Biographical Materials and Artifacts
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Graham, John, 1887-1961
setName: label: See more items in
content: John D. Graham papers
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 0.9 Linear Feet (Boxes 1, 11-12, 17)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1799
label: Date
content: 1822
label: Date
content: 1891-1961
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.grahjohn, Series 1
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents note
content: This series consists of documents related to John Graham's military service, legal matters, medical history, family members, as well as three-dimensional artifacts belonging to Graham.

Many of the documents in this series are in Polish or Russian, and typescript translations are often available. Translations appear to have been annotated and perhaps written by Graham. These documents include a baptism certificate, a certificate of nobility, documents related to Graham's military service and nationality, and certificates of identity. Graham's marriages and divorces are documented through legal records, invitations, correspondence in Russian with a third party related to his divorce from Vera Alexandrovna, and an identity paper of Constance Wellman with a photograph issued in France.

Two scrapbooks related to Archer Gibson, Graham's father-in-law by his third marriage to Elinor Gibson and a well-known organist, are found. The first contains primarily newspaper clippings related to Gibson's musical career. The second contains letters and telegrams from well-known politicians, industrialists, and other celebrities for whom Gibson gave concerts. For photographs of Archer Gibson, see the Photographs series.

Medical documents include a report of Graham's death issued by the State Department and x-rays taken in 1961, shortly before his death.

Among the artifacts are four vellum-bound books, two of which bear dates from the late 18th and early 19th century. Some of the Artwork among Graham's papers appears to have been made on paper taken from these books. Also found is a fragment of music on vellum, which is likely the Nicene Creed. Relating to David Graham is a naval patch representing the rank of a Recruit Chief Petty Officer.

Additional biographical documents, including Graham's will and lists of assets, are found in Personal Business Records.