Old Dominion University Libraries

Special
Collections:
Manuscripts


c.a. 1976 - 1982

ca 1976 - 1982

The Papers of Everett Parker Lesley, Jr.

RG17-2B2

Scope and Contents ~ Series Descriptions ~ Access ~ Container Listing

Historical Sketch

Everett Parker Lesley, Jr., known as Parker Lesley, was born in Baltimore, Maryland on August 31, 1913. He graduated from Palo Alto Union High School, California, in 1930 and proceeded to attend Stanford University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Classical Literature (Greek), in 1934. From 1935 to 1938 he was a Scholar Fellow and an Advanced Fellow in Art and Archaeology at Princeton University. In 1935 he earned a Certificat des études, Institut d'Art et d'Archéologie from the University of Paris; in 1937 he earned a Master of Fine Arts, Art and Archaeology, Princeton University. Also in 1937 as a Belgian-American Educational Foundation Fellow he earned a Certificat des études from the University of Brussels, Belgium.

Lesley enlisted as Private in the United States Army, June 1942 and progressed through the grades to Sergeant. He was commissioned December 1942 at the Quartermaster Corps Officer Candidate School and progressed through the ranks to Major. He was discharged from the U. S. Army December 1946. During his military career he was awarded a Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, Army Commendation Medal, Chevalier of the Order of Polonia Restituta (Poland) and Honor Medal in Silver for Art and Science of the House-Order of Orange-Nassau (The Netherlands).

In 1942 Lesley married Miriam Pfaff Lucker and the two were divorced in 1948.

Lesley was Curator of European Art at Detroit Institute of Arts in 1938. From 1939 to 1942 he was Assistant Professor of Art and Architecture at University of Minnesota. He served in the U. S. Army from 1942 to 1946. The following year he was Chief of the Restitution Division with the Office of Military Government for Greater Hesse (Germany). From 1950 to 1954 as Assistant Keeper he progressed to Associate Keeper and then to Keeper of Department of Exhibitions at The Cooper Union (NYC). In 1955 he was contracted by Fortune Magazine which resulted in two published articles. 1955 to 1958 he was self-employed in New York cataloguing private collections. He moved to Norfolk, Virginia in 1959 and became the Norfolk Museum's Acting Director. Also in 1959 he was appointed Assistant Professor of Art at the College of William and Mary in Norfolk and taught under that title up to 1967 (in 1963 the College became Old Dominion College). He began building up the Art Department during 1960 to 1964. From 1968 to 1969 he was titled Professor of Art and was co-chairman of the Art Department (in 1969 Old Dominion College became Old Dominion University). Throughout the remainder of his tenure Lesley did not hold the position of chairman, he continued to teach as Professor of Art until his retirement in 1979 as Eminent Professor; between 1970 through 1979 he went on leave two times: 1972-1973; and 1975-1976.

1931

1931

Lesley was fairly fluent in the German language, fluent reading knowledge in French, working knowledge in Italian and Spanish, studied Hebrew and had a fluent knowledge of classical Greek and Latin. His teaching specialties were Classic and Byzantine Art, Medieval Art, European Painting from the 17th Century to the present (1982), American Painting, History of Architecture and Architectural Design and History of the Decorative Arts.

c.a. 1942 - 1946

ca. 1942 - 1946

Lesley authored articles in "The Art Bulletin", "Bulletin of the Detroit Institute of Arts", "Art in America", and "The Art Journal"; in 1945, a Report of The General Board, European Theater of Operations, War Department, "Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Operations in the European Theater"; at The Cooper Union Museum, 1950-1954, "Leather", "Alter Ego", "Lacquer", "Conspicuous Waist", "Enamel" and "The Prince Regent's Style"; December 1955 and January 1956 (with Eric Hodgins), Fortune Magazine, "The Great International Art Market"; catalogue of the Lillian Thomas Pratt Collection of Russian Imperial Jewels, The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts; Art-historical handbook (2nd version), Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences; "The Iconography of the Spirit"; "Bibelots"; and a book "Renaissance Jewels and Jeweled Objects", The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1968.

