Heinrich Schwarz papers (23.3.6.1)

Series I. Print Room records
The records document the activities of Heinrich Schwarz and other staff members working in the Museum of Art's Print Room. The documents are organized into three subseries: Internal records (1926-1953); Topical files (1944-1953); and Business files (1944-1953, 1966). Records include memos from President Max Sullivan, budgets, reports, catalogues of prints with research notes, and exhibition lists. Records document hiring, the Evening School, a collection stamp designed by John Howard Benson, an illustrated museum calendar, the Alumni Print Club, and the policy on reproduction. The Business files document requisitions, supply lists, data relating to a fumigation cabinet and other equipment. There are three letters between Museum Director L. Earle Rowe and M. Knoedler and Co. (1926) and one business supply letter from 1966.

Subseries I. Internal records

Subseries II. Topical files

Subseries III. Business files

Series II. Correspondence, 1932-1970, bulk 1947-1953
The Correspondence files (1932-1970, bulk 1947-1953) document Heinrich Schwarz' work on researchers' queries and reproduction requests; acknowledgements to donors; referrals to collectors; budget problems; acquisition approvals and rejections by the Museum Committee; and the physical condition of acquisitions upon receipt. Other topics include Schwarz’ scholarly work and teaching; his collection philosophy and objectives; his curatorial principles; and exhibitions.

Correspondents include John Howard Benson, the Albertina Museum, Pierre Beres, Lucien Goldschmidt, Winslow Ames, William and Frederick Schab, the British Museum, the John Carter Brown Library, Mrs. John Nicholas Brown, Simon and Schuster, the Sharpe family (Henry D., Mary Elizabeth, Ellen D.), the Curt Vallentin Gallery, and Mrs. Herbert N. Straus

There are two folders documenting the activities of Museum Directors L. Earle Rowe and Alexander Dorner regarding Parisian art dealer Richard Owen (1932-1939) and one folder containing records from Chief Curator Bernice F. Davidson (1957-1970).

Series III. Correspondence
The series contains Heinrich Schwarz' personal and professional correspondence, 1940-1951, particularly the period 1942-1946 not documented in series II. The documents are primarily related to the acquisition of prints, bills of lading and receipts of sale, valuation inquiries, and exhibition correspondence. Correspondents include his colleagues at the Albright Art Gallery, Eleanor Sayre, RISD President Helen M. Danforth, Paul J. Sachs, and Ruth Washburn. Museum and gallery correspondence includes the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and the Fogg Art Museum. There is correspondence sprinkled throughout the series pertaining to the war, friends and colleagues left behind, American citizenship, and other bureaucratic necessities related to adjusting to life in America. Schwarz formed deep attachments with several other Europeans, including John Berger, Rudolph Berliner, Wolfgang Born, Otto Demus, with whom he corresponded more significantly. Most letters are written in English, but some correspondence is in German or French languages plus a few examples of shorthand.

The series was organized as part of the Archives of American Art 1985 microfilm project finding aid created by John Carpenter and Joyce Tyler. An index of the correspondents prepared by Carpenter and Tyler is available at the RISD Archives.