Objects, 1897 - 1998, 1897-1998

This series contains information directly related to museum objects including documentation regarding gifts, loans, and purchases (both accepted and rejected by the Museum), and inquiries from scholars, owners, and dealers. Materials include correspondence, memos, registrar's forms, invoices, and visual materials.

Within this series, many records are grouped by type of transaction. Categories include:

Gifts:

Accepted (1935-1966).

Refused (1918-1993). This group of records documents gifts offered by artists, galleries, institutions, and individuals which have been rejected. While the correspondence primarily concerns paintings and scupture, some arts objects appear in the early years.

Loans:

In: returned (1945-1998). The primary documentation in these files relates to the return of objects loaned to the Museum. These objects were on loan for specific exhibitions, for long term use, or simply for examination with the intent to purchase, to give a professional opinion, or for conservation purposes. The folder dates in this section refer to the date of the return of the object.

In: accepted (1905-1966). The primary documentation relates to trustee approval for the museum to accept the objects as donor loans. Some works were eventually purchased by or donated to the Brooklyn Museum often in settlement of an estate.

In: rejected (1938-1990). These files contain loans offered to the Brooklyn Museum that were rejected or simply never completed.

Out (1905-1995, lacking 1906-1935). In the earlier years the transactions were simple, with personal letters as documentation. After World War II the documentation became more rigorous, with registrars and conservators playing a greater role in the proceedings.

Out: cancelled (1938-1995). These records document loan requests made the Brooklyn Museum, which were cancelled, withdrawn, not completed or pending.

Out: long term (1935-1990). These files are divided by specific sites. Some objects were lost or destroyed in the many years of their absence. In those cases there is related documentation in the deaccession records.

Out: refused (1924-1992). This group of records document loan requests for items in the collection that have been refused by the Museum. Unexecuted loan agreement forms have been discarded, unless there is insufficient information in more compact form.

Purchases:

Accepted (1923-1963).

Rejected (1935-1992). These records document works offered for sale by artists, galleries, institutions, and individuals that have been rejected. As with gifts refused, files from earlier years also include decorative art objects.

Inquiries:

General (1934-1984). These files contain requests for information about artists and their works. Correspondents were often interested in values of art works in their possession or whether the artists were well known. There are also requests for photographs or reproductions and a number of letters from artists requesting permission to make copy sketches of works in the collection or exhibition space for their works.

Museum Collection (1928-1984). These records contain requests for provenance information and lists of works in the collection.

Owners and dealers (1936-1992). The content of these files is similar to Inquiries: general and museum collection.

Scholars (1978-1992). In most cases the inquiries are brief and specific, but in some instances there is a lengthy narrative by the scholar on his or her project.

Other Records:

In addition, there are records relating to the deaccessioning of objects, inventories, files detailing gallery installations (including grant applications, gallery layouts, didactics and narratives) and memos relating to the conservation of objects. The series also contains letters with dealers and auction houses regarding sales and exchanges and correspondence with collectors regarding art works in their possession.