During Lesley's teaching years he ventured on many trips across the world. He traveled to England, Israel, the Netherlands and Turkey. After his retirement from Old Dominion University he traveled to California and Washington state, U.S.A., India, Nepal, Russia, Taiwan and Thailand.

Everett Parker Lesley, Jr. died Saturday, February 13, 1982 in his home.

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Scope and Contents

The Papers of E. Parker Lesley, Jr., dating from 1907 to 1982, contains personal documents, student records, military records, correspondence, travel information, printed materials, photo-slides, photographs, negatives, artifacts and miscellaneous documents. The bulk of the collection documents his professional knowledge pertaining to art history.

Series Descriptions

This collection is broken down into the following series: I. Personal Documents; II. Student Records; III. Military Records; IV. Correspondence; V. Travel; VI. Printed Materials; VII. Photo Slides; VIII. Photographs; IX. Negatives; X. Artifacts; and XI. Miscellaneous.

Series I: Personal Documents. This series is divided into five sub-series of personal documents. Sub-series A: Calendar Planner; B: Pocket Notepad; C: Travel Log; D: Works and E: Miscellaneous.

Series II: Student Records. Includes Lesley's student records dated from 1930 to 1947. Documents his high school diploma, Bachelor of Arts Degree, and Master of Fine Arts. Also of interest are transcripts, a degree, a certificate and a letter of award.

Series III: Military Records. Includes an Award of the Bronze Star Medal Citation; certificates of commendation, completion, proficiency, promotion and service; and two Honorable Discharges: one from Quartermaster Corps Officer Candidate School (QMC OCS) and one from U.S. Army.

Series IV: Correspondence. This series is divided into seven sub-series of correspondence. Sub-series A: Amsterdam trip; B: Brenda Gilchrist; C: John V. Lesley; D: Riemann Family; E: John Roper; F: Steven Rustari; and G: Miscellaneous.

Series V: Trips. This series is divided into five sub-series of trips. Sub-series A: California, U.S.A. ; B: Russia; C: Seattle, WA, U.S.A. ; D: Taiwan, Thailand, India & Nepal; and E: Turkey.

Series VI: Printed Materials. This series is divided into three sub-series of printed materials. A: Works of E. Parker Lesley, Jr.; B: Newspaper Articles; and C: Miscellaneous.

Series VII: Photo Slides. This series is divided into seven sub-series of slides. Sub-series A: Belgium; B: England; C: Israel; D: Massachusetts, U.S.A.; E: Turkey; F: Virginia, U.S.A.; and G: Miscellaneous.

Series VIII: Photographs. This series is divided into four sub-series of photographs. A: California, U.S.A.; B: E. Parker Lesley, Jr.; C: Lesley with others; and D: Miscellaneous.

Series IX: Miscellaneous. Includes a drawing, postcards, a catalog of works for an exhibit, documents about Gertrude Stein lecture, a memoriam for Lesley and Lesley's mother's recollections about him.

Series X: Negatives.

Series XI: Artifacts. Includes two buttons and five coins.

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Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically within subject groupings.

Provenance

Donated by Mark Lesley on November 18, 1982

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], the Papers of the Everett Parker Lesley, Jr., [Box number], [folder number], Special Collections, Perry Library, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia

Access

Open to researchers without restriction. Questions on copyright should be directed to the Special Collections Librarian.

Size

9 Hollinger Document Cases, 3.75 linear feet

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Container Listing

Series I: Personal

Sub-series A: Calendar Planner

Box 1
Folder 1: Calendar Planner, 1974
Folder 2: Calendar Planner, 1979
Folder 3: Calendar Planner, 1981

Sub-series B: Pocket notepad
Folder 4: Pocket notepad, June 24 - Aug. 15, 1977
Folder 5: Pocket notepad, Aug. 22 - April 29, 1978
Folder 6: Pocket notepad, May 5 - June 25, 1978
Folder 7: Pocket notepad, July 9, 1978 - May 15, 1979
Folder 8: Pocket notepad, March 4 - 12, 1979
Folder 9: Pocket notepad, Oct. 4 - 20, 1979

Sub-series C: Travel log
Folder 10: Travel log - Norfolk to Iowa, Aug. - Sept. 1962

Sub-series D: Works
Folder 11: Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences' Art-historical handbook 2nd version (copy of original), June 23, 1958
Folder 12: "Bibelots" manuscript, Feb. 26, 1979
Folder 13: Lecture notes, 1958 - 1962 (?)

