Correspondence
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Mangravite, Peppino, 1896-
setName: label: See more items in
content: Peppino Mangravite papers
physdesc: label: Extent
content: (Boxes 1-2; 1.75 linear ft.; Reels 5878-5880)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1918-1977, undated
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.mangpepp, Series 1
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
altformavail: label: Existence and Location of Copies
content: Correspondence is on reels 5878-5880.
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents note
content: Chronological correspondence documents Mangravite's career as a painter and educator and is with employers, dealers, museums, galleries, collectors, clients, arts and educational organizations, publishers, and other artists. The majority of the letters are written in English, but some are composed in French and Italian as well. Although primarily business correspondence, there is also a significant amount of personal correspondence with friends, colleagues, and former students. The letters often cover both business and personal topics, as Mangravite seemed to form close relationships with many of the people at the galleries and schools with which he was associated. Correspondence dated from 1918 to the 1950s is comprised mostly of incoming letters. Starting in the 1950s, the correspondence includes more outgoing correspondence, usually in the forms of onion skin copies and handwritten drafts. Correspondence is arranged chronologically, except two folders of undated letters, which are arranged alphabetically by last name of writer. A list of major correspondents follows.

A large amount of correspondence is between Mangravite and his dealers, the Dudensing Gallery and the Rehn Galleries, and discusses financial agreements, sales, and accounts. There is also correspondence with other galleries and museums where his paintings were exhibited. Mangravite's mural commissions are also discussed in the correspondence. Also found are invitations to participate in exhibitions, notifications of prize awards and artwork sales, invitations to be on juries for art competitions, or miscellaneous requests from fellow artists, fans, collectors, and clients. Significant events documented here include Mangravite's two Guggenheim Fellowships and his trip to Europe in 1955 to interview famous artists.

Mangravite's long teaching career is also documented in this series. Correspondence is found with Columbia University, Sarah Lawrence College, Avon School, Fieldston School of the Ethical Culture Schools, Potomac School, Dana Hall School, and the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center. Additionally, Mangravite was also a sought-after speaker and his correspondence includes many lecture invitations and requests as well as arrangements for accepted speaking engagements.

Other topics covered in the correspondence concern Mangravite's published or proposed writings, particularly articles and books reviews, most notably for the Saturday Review of Literature and American Magazine of Art. Also, there is some correspondence with publishers regarding book project ideas and manuscripts. Mangravite's membership activities in a variety of artists' organizations, such as the College Art Association, the American Society of Painters, Sculptors and Gravers; the American Artists' Congress, and the American Federation of Arts are well-represented in the correspondence. Of particular interest is Mangravite's response to an artists' rental policy debate during the 1930s, concerning the payment of rental fees for artworks exhibited in shows and galleries.

Major Correspondents

American Artists Congress

American Federation of Arts

American Society of Painters

Arms, John Taylor

Avon School

Barr, Alfred

Barzun, Jacques (Columbia University)

Bear, Donald J.

Benson, Emanuel

Biddle, George

Burchfield, Charles

Canaday, John

Canby, Courtlandt

Chagall, Marc

Clancy, John (Rehn Galleries)

Cole, Sylvan Jr. (Associated American Artists)

College Art Association

Colorado Springs Fine Art Center

Columbia University

d'Harnoncourt, Rene

Dana Hall School

Davis, Stuart

Dudensing, Richard

Fieldston School of the Ethical Culture Schools

Force, Juliana

Gonzales, Xavier

Harper & Brothers Publishers

Knight, Frederick

Larom, Henry V.

Lockwood, Ward

Magafan, Ethel and Jenne and Edward Chavez

Maldarelli, Oronzio

Manso, Leo

Manzella, David

Moe, Henry Allen

Mumford, Lewis

Pearson, Ralph M. (Design Workshop)

Philips, Duncan

Picken, George

Poor, Henry V.

Potomac School

Preston, Carol (Potomac School)

Rehn, Frank K. M.

Rice, Norman (Art Institute of Chicago)

Rich, Daniel Catton (Art Institute of Chicago)

Robinson, Boardman (Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center)

Roosevelt, Willard

Root, Edward W.

Saint-Gaudens, Homer

Sarah Lawrence College

Sculptors and Gravers

Simonson, Lee

Speicher, Gene

Sweet, Frederick A. (Portland Art Museum)

Talbot, William

Thayer, H. Standish

Vander Sluis, George

Watson, Forbes

Watkins, Franklin C.

Weston, Harold

Wilder, Mitchell A. (Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center)

Wyatt, Stanley