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Archer Milton Huntington Papers

An inventory of his papers at Syracuse University

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Huntington, Archer M. (Archer Milton), 1870-1955
Title: Archer Milton Huntington Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1919-1957
Quantity: 51.0 linear ft.
Abstract: Papers of the American philanthropist, poet. Correspondence; secretarial daybooks, 1922-1957; manuscripts; legal and financial papers. Organizational correspondence includes that of the Academy of American Poets, American Academy of Arts and Letters, American Geographical Society, American Museum of Natural History, American Numismatic Society, Brookgreen Gardens, California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Hispanic Society of America, Mariners' Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of the American Indian, National Academy of Design, National Arts Club, National Sculpture Society, New-York Historical Society, New York Zoological Society, and Yale University.
Language: English
Repository: Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
222 Waverly Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244-2010
https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center

Biographical History

Archer Milton Huntington (1870-1955) was an American philanthropist, art patron, scholar and poet. The son of Arabella Duval Huntington and her husband, railroad industrialist Collis P. Huntington, Archer made substantial contributions -- both scholarly and financial -- in his chosen fields, though he is particularly known for his work in Hispanic Studies. He wrote several scholarly works in the field and in 1904 founded The Hispanic Society of America in New York City, a museum and rare books library which he helped fill with an impressive collection of Hispanic paintings, decorative art, books, manuscripts, maps, prints, and photographs. At about this same time, Archer was named foreign corresponding secretary for the New-York Historical Society; he served in this capacity for several years and contributed to the funding of many of the society's publications.

His first wife, whom he married in 1895, was Helen Manchester Gates, an Englishwoman and author. For his second wife (married in 1923), sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, Archer founded Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina where her works were displayed as well as those of dozens of other American sculptors. (She returned the favor, creating several Hispanic-themed works for the grounds of the Hispanic Society, including an equestrian sculpture entitled "The Cid.")

In 1936, Huntington donated an endowment which established the Chair of Poetry at the Library of Congress, now known as the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress; he also donated to the American Numismatic Society the funding and land for its headquarters and, later, a library. Together with Anna, he founded the Mariners' Museum in Newport News, Virginia, one of the largest and finest maritime museums in the world, and established the Archer and Anna Huntington Wild Life Forest Station in the Adirondacks of New York State.

Archer M. Huntington was awarded honorary degrees from Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Kenyon College, and the University of Madrid. Among his other philanthropic positions, he was president of the American Geographical Society and a trustee of the American Museum of Natural History, the New-York Historical Society, the Museum of the American Indian, and the Heye Foundation. When he died in December of 1955, The Modern Language Journal published a biographical sketch which included the following praise:

In his passing, Hispanic studies in the United States, Spain, and Hispanic America have lost a generous patron who was also in his own right a scholar of distinction, a poet of charm, and in everything he did a good citizen." (The Modern Language Journal, Feb 1956, p. 59)

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Archer Milton Huntington Papers contains correspondence, secretarial notes (memos, letters and daybooks), writings, legal and financial papers, and ledgers.

Correspondence (Boxes 1 through 9) has been entirely merged into the Correspondence-subject files for the Anna Hyatt Huntington Papers (see "Related Material" below). Boxes 1-9 no longer exist in this collection. Please refer to the Anna Hyatt Huntington Papers for a complete listing. Briefly, this material contains incoming and outgoing correspondence with both individuals and organizations. Individual correspondents include painters (Edwin Blashfield), sculptors (Herbert and Adeline Adams, Gutzon Borglum, Donald De Lue, Gleb Derujinsky, James Earle and Laura Gardin Fraser, Harriet Whitney Frishmuth, Vincent Glinsky, Malvina Hoffman, Edward McCartan, Herman Atkins MacNeil, Paul and Isabel Manship, Brenda Putnam, Alma Spreckels, Katharine Weems), writers (Maxwell Anderson, German Arciniegas, Grosvenor Atterbury, Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, Nicholas Murray Butler, Archibald Macleish). Organizations represented in the correspondence include universities (Chatham College, Clark University, Columbia University, Harvard University, Syracuse University), museums and galleries (Brookgreen Gardens, Burr Galleries, California Palace of the Legion of Honor, Columbia Museum of Art, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Fogg Art Museum, Grand Central Art Galleries, Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery, Mariner's Museum, Museum of the City of New York, ), and professional associations (American Geographical Society, American Numismatic Society, Federal Art Project, Hispanic Society of America, National Institute of Arts and Letters, New-York Historical Society).