Box: 2
Folder 1: Norfolk Museum of Arts and Sciences' Art-historical handbook 2nd version (original), June 23, 1958

Box: 3
Folder 1: "The Iconography of the Spirit" from "Our Lord the Spirit", 1976
Folder 2: Painting, date unknown
Folder 3: Poetry: German to English translation (photos relate to folder document), date unknown
Folder 4: Typed manuscript, date unknown
Folder 5: Works cited, date unknown

Sub-series E: Miscellaneous
Folder 6: Birth certificate, July 10, 1929 and July 14, 1939
Folder 7: Certificate of Baptism, April 26, 1914
Folder 8: Contract letter from Fortune Magazine, June 28, 1955
Folder 9: Contract of sale, July 1948
Folder 10: Curriculum Vitae (copy), Oct. 7, 1970
Folder 11: Grace and Wilson Engel, July 30, 1978 - Jan. 23, 1982
Folder 12: Envelope, Feb. 27, 1979
Folder 13: Envelope, Nov. 13, 1981
Folder 14: Envelope which contained Art-historical handbook, date unknown
Folder 15: Judgment for divorce, Jan. 26, 1948
Folder 16: Miscellaneous addresses, dates unknown
Folder 17: Porcelain picture of Miriam Pfaff-Lesley, date unknown
Folder 18: Retirement certificate from Old Dominion University, May 12, 1979

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Series II: Student Records

Folder 19: Bachelor of Arts degree, June 18, 1934
Folder 20: Certificate from Cours Universitaires de Vacances, Aug. 14, 1937
Folder 21: Degree, April 9, 1935
Folder 22: High School Diploma, June 13, 1930
Folder 23: Letter of Award by Queen of the Netherlands, Dec. 1947
Folder 24: Master of Fine Arts degree, June 22, 1937
Folder 25: Transcripts, date unknown

Series III: Military Records

Folder 26: Award of the Bronze Star Medal Citation
Folder 27: Certificate of Commendation, date unknown
Folder 28: Certificate of completion, April 22, 1944
Folder 29: Certificate of Proficiency, December 23, 1942
Folder 30: Certificate of Service, Nov. 26, 1946
Folder 31: Honorable Discharge from QMC OCS, Dec. 23, 1942
Folder 32: Honorable Discharge, April 1, 1953
Folder 33: Promotion certificate, March 27, 1947
Folder 34: Promotion statement, Dec. 23, 1942
Folder 35: Promotion statement, April 13, 1943

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Series IV: Correspondence

Sub-series A: Amsterdam Trip

Box 4:
Folder 1: Amsterdam trip and correspondence, 1974

Sub-series B: Brenda Gilchrist
Folder 2: Correspondence with Brenda Gilchrist, May 2, 1977 - Feb. 15, 1979

Sub-series C: John V. Lesley
Folder 3: Correspondence with John V. Lesley, Dec. 19, 1970 - Apr. 30, 1981

Sub-series D: Riemann Family
Folder 4: Correspondence with the Riemann Family (photos related to correspondence), Sept. 24, 1963 - Nov. 2, 1981

Sub-series E: John Roper
Folder 5: Correspondence with John Roper, Oct. 16, 1976 - Aug. 23, 1978

Sub-series F: Steven Rustari
Folder 6: Correspondence with Steven Rustari, Oct. 26, 1972 - June 8, 1980

