Helen Burr Smith papers
Call Number
Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
Abstract
This collection consists of the research notes, correspondence, and personal papers of Helen Burr Smith (1892-1980), an authority on Colonial American silversmiths and portrait painters.
Biographical / Historical
Helen Burr Smith (1892-1980) was an authority on early American silver and portrait painters. She was a direct descendant of Michael Hillegas, the first Treasurer of the United States, and a collateral descendant of Aaron Burr, and her family history and genealogy was also a focus of her research. Smith was a frequent contributor to the New-York Historical Society Quarterly, the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Record, American Collector, Antiques Magazine, and the New York Sun newspaper.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into 6 series by subject:
Series I: Research
Series II: General Correspondence
Series III: Catalogs
Series IV: Documents Related to Colonial Silver
Series V: Personal Papers
Serries VI: Published Volumes
Scope and Contents
This collection contains the research notes, correspondence, and personal papers of Helen Burr Smith, an authority on Colonial American silversmiths and portrait painters.
The collection includes both typed and handwritten notes and drafts, as well as correspondence related to researching, writing and publishing articles on topics of her expertise. Smith was a frequent contributor to the New-York Historical Society Quarterly, the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society Record, American Collector, Antiques Magazine, and the New York Sun newspaper.
Also included are 73 photostats and 1 original document related to colonial American silver and silversmiths. These documents include bills, receipts, and legal writs related to the affairs of the silversmiths themselves, as well as inventories of estates of people who owned objects made of silver.
Smith's personal papers include personal correspondence, family scrapbooks and photo albums, and genealogical research. Correspondence between Smith and her lawyers covers topics such as her rent-controlled apartment in Manhattan, medical bills, and income tax. There are also a few copies of a memoir Smith wrote in 1978, which consists of a series of vignettes about various unrelated incidents in her life. There are also books and journals from Smith's personal library, the most significant of which are her books on silver and silversmiths.
Subjects
Access Restrictions
Open to qualified researchers.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff. Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation
The collection should be cited as: Helen Burr Smith Papers, MS 0573, New-York Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Helen Burr Smith, 1975 and 1980.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Processed by archivist Marybeth Kavanagh, January 2021.
Repository
Series I: Research, 1939-1978, inclusive
Scope and Contents
This series consists of typed and handwritten research notes, drafts, and outlines of articles written by Smith, primarily about early American silversmiths and portraitists. The series is arranged by subject, following Smith's own classification scheme.
Silversmiths A-C, 1939-1945, inclusive
Silversmiths D-G, 1943-1972, inclusive
Silversmiths H-L, 1943-1965, inclusive
Silversmiths M-R, 1943-1975, inclusive
Silversmiths S-W, 1939-1971, inclusive
Cornwallis' Knee Buckles story, 1940-1958, inclusive
DePeyster, 1950-1968, inclusive
Stephen Foster, songwriter, 1938-1950, inclusive
Ryer Gerritse (R.G.) Tankard, 1944-1978, inclusive
Michael Hillegas, First Treasurer, 1945-1978, inclusive
John Mare portrait (1 of 5), 1939-1978, inclusive
John Mare portrait (2 of 5), 1939-1978, inclusive
John Mare portrait (3 of 5), 1939-1978, inclusive
John Mare portrait (4 of 5), 1939-1978, inclusive
John Mare portrait (5 of 5), 1939-1978, inclusive
Jeremiah Platt, 1955-1974, inclusive
Nicholas Roosevelt, goldsmith, 1941-1978, inclusive
The Twins, 1967-1969, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Notes on two sets of identical twin brothers who worked in the antiques business in New Hampshire: Robert and Richard Wiggins, and Reginald and Ronald Bacon.
Hendrick Vanderheul, 1947-1971, inclusive
Silver and Silversmiths, miscellaneous items, 1939-1978, inclusive
Special Notes and correspondence for articles, seminars, and projects (1 of 7), 1939-1978, inclusive
Special Notes and correspondence for articles, seminars, and projects (2 of 7), 1939-1978, inclusive
Special Notes and correspondence for articles, seminars, and projects (3 of 7), 1939-1978, inclusive
Special Notes and correspondence for articles, seminars, and projects (4 of 7), 1939-1978, inclusive
Special Notes and correspondence for articles, seminars, and projects (5 of 7), 1939-1978, inclusive
Special Notes and correspondence for articles, seminars, and projects (6 of 7), 1939-1978, inclusive
Special Notes and correspondence for articles, seminars, and projects (7 of 7), 1939-1978, inclusive
Series II: General Correspondence, 1938-1979, inclusive
Scope and Contents
This series includes research and reference correspondence with academics, librarians and other sources. The "Special Letters" are those letters Smith designated as such, presumably for their praise of her work.
Correspondence A, 1938-1976, inclusive
Correspondence B, 1939-1979, inclusive
Correspondence C, 1939-1978, inclusive
Correspondence D, 1942-1946, inclusive
Correspondence E-G, 1949-1970, inclusive
Correspondence H, 1944-1977, inclusive
Correspondence I, 1940-1945, inclusive
Correspondence K-L, 1946-1970, inclusive
Correspondence M-N, 1939-1966, inclusive
Correspondence O-P, 1942-1978, inclusive
Correspondence R (1 of 2), 1938-1970, inclusive
Correspondence R (2 of 2), 1938-1970, inclusive
Correspondence S, 1938-1971, inclusive
Correspondence T-V, 1949-1974, inclusive
Correspondence W, 1938-1971, inclusive
Correspondence W-Z, 1939-1966, inclusive
Correspondence Special Letters, 1938-1952, inclusive
Series III: Catalogs, 1938-1975, inclusive
Scope and Contents
This series mainly consists of museum and auction catalogs with a focus on silver items and early American art. There are a few pamphlets on church and local histories as well.