Secretarial notes comprises memos, letters, and daybooks spanning more than thirty years. Writings contains literary gallies, poems and literary manuscripts. Properties consists of information relating to various pieces of real estate including Brookgreen and Arbutus.

Ledgers contain financial and business information; the main subdivisions are NY receipts, estate correspondence, estate documents, general correspondence, Bank of Central Hanover receipts, and payment statements. General correspondence, formerly in Volumes 45-82 of Ledgers, has been entirely merged into the Correspondence-subject files for the Anna Hyatt Huntington Papers (see "Related Material" below). Volumes 45-82 no longer exist in this collection. Please refer to the Anna Hyatt Huntington Papers for a complete listing.

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Arrangement of the Collection

Secretarial notes (Boxes 10-17) are arranged first by type (memos, letters, then daybooks) and within that chronologically. Writings (Boxes 18-20) are arranged alphabetically by type and Properties (Boxes 21-27) alphabetically by name of the property. Legal and financial papers (Boxes 28-36) are arranged chronologically. Ledgers (Volumes 1-139) are ordered by type and within that chronologically.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

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Related Material

Personal correspondence of Archer Milton Huntington (Boxes 1 through 9) and General correspondence (formerly in Volumes 45-82 of Ledgers) has been entirely merged into the Correspondence-subject filesof the Anna Hyatt Huntington Papers (see "Related Material" below). Boxes 1-9 and Volumes 45-82 no longer exist in this collection. Please refer to the Anna Hyatt Huntington Papers for a complete listing.

See also the following:

Anna Hyatt Huntington Papers
Arabella Huntington Papers
Collis P. Huntington Papers
Huntington Estate Papers

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Subject Headings

Persons

Huntington, Archer M. (Archer Milton), 1870-1955.

Corporate Bodies

Academy of American Poets.
American Academy of Arts and Letters.
American Geographical Society of New York.
American Museum of Natural History.
American Numismatic Society.
Brookgreen Gardens.
California Palace of the Legion of Honor.
Federal Art Project.
Hispanic Society of America.
Mariners' Museum (Newport News, Va.)
Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.)
Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation.
National Academy of Design (U.S.)
National Arts Club (New York, N.Y.)
National Sculpture Society (U.S.)
New York Zoological Society.
New-York Historical Society.

Subjects

Animal sculptors -- United States.
Animals in art.
Art -- Collectors and collecting.
Art museums.
Art patronage.
Art, American -- 20th century.
Art, American.
Bronze sculpture, American.
Endowments.
Hispanists -- United States.
Monuments.
Philanthropists -- United States.
Public art.
Public sculpture.
Sculptors -- United States.
Sculpture gardens.
Sculpture, American -- 20th centur.y
Sculpture, American.
Upper class -- United States.

Places

United States -- Social life and customs -- 20th century.

Genres and Forms

Architectural drawings (visual works)
Bank statements.
Correspondence.

Occupations

Philanthropists.
Poets.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Archer Milton Huntington Papers,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Finding Aid Information

Created by: -
Date: unknown
Revision history: 30 Oct 2006 - converted to EAD (AMCon); 18 Feb 2008 - unproc. mat. updated (MRC); 12 Aug 2008 - corr. merged with AHH (MRC); 30 Sep 2019 - updated to reflect ledger volumes 45-82 merged with AHH (MRC)