Sub-series G: Miscellaneous
Folder 7: Letter of Appointment from National Gallery of Art, July 22, 1974
Folder 8: Correspondence from Perry Bottley, July 15, 1977
Folder 9: Correspondence with John Carter Brown, May 23, 1978 - Jan. 8, 1980
Folder 10: Correspondence with Linda Downs, March 28 - 30, 1978
Folder 11: Correspondence to Mr. Farmer, date unknown
Folder 12: Correspondence to James and Minnie Fosburgh, June 10, 1955
Folder 13: Correspondence from Hugh Honour to Ms. Little, April 14, 1978
Folder 14: Correspondence Hans and Ellie Jaffe, Jan. 15, 1977 - Sept. 23, 1980
Folder 15: Correspondence from Mrs. Horst W. Janson, March 17, 1978
Folder 16: Card to E. Parker Lesley, Jr., date unknown
Folder 17: Correspondence with E. Parker Lesley, Sr., Aug. 9, 1942 - Feb. 23, 1943
Folder 18: Correspondence with Mark Lesley, June 23, 1972
Folder 19: Correspondence with Mrs. E. Parker Lesley, Sr., Feb. 15, 1945 - Dec. 7, 1954
Folder 20: Correspondence from Dr. Joachim Menzhausen, April 19, 1978
Folder 21: Letter to New York Times Editor, Oct. 20, 1972
Folder 22: Correspondence with Chloe Obolensky, Sept. 25, 1977 - Feb. 2, 1978
Folder 23: Correspondence with Charles Parkhurst, March 1978 - May 27, 1982
Folder 24: Correspondence to Dr. Jay Pawa, April 21, 1978
Folder 25: Letters to Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands, Feb. 21, 1980
Folder 26: Letters regarding "Renaissance Jewels and Jeweled Objects", Sept. 24, 1968 - Feb. 20, 1970
Folder 27: Correspondence to Mr. Rohlfing, June 15, 1978
Folder 28: Correspondence with Dale Rothman, Jan. 18 - Feb. 19, 1980
Folder 29: Letter of congratulations from Charles Sibley, May 16, 1967
Folder 30: Correspondence from Marilyn P. Swezey, May 20, 1978
Folder 31: Correspondence from Lisa Taylor to Philippe de Montebello, Feb. 21, 1978
Folder 32: Correspondence to unknown person, Nov. 7, 1981
Folder 33: Letter to the Editor of the Virginian-Pilot, Jan. 14, 1966
Folder 34: Correspondence with Herbie Weissburger, Oct. 27, 1970 - Nov. 11, 1973

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Series V: Trips

Sub-series A: California, U.S.A.

Box 5
Folder 1: "5,000 Years of Korean Art" brochure, May 1 - Sept. 30, 1979
Folder 2: Map of California, 1974
Folder 3: Map of San Francisco, 1969
Folder 4: Car and Truck Renting and Leasing Assoc. (CATRALA) newsletter, May 1979
Folder 5: Car rental paperwork, Sept. 11 - Oct. 2, 1979
Folder 6: Plane ticket, Sept. 11 - Oct. 2, 1979
Folder 7: Pocket notepad, Sept. 11 - Oct. 2, 1979
Folder 8: Postcards, Sept. 11 - Oct. 2, 1979

Sub-series B: Russia
Folder 9: Check-in card, Kosmos Hotel, Oct. 16 - 20, 1981
Folder 10: Check-in card, Pribaltiyskaya Hotel, Oct. 22 - 25, 1981
Folder 11: Correspondence from Mayree Fourman, Nov. 4, 1981 - March 3, 1982
Folder 12: "Do not disturb" sign, Pribaltiyskaya Hotel, Oct. 22 - 25, 1981
Folder 13: Flight itinerary, Oct. 15 - 25, 1981
Folder 14: Information pamphlet, Oct. 22 - 25, 1981
Folder 15: Luggage nametag, Oct. 15 - 25, 1981
Folder 16: Map of Moscow and Leningrad, date unknown
Folder 17: Miscellaneous theater tickets, Oct. 15 - 25, 1981
Folder 18: General Tours paperwork, Oct. 15 - 25, 1981
Folder 19: Plane tickets, Oct. 15 - 25, 1981
Folder 20: Receipt for one admission ticket, Hermitage Museum, Oct. 23, 1981
Folder 21: Receipt for one admission ticket, Russia Museum, Oct. 24, 1981
Folder 22: Receipt for one admission ticket "Special Exhibit", Russia Museum, Oct. 24, 1981
Folder 23: Receipt for ticket service, Oct. 24, 1981
Folder 24: Theatre Review 1, Oct. 15 - 25, 1981
Folder 25: Theatre Review 2, Oct. 15 - 25, 1981
Folder 26: Travel Voucher, Oct. 15 - 25, 1981
Folder 27: Writing paper, Oct. 22 - 25, 1981

