Collection Summary
National Society of Arts and Letters Records
1944-1987
1944-1987
MSS34330
National Society of Arts and Letters
3,700 items
42 containers plus 2 oversize
11 linear feet
English
Collection material in English
Manuscript Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Nonprofit educational organization
dedicated to the support of young artists in the performing, literary, and visual arts.
Correspondence; minutes of meetings; copies of the society's publications, The Record of the National Society of Arts and Letters and the
Year Book and Roster; programs; clippings; printed
matter; scrapbooks; photographs; and other records relating primarily to the society's
program of awards and scholarships promoting careers in art, dance, literature, music,
and theater. Includes separate records of the Washington, D.C., Chapter of the
society.
Selected Search Terms
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.
Organizations
National Society of Arts and Letters (U.S.)
National Society of Arts and Letters (U.S.). Washington Chapter. National Society of Arts and Letters. Washington Chapter records.
Subjects
Arts--United States--Societies, etc.
Arts--Washington (D.C.)--Societies, etc.
Arts.
Dance.
Literature.
Music.
Theater.
Titles
Record of the National Society of Arts and Letters.
Year book and roster.
Acquisition Information
The records of the National Society of Arts and Letters were given to the Library of
Congress by the organization via local chapters, 1965-1991.
Processing History
The records of the National Society of Arts and Letters were processed in 1972 by Grover
Batts with the assistance of Thelma Queen. Additions and revisions were made in 1979 and
1987 by David Mathisen, in 2016 by Maria Farmer, and in 2023 by Matthew Darby.
Copyright Status
The status of copyright in the unpublished writings of the National Society of Arts and
Letters is governed by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.).
Access and Restrictions
The records of the National Society of Arts and Letters 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.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
Container number, National Society of Arts and Letters Records, Manuscript Division,
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Scope and Content Note
The records of the National Society of Arts and Letters span the years 1944-1987. The
collection consists of correspondence; minutes of meetings; copies of the society's
publications,
The Record of the National Society of Arts and Letters
and the
Year Book and Roster
; programs; clippings; printed matter; scrapbooks; photographs; and other
records relating primarily to the society's program of awards and scholarships promoting
careers in art, dance, literature, music, and theater. Included are separate records of
the society’s Washington, D.C, Chapter.
Arrangement of the Collection
This collection organized by type of material, with three additions filed at the
end.
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/mm79034330]
Container List
Container
Contents
1
The Record
1
1944-1947
1944-1947
2
1948-1964
1948-1964
3
1944-1966, annotated by Francesca F. Miller
1944-1966, annotated by Francesca F. Miller
4
1966-1975
1966-1975
5
Minutes of meetings, 1944-1963
1944-1963
5
Policies of the society
5
List of chapter presidents
5
List of proposed national officers
6
Yearbooks and rosters, 1944-1976
1944-1976
7
Scrapbooks
7
1944-1953
1944-1953
8
1948-1950
1948-1950
9
1950-1952
1950-1952
10
1954-1955
1954-1955
11
1955-1956
1955-1956
12
1958-1960
1958-1960
13
1960-1961
1960-1961
14
1961-1962
1961-1962
15
1963-1964
1963-1964
15
Book 1
16
Book 2
17
1965-1966
1965-1966
17
Book 1
18
Book 2
19
1966-1968
1966-1968
20
Loose items removed from scrapbooks, circa
1944-1968
circa 1944-1968
21
Washington, D.C., Chapter
21
Yearbooks
21
Who's who of scholarship winners
22
Scrapbooks
22
1944-1951
1944-1951
23
1952-1959
1952-1959
24
1958-1959
1958-1959
25
1959-1965
1959-1965
26
1964-1965
1964-1965
27
1965-1967
1965-1967
28
1968-1970
1968-1970
29
1969-1971
1969-1971
30
1971-1974
1971-1974
31
1974-1977
1974-1977
32
Addition I, 1945-1987, undated
1945-1987, undated
32
Miscellany, 1986, undated
1986, undated
32
Printed matter
32
Catalogs, 1979-1983
1979-1983
32
Miscellany, 1958-1986 and undated
1958-1986 and undated
32
Newsletters, 1981-1986
1981-1986
32
The Record
, 1980-1986
1980-1986
32
Yearbooks and rosters, 1980-1986
1980-1986
32
Loose items removed from scrapbook,
1974-1978
1974-1978
33
Scrapbook, 1974-1978
1974-1978
34
Clippings
(2 folders)
35
Washington, D.C., Chapter
35
Correspondence, 1952-1986, undated
1952-1986, undated
35
Photographs
35
WTOP radio script, 1945
1945
35
Printed matter
35
Invitations and announcements
35
Miscellany
35
Newsletters, 1981-1986
1981-1986
35
Programs, 1950-1958
1950-1958
35
Programs, 1980-1986
1980-1986
35
"Scholarship and Awards," catalogs,
1945-1987
1945-1987
36
Addition II, 1950-1985, undated
1950-1985, undated
36
Washington, D.C., Chapter
36
Miscellany
OV 1
Advertisement poster, "Hecht Co. Fashions
Share Honors at Annual Benefit...," circa 1960
circa 1960
OV 2
Folios with letters, programs,
photographs, brochures, notices, and clippings, circa
1953-1979
circa 1953-1979
36
General
36
News releases, 1974
1974
36
Patterson, Carolyn Bennett
36
Photographs
36
Scholarship applications
36
Snapshots and negatives
36
Scrapbooks
36
Art scholarship contests,
1973-1974
1973-1974
36
General
37
General
38
General
39
"NSAL News," 1974-1985
1974-1985
39
Printed matter
39
Clippings
40
Addition III, 1950-1991
1950-1991
40
Washington, D.C., Chapter, scrapbook,
1980-1982
1980-1982
41
Miscellany, 1950-1991
1950-1991
(10 folders)
42
(9 folders)