Catalogs - Silver (1 of 3), 1940-1970, inclusive
Catalogs - Silver (2 of 3), 1940-1970, inclusive
Catalogs - Silver (3 of 3), 1940-1970, inclusive
Catalogs and Pamphlets - paintings and miscellaneous (1 of 4), 1938-1975, inclusive
Catalogs and Pamphlets - paintings and miscellaneous (2 of 4), 1938-1975, inclusive
Catalogs and Pamphlets - paintings and miscellaneous (3 of 4), 1938-1975, inclusive
Catalogs and Pamphlets - paintings and miscellaneous (4 of 4), 1938-1975, inclusive
Series IV: Documents Relating to Colonial Silver, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
This series consists of 73 photostats and 1 original document, mostly concerning colonial American silver and silversmiths. Some items, such as bills, receipts, and legal writs, relate to the affairs of the silversmiths themselves. Other items are inventories of estates and households of people who owned objects made of silver.
Original Document, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
One small handwritten inventory, unidentified. Smith's notes indicate "I have no idea whose estate it is from."
Copies of Documents, undated, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Includes 73 photostats of documents mainly concerning colonial American silversmiths such as: Paul Revere, Joseph Anthony, Jr., Curry & Preston, Griffin & Adams, John Mc Allister & Son and others. Some of the documents are accounts, receipts, bills and other papers relating to the affairs of the silversmiths themselves. Other are household and estate inventories listing the property of Thomas & Sarah Richie of Philadelphia, David Verplanck, Margaret & Philip Schuyler and others. Of special interest is a 28-page photostat of the 1749 inventory and accounts of the estate of Adolph Phillipse of Phillipse Manor, N.Y.
Series V: Personal Papers, 1918-1980, inclusive
Scope and Contents
This series consists of personal correspondence, family scrapbooks and photo albums, and genealogical research. It also includes correspondence between Smith and her lawyers about various matters, including her rent-controlled apartment in Manhattan, medical bills, and income tax. There are also a few copies of a memoir Smith wrote in 1978, which consists of a series of vignettes about various unrelated incidents in her life.
Family Portrait Albums (1 of 2), undated, inclusive
Family Portrait Albums (2 of 2), undated, inclusive
Family History Records and Papers (1 of 3), 1919-1978, inclusive
Family History Records and Papers (2 of 3), 1919-1978, inclusive
Family History Records and Papers (3 of 3), 1919-1978, inclusive
Family History Scrapbooks, 1918-1978, inclusive
Income Tax, 1961-1965, inclusive
Rent Control, 1954-1978, inclusive
Lawyers - Robert McCullough and Martin Block, 1931-1978, inclusive
Lawyers - Vincent West, 1948-1974, inclusive
Medical - Blue Cross Blue Shield, 1964-1976, inclusive
Medical - General, 1970-1979, inclusive
Memoir copies and personal items, 1970-1980, inclusive
Newspaper Clippings, 1938-1978, inclusive
Personal Correspondence A-M, 1932-1977, inclusive
Personal Correspondence M-Z, 1932-1979, inclusive
Series VI: Published Volumes, 1920-1970, inclusive
Scope and Contents
This series consists of books and journals from Smith's personal library, the most significant of which are her books on silver and silversmiths. The publications are arranged by subject.
Silver and Silversmiths (1 of 2), 1927-1970, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Titles include:
Early American Silversmiths Vol.II by Helen Burr Smith, 1945.
English Silver 1675-1825 by Stephen G.C. Ensko and Edward Wenham, 1937.
Quebec and Montreal Silversmiths by Marius Barbeau, 1940.
Early New York Silver by C. Louise Avery, 1931.
American Silver by Kathryn C. Buhler, 1950.
The Old Silver of Quebec by Ramsay Traquair, 1940.
The Philip Leffingwell Spalding Collection of Early American Silver by Edwin J. Hipkiss, 1943.
American Silversmiths and Their Marks, Volumes I and II, by Stephen G.C. Ensko, 1927 and 1937.
Indian Ornaments Made by Philadelphia Silversmiths by Harold E. Gillingham, 1936.
South Carolina Silversmiths 1690-1860 by E. Milby Burton, 1942.
Silverware, U.S. Tariff Commission Report, 1940.
Anglican Church Plate by James Gilchrist, 1967.
American Silver by John Marshall Phillips, 1949.
English Goldsmiths and Their Marks by Sir Charles J. Jackson, 1921.
The Antiques Book by Alice Winchester, 1950.
American Silver in the Yale University Art Gallery by Kathryn C. Buhler and Graham Hood, 1970.
Silver and Silversmiths (2 of 2), 1927-1970, inclusive
Biography and biographical reference, 1920-1960, inclusive
Children's books and fiction (1 of 2), 1920-1950, inclusive
Children's books and fiction (2 of 2), 1920-1950, inclusive
Genealogy, 1920-1965, inclusive
Journals, 1938-1970, inclusive
Scope and Contents
Consists mainly of publications in which Helen Burr Smith's articles appear, including the New-York Historical Society Quarterly.