Sub-series C: Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.
Folder 28: Map of Seattle, July 27, 1981
Folder 29: Map of Seattle Tour, 1981
Folder 30: "The Ring" newspaper review, 1981
Folder 31: Postcards, 1981
Folder 32: "The Ring" program, July 18 - Aug. 2, 1981
Folder 33: "Roy Lichtenstein 1970 - 1980", July 30, 1981
Folder 34: Ticket stubs, July 28 and Aug. 2, 1981
Folder 35: Tour group photograph, 1981
Folder 36: Tour membership certificate, July 27 - Aug. 4, 1981
Folder 37: Tour program outline, July 28 - Aug. 4, 1981

Sub-series D: Taiwan, Thailand, India and Nepal
Folder 38: "Bali", 1977
Folder 39: Blank envelope, Sept. 5 - Nov. 5, 1980
Folder 40: Certification of visit, Mt. Everest, Oct. 27, 1980
Folder 41: Correspondence with Doris Kurth, March 21 - Apr. 6, 1981

Box 6
Folder 1: Diary and notes, Sept. 5 - Oct. 7, 1980
Folder 2: Tour group photograph, Taj Mahal, 1980
Folder 3: "Guide to Taiwan: Republic of China", 1977
Folder 4: "Guide to the Grand Palace", Thailand, date unknown
Folder 5: Invoice, Moore Travel, Inc., Aug. 5, 1980
Folder 6: "The Development of Porcelain" literature, Sept. 11, 1980
Folder 7: "The Development of Pottery" literature, Sept. 11, 1980
Folder 8: "Exhibit of Miniature Treasures and Treasure-Boxes" literature, Sept. 11, 1980
Folder 9: "Mastery in Carving" literature, Sept. 11, 1980
Folder 10: "My Country", Taiwan, Feb. 1980
Folder 11: "The Ritual Vessels of Ancient China" literature, Sept. 11, 1980
Folder 12: Nepal brochure, June 1979
Folder 13: "Orientation to the National Palace Museum Collection and It's Historical Background" literature, Sept. 11, 1980
Folder 14: Photograph, Thailand, Sept. 22, 1980
Folder 15: Plane tickets, Sept. 5 - Nov. 5, 1980
Folder 16: Purchases, Sept. 25 - Oct. 28, 1980
Folder 17: Receipts, Indian Airlines, Oct. 28 - 29, 1980
Folder 18: Receipt, Taj Mahal Hotel, Nov. 2, 1980
Folder 19: Daily Mountain Flight, Royal Nepal Airlines, date unknown
Folder 20: Schedule and itinerary, Sept. 5 - Nov. 5, 1980
Folder 21: "Thailand", date unknown
Folder 22: Tour program outline and itinerary, Oct. 10 - Nov. 5, 1980
Folder 23: Travel insurance, Sept. 3, 1980

Sub-series E: Turkey
Folder 24: Class information, May 11, 1970
Folder 25: Correspondence to Mark Lesley, July 27 - Aug. 7, 1970
Folder 26: Itinerary and syllabus, July 1970
Folder 27: List of participants, July 1970
Folder 28: Plan of Miletus, July 1970
Folder 29: Plan of Selge, July 1970
Folder 30: Site information, July 1970

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Series VI: Printed Materials

Sub-series A: Works of E. Parker Lesley, Jr.
Folder 31: Fortune Magazine, Dec. 1955
Folder 32: Fortune Magazine, Jan. 1956
Folder 33: "Renaissance Jewels and Jeweled Objects", 1968

Sub-series B: Newspaper Articles

Box 7
Folder 1: "Art: A strategy for viewing the Whitney Biennial", Feb. 6, 1981
Folder 2: Article on Lesley, Action Magazine, Oct. 19, 1968
Folder 3: Memorial, ODU Courier, Feb. 26, 1982
Folder 4: Obituary, Virginian-Pilot, Feb. 15, 1982

