Converted to EAD3 : Encoded Archival Description (EAD), Version 3 : Release: 1.1.1 : Release Date: 2019-12-16. Validating against latest version of schema.
Contact information: https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.mss/mss.contact
Catalog Record: https://lccn.loc.gov/mm80055012
Collection material in English
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
The records of the MacDowell Colony were given to the Library of Congress by the Colony's parent organization, the Edward MacDowell Association, in 1969. Further supplements were added by the association and others, 1970-1973. An addition was gifted by the MacDowell Colony New York office in 2019.
Part I of the records of the MacDowell Colony were arranged and described in 1981. The finding aid describing Part I was revised in 1996 and 2009 by Michael McElderry. An addition to the collection was arranged and described by Michael Folkerts, Katherine Madison, and Annette Scherber in 2019 as Part II.
Items have been transferred from the Manuscript Division to other custodial divisions of the Library. Photographs have been transferred to the Prints and Photographs Division. Audio tapes and motion picture film have been transferred to the Motion Picture, Broadcasting, and Recorded Sound Division. Music scores have been transferred to the Music Division. All transfers are identified in these divisions as part of the MacDowell Colony Records. Patrons are encouraged to contact these divisions in advance of a research visit.
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of members of the MacDowell Colony in these papers and in other collections of papers in the custody of the Library of Congress is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.)
The MacDowell Colony Records are open to research. Researchers are advised to contact the Manuscript Reading Room prior to visiting. Many collections are stored off-site and advance notice is needed to retrieve these items for research use.
Digital files were received as part of the MacDowell Colony Records on a variety of storage media, each of which was assigned a unique digital ID number. Use the digital ID number to request access copies of the files. Access to digital content is available onsite only in the Manuscript Reading Room and requires advance notice. Consult reference staff in the Manuscript Division for more information.
A microfilm edition of part of these papers is available on one reel. Consult reference staff in the Manuscript Division concerning availability for purchase or interlibrary loan.
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information: Roman numeral designating the Part followed by a colon and container, reel, or digital ID number, MacDowell Colony Records, Manuscript Division, Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Established in 1907 in Peterborough, New Hampshire, the MacDowell Colony was founded as
an artist colony by
The records of the
Part I spans the years 1869-1970, with most material dated 1945-1968 and documents the
administration of the colony through its founder
Although the
The operations of the MacDowell Colony were directed through a series of committees,
each chaired by an association director. The records of these committees are filed in
the Committees
subseries. The responsibility of selecting the colonists to be admitted for each colony
session was delegated to special subcommittees under the aegis of the
Affiliations with music clubs and associations had always been important to the colony.
Since 1919, when the
Also of interest is a group of letters written by
There are few items in the collection that relate to
Part II of the MacDowell Colony Records spans 1909-2017, with the bulk of material dated between 1986-2007. Part II principally documents the activities of the MacDowell Colony's New York headquarters, which serves as the major fundraising arm for the colony and houses the office of the executive director and development staff. Materials include correspondence, reports and reference material, event planning, financial and fundraising papers, and meeting minutes.
The MacDowell Colony's need for a stronger presence near its fundraising base in New
York City grew as it initiated projects to accommodate more artists, such as switching
from summertime to year-round operations in the mid-1950s. The general director juggled
daily colony operations in New Hampshire with frequent trips to New York City to fund
increasing operating expenses. In 1983, the Board of Directors (formerly the Edward
MacDowell Association) hired
The Office Files series contains the desk files of the
executive director, staff, and other leadership primarily located at this New York
office between 1986-2018. The records of
Part II lacks a continuation from Part I of board member, committee, and director files.
Therefore, documentation of the colony's administrative and fundraising activities
between 1970 and 1985, before the establishment of the executive directorship is
relatively sparse. The remaining incomplete files from this time period of
The Fundraising series documents the major methods the
New York office staff employed to raise money for the MacDowell Colony from individuals,
foundations, and corporations through general solicitations and appeals, special
fundraising campaigns, and events. Fundraising campaigns such as the Capital Campaign,
Campaign for MacDowell, and Campaign for the Studios raised money for the endowment or
to winterize and renovate artist studios. Events ranging from annual fundraising galas,
such as the New York Benefit, to special events designed to enhance donor relations and
promote the MacDowell Colony and the arts contributed in raising individual and
corporate donations. Examples of these events include the annual Medal Day celebrations
to honor an outstanding artist, the MacDowell Colony’s centennial celebration in 2007,
or private exhibit tours and performances for donors. The Fundraising series also details the solicitation of charitable grants received
from many sources and includes extensive documentation from the
The Miscellany series reflects the other responsibilities
of the New York office staff, including collaboration with other arts organizations such
as the
The collection is arranged in two parts composed of nine series:
Part I:
Part II:
Letters received and copies of letters sent by Marian N. MacDowell. Also includes correspondence between persons other than Marian MacDowell or MacDowell Colony administrators.
Arranged chronologically.
Case files containing correspondence, application forms for admission to the MacDowell Colony, printed matter, and résumés.
Arranged alphabetically by applicant. Separate folders for applications and request for applications for which no accompanying documents necessitated a case file are included at the end of the subseries.
Correspondence, memoranda, admission invitations, reports, minutes of meetings, printed matter, and work sheets relating to the functions of the MacDowell Colony's various committees.
Arranged alphabetically by committee.
Correspondence, memoranda, telegrams, printed matter, and miscellaneous items comprising administrative files.
Arranged alphabetically by officer and chronologically therein.
Correspondence, accounting statements, reports, and printed matter concerning financial contributions and other fundraising activities as well as the general financial situation of the colony.
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Correspondence, copyright renewals, wills, testaments, deeds, contracts, and other judicial documents relating mostly to bequests left to the MacDowell Colony by donor estates.
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Minutes, correspondence, memoranda, agenda, reports, and other items pertaining to meetings of the MacDowell Colony's corporate members and board of directors, in bound and unbound form, the former containing minutes of meetings of both corporate and board members.
Arranged by type of material and chronologically thereunder.
Correspondence, memoranda, annual reports, printed matter, minutes of meetings, and miscellaneous items.
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Clippings, printed matter, photographs, and correspondence.
Arranged chronologically.
The work is available on microfilm. Shelf no. 21,451
Correspondence, printed matter, speeches and writings by Marian MacDowell and others, awards, and an appointment calendar (1884) kept by Edward MacDowell.
Arranged alphabetically by type of material.
Available on microfilm. Shelf no. 21,451
Oversize scrapbooks.
Organized and described according to the series and folders from which the items were removed.
Staff files of former executive directors Mary Carswell and Cheryl A. Young, board members, directors, and New York office fundraising staff. Material types include committee materials; correspondence and memoranda between staff members and with board members, artists, colonists, donors, contractors, and funding agencies; reports and reference material; financial papers; event planning materials; personnel polices and staffing memoranda; and notes.
Arranged alphabetically by staff member or committee name.
Donor files, grant applications, committee materials, event and campaign planning documents, and financial records.
Arranged alphabetically by subject matter.
Files documenting collaboration between the MacDowell Colony and other arts organizations, including the Alliance of Artists Communities, letters from colonists, promotional brochures, financial materials, and printed matter.
Arranged alphabetically by subject matter or type of material.
Materials mainly include architectural drawings of artist studios at the MacDowell Colony in addition to a set of meeting notes from a staff retreat and an exhibition poster.
Listed and described according to the series, containers, and folders from which the material was separated. The items are physically grouped and housed by size.