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Inventory

Correspondence-subject files
This portion of the Archer Milton Huntington Papers inventory (Boxes 1 through 9) has been entirely merged into the Correspondence-subject files for the Anna Hyatt Huntington Papers (see "Related Material" above). Boxes 1-9 no longer exist in this collection.
Secretarial notes
Box 10 Secretarial memos 1934-1954
Box 11 Secretarial letters 1924-1932
Box 12 Secretarial letters 1933-1941
Box 13 Secretarial daybooks 1922-1935
Box 14 Secretarial daybooks 1935-1942
Box 15 Secretarial daybooks 1943-1946
Box 16 Secretarial daybooks 1947-1950
Box 17 Secretarial daybooks 1951-1957
Writings
Box 18, 19 Literary gallies
Box 20 Poems and literary manuscripts
Properties
Box 21, 22 Arbutus
Box 23 Arbutus film (photographs) of
Brookgreen
Transferred to Anna Hyatt Huntington Papers, 2008.
Box 25 New York, Stanerigg and Pleasance
Box 26 Pleasance
Box 27 Adirondacks, Stanerigg, Newport News, Pine Knot
Legal and financial papers
Box 28 Legal papers 1919 - 1955
Box 29-36 Financial papers
Ledgers
NY receipts
Volume 1 NY receipts Apr-Jun 1946
Volume 2 NY receipts Jun 1946-Jun 1947
Volume 3 NY receipts Jun-Sep 1947
Volume 4 NY receipts Jan-Jul 1948
Volume 5 NY receipts Jul-Dec 1948
Volume 6 NY receipts 1948-1949
Volume 7 NY receipts Aug 1949-Mar 1950
Volume 8 NY receipts Apr-Sep 1950
Volume 9 NY receipts Jun 1950-Sep 1951
Volume 10 NY receipts Jul 1951-Jan 1952
Volume 11 NY receipts 1952-1953
Volume 12 NY receipts 1954-1955
Volume 13 NY receipts Aug-Nov 1955
Estate correspondence
Volume 14 Estate correspondence A-E undated
Volume 15 Estate correspondence F-K undated
Volume 16 Estate correspondence L-P undated
Volume 17 Estate correspondence Q-Z undated
Estate items
Volume 18 Estate documents 1926-1928
Volume 19 Estate documents 1924-1928
Volume 20 Estate mAprs undated
Volume 21 Estate receipts 1924
Volume 22 Estate statements 1926-1928
Volume 23 Estate statements 1928-1929
Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.)
Volume 24 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Sep-Nov 1924
Volume 25 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Sep-Dec 1924
Volume 26 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Jan-Feb 1925
Volume 27 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Mar-Apr 1925
Volume 28 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Apr 1925
Volume 29 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) May 1925
Volume 30 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Jun 1925
Volume 31 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Jul-Aug 1925
Volume 32 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Aug-Oct 1925
Volume 33 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Nov 1925
Volume 34 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Dec 1925-Jan 1926
Volume 35 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Jan-Mar 1926
Volume 36 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Apr-Jul 1926
Volume 37 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Jul 1936-Jan 1937
Volume 38 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Feb-Jul 1937
Volume 39 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Jun-Sep 1927
Volume 40 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) Sep-Dec 1927
Volume 41 Estate documents (George F. Butterworth-Attn.) 1927-1928
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft (formerly GFB)
Volume 42 Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft (formerly GFB) Apr-Dec 1928
Volume 43 Estate - CWT 1928
Volume 44 CWT 1930
Huntington - general correspondence
This portion of the Archer Milton Huntington Papers inventory (Volumes 45 through 82) has been entirely merged into the Correspondence-subject files for the Anna Hyatt Huntington Papers (see "Related Material" above). Volumes 45 through 82 no longer exist in this collection.
Volume 45 Huntington - general correspondence 1942-1943
Volume 46 Huntington - general correspondence 1943
Volume 47 Huntington - general correspondence 1943
Volume 48 Huntington - general correspondence 1943
Volume 49 Huntington - general correspondence 1944
Volume 50 Huntington - general correspondence 1945
Volume 51 Huntington - general correspondence 1946
Volume 52 Huntington - general correspondence 1947
Volume 53 Huntington - general correspondence 1947