Sub-series C: Miscellaneous
Folder 5: "A Loan Exhibition of Antique Automatons" by Alfred Chapius, Nov. 3 - Dec. 5, 1950
Folder 6: Reference materials in (French), dates unknown
Folder 7: Reference materials in (German), dates unknown
Folder 8: Review of "Renaissance Jewels and Jeweled Objects", 1968

Series VII: Photo Slides

Sub-series A: Belgium
Folder 9: Antwerp, June 1969

Sub-series B: England
Folder 10: Wooten Under Edge, Gloucestershire, Nov. 1969 (slides developed)

Sub-series C: Israel
Folder 11: Beit She'arim Synagogue, Aug. 1967
Folder 12: Caesarea and Capernaum, Aug. 1967
Folder 13: Jerusalem, Aug. 1967
Folder 14: Kiryat-Ono, Aug. 1967
Folder 15: Lod, Aug. 1967
Folder 16: Maghar, Aug. 1967
Folder 17: Massada, Aug. 1967
Folder 18: Megiddo, Aug. 1967
Folder 19: Meiron, Aug. 1967
Folder 20: Miscellaneous set 1, Aug. 1967
Folder 21: Miscellaneous set 2, Aug. 1967
Folder 22: Miscellaneous set 3, Aug. 1967
Folder 23: Miscellaneous set 4, Aug. 1967
Folder 24: Miscellaneous set 5, Aug. 1967
Folder 25: Miscellaneous set 6, Aug. 1967
Folder 26: Montfort, Aug. 1967
Folder 27: Nazareth, Aug. 1967
Folder 28: Ramla, Aug. 1967
Folder 29: Safed, Aug. 1967
Folder 30: Tabgha, Aug. 1967
Folder 31: Tel-Aviv, Aug. 1967
Folder 32: Tel-Qasile, Aug. 1967

Sub-series D: Massachusetts, U.S.A.
Folder 33: Massachusetts, May 1969 (slides developed)

Sub-series E: Turkey
Folder 34: Ephesus, July 1970
Folder 35: Miletus, July 1970
Folder 36: Miscellaneous set 1, July 1970
Folder 37: Miscellaneous set 2, July 1970
Folder 38: Miscellaneous set 3, July 1970
Folder 39: Miscellaneous set 4, July 1970
Folder 40: Miscellaneous set 5, July 1970

Box 8
Folder 1: Miscellaneous set 6, July 1970
Folder 2: Miscellaneous set 7, July 1970
Folder 3: Miscellaneous set 8, July 1970
Folder 4: Miscellaneous set 9, July 1970
Folder 5: Miscellaneous set 10, July 1970
Folder 6: Miscellaneous set 11, July 1970
Folder 7: Miscellaneous set 12, July 1970
Folder 8: Miscellaneous set 13, July 1970
Folder 9: Priene, July 1970

Sub-series F: Virginia, U.S.A.
Folder 10: Norfolk, date unknown

Sub-series G: Miscellaneous
Folder 11: set 1, date unknown
Folder 12: set 2, date unknown
Folder 13: set 3, date unknown

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Series VIII: Photographs

Sub-series A: California, U.S.A.
Folder 14: California, Oct. - Dec. 1979

Sub-series B: E. Parker Lesley, Jr.
Folder 15: E. Parker Lesley, Jr., 1914 - (1981?)

Sub-series C: Lesley with others
Folder 16: 1914 - 1942

Sub-series D: Miscellaneous
Folder 17: Miscellaneous, 1907 - 1938

Series IX: Miscellaneous

Folder 18: Catalog of Works by A. L. Pocock, date unknown
Folder 19: "In Memory of Parker Lesley", Feb. 19, 1982
Folder 20: Mrs. E. P. Lesley, Sr.'s recollection of Parker Lesley, Jr., Apr. 11, 1949 - ?
Folder 21: Miscellaneous paper, Sept. 3, 1978
Folder 22: Picture, artist unknown, (1959? - 1962?)
Folder 23: Postcards, date unknown
Folder 24: Gertrude Stein lecture, Apr. 2, 1980 - Feb. 25, 1981

Series X: Negatives

Box 9
Folder 1: Negatives

Series XI: Artifacts

Folder 2: "General Tours" button
Folder 3: Russian button
Folder 4: Russian coins

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Revised: 7/24/08