checklist of the work of Chester Harding, and for "A Truthful Likeness: Chester Harding and His Portraits," a catalogue and 1985 exhibition of his paintings for the National Portrait Gallery. The papers contain correspondence, biographical information on Harding, notes, writings, printed material, and photographs of artwork.
Correspondence includes letters to and from Leah Lipton with European and American museums, galleries, libraries, other cultural institutions, scholars, private collectors, and descendants of Chester Harding. The printed material in the collection includes brochures, publications, copies of correspondence and other documents relating to Harding, and scattered articles and essays on Harding. Comprising the majority of the collection are portrait files, which contain research material such as notes, correspondence, printed material and photographs related to Chester Harding's portraits. The collection also contains files containing information on biographical aspects of Harding's life, subjects related to Chester Harding, and collections with materials relating to Harding.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as six series:
Series 1: Correspondence, 1980-1986, 2002, 2007, bulk 1981-1982
Series 2: Biographical Information about Chester Harding, 1981-1984, 1987, undated
Series 3: Subject Files, 1981-1984, 1986, undated
Series 4: Places, 1981-1984, 1992, undated
Series 5: Portrait Files, 1980-1987, 1991-1992, 1996-1997, 2001, undated
Series 6: Exhibition Materials, 1981-1982, undated
Biographical / Historical:
Leah Lipton is an art historian (1928-2015), who conducted significant research into the life and works of Chester Harding (1 Sept. 1792-10 Apr. 1866), American portrait painter.
Provenance:
Acquired from Leah Lipton.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
Rights:
The Leah Lipton research material is owned by the Catalog of American Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, and is available for use by researchers. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
Leah Lipton research material on Chester Harding, 1980-2007, bulk 1980-1986. Catalog of American Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.