Volume 54 Huntington - general correspondence 1947
Volume 55 Huntington - general correspondence 1947
Volume 56 Huntington - general correspondence Jan-Mar 1948
Volume 57 Huntington - general correspondence Apr-Jun 1948
Volume 58 Huntington - general correspondence Jul-Sep 1948
Volume 59 Huntington - general correspondence Jun-Dec 1948
Volume 60 Huntington - general correspondence 1948
Volume 61 Huntington - general correspondence Jan-May 1949
Volume 62 Huntington - general correspondence Jun-Dec 1949
Volume 63 Huntington - general correspondence May-Dec 1950
Volume 64 Huntington - general correspondence 1952
Volume 65 Huntington - general correspondence Mar-May 1954
Volume 66 Huntington - general correspondence 1954
Volume 67 Huntington - general correspondence May-Jul 1954
Volume 68 Huntington - general correspondence Jul-Sep 1954
Volume 69 Huntington - general correspondence Nov-Dec 1954
Volume 70 Huntington - general correspondence Dec 54-Feb 1955
Volume 71 Huntington - general correspondence Mar 1955
Volume 72 Huntington - general correspondence Mar-Apr 1955
Volume 73 Huntington - general correspondence May-Jun 1955
Volume 74 Huntington - general correspondence Jun-Jul 1955
Volume 75 Huntington - general correspondence Jul-Aug 1955
Volume 76 Huntington - general correspondence Jul-Aug 1955
Volume 77 Huntington - general correspondence Sep 1955
Volume 78 Huntington - general correspondence Sep 1955
Volume 79 Huntington - general correspondence Sep-Oct 1955
Volume 80 Huntington - general correspondence Sep-Ost 1955
Volume 81 Huntington - general correspondence Oct-Nov 1955
Volume 82 Huntington - general correspondence Nov-Dec 1955
Bank of Central Hanover-receipts
Volume 83 Bank of Central Hanover-receipts Apr-Jun 1946
Volume 84 Bank of Central Hanover-receipts 1947
Volume 85 Bank of Central Hanover-receipts 1948
Volume 86 Bank of Central Hanover-receipts Aug-Dec 1948
Volume 87 Bank of Central Hanover-receipts 1949
Volume 88 Bank of Central Hanover-receipts Jul 1950-Jun 1951
Volume 89 Bank of Central Hanover-receipts 1951-1952
Volume 90a 90a Bank of Central Hanover-receipts 1952-1953
Volume 90 Bank of Central Hanover-receipts Nov 1953-Apr 1954
Volume 91 Bank of Central Hanover-receipts May-Dec 1954
Volume 92 Bank of Central Hanover-receipts Oct 54-Aug 1955
Volume 93 Bank of Central Hanover-receipts Aug-Dec 1955
Bill sent to Hanover Bank
Volume 94 Bill sent to Hanover Bank 1952
Volume 95 Bill sent to Hanover Bank 1953
Volume 96 Bill sent to Hanover Bank 1954
Volume 97 Bill sent to Hanover Bank 1955
Volume 98 Bill sent to Hanover Bank 1955
Payment statements (AMH)
Volume 99 Payment statements (AMH) 1943-1947
Volume 100 Payment statements (AMH) 1947-1948
Volume 101 Payment statements (AMH) 1948
Volume 102 Payment statements (AMH) 1949
Volume 103 Payment statements (AMH) 1949-50
Volume 104 Payment statements (AMH) 1950
Volume 105 Payment statements (AMH) 1951
Volume 106 Payment statements (AMH) 1951-1952
Volume 107 Payment statements (AMH) 1953
Volume 108 Payment statements (AMH) 1953
Volume 109 Payment statements (AMH) 1954
Volume 110 Payment statements (AMH) 1954
Volume 111 Payment statements (AMH) Jan-Aug 1955
Trust Companies
Volume 112 Trust Companies (Bankers Union T.) 1951-1955
Volume 113 Bank of New York & Trust Co. 1925-1926
Volume 114 Trusts 1952-1953
Volume 115 Recent trusts 1951-1955
Volume 116 Miscellaneous statements 1947-1948
Volume 117 Miscellaneous statements 1951-1953
Miscellaneous
Volume 118 Misc. banks 1946
Volume 119 Misc. banks 1953
Volume 120 U.S. Trust Co. undated
Volume 121 U.S. Trust Co. undated
Volume 122 New York Trust Co. 1945-1951
Volume 123 Daily records 1943
Volume 124 Chemical, Haverstraw & South Carolina 1947-1948
Volume 125 Cheques (misc.) 1950-1954
Volume 126 Lawyers Trust Co. 1946-1949
Volume 127 Guaranty Trust Co. of New York 1947-1951
Volume 128 Bankers Trust Co. 1950-1951
Volume 129 Misc. Q-Z undated
Volume 130 Taxes, cheques, etc. 1949-1950
Volume 131 Taxes, banks (Haverstrom) 1952-1953
Volume 132 Taxes 1953-1955
Volume 133 Taxes 1950-1952
Volume 134 Hall of Fame 1955
Volume 135 J.P. Morgan Co. 1947-1949
Volume 136 Gifts of land and objects (GI) 1915-1930
Volume 137 Gifts of land and objects (GI) 1917-1940
Volume 138 Gifts and endowments 1948-1952
Volume 139 Gifts and endowments 1930s
Transfiles 1 and 2, loose papers

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