Correspondence and Memoranda
name: label: Collection Creator
content: D'Harnoncourt, Rene, 1901-1968
setName: label: See more items in
content: René d'Harnoncourt papers
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 5 Folders (Box 1)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1929-1981
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.dharrene, Series 2
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: The earliest correspondence and memoranda in this series relate to the Mexican Arts exhibition, and include a copy of a letter, and an original letter, from Dr. Atl. The 1930-1932 folder consists of copies of letters of appreciation to d'Harnoncourt and reviews of the exhibition translated into Spanish to send to the Mexican government, with a list of the letters and reviews contained therein.

The 1932-1939 correspondence and memoranda document d'Harnoncourt's work for the "Art in America" program; the concerted effort on behalf of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board to engage d'Harnoncourt's services at the outset of the Board; and negotiations between Sarah Lawrence College and the Department of the Interior over a schedule that would allow the Department of the Interior to employ d'Harnoncourt part-time as Assistant to the General manager of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. The folder also includes travel authorizations for d'Harnoncourt in this capacity. 

Also found is a letter from The Coast magazine, and a copy of the issue referenced in the letter, that includes an article about the Indian Arts and Crafts exhibition (1939) at Treasure Island, San Francisco. 

Correspondence from 1940 to mid-1944 is primarily official memoranda regarding d'Harnoncourt's performance and appointment terms on the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, including memos relating to his resignation as General Manager in 1944. In response to a desire to retain d'Harnoncourt as a member of the Board, which is documented here, he subsequently served as Chairman of the Board for seventeen years.

1962-1968 correspondence consists of a 1962 letter to d'Harnoncourt from Maria Krisztinkovich, enclosing a copy of her book on Hungarian glazed stoneware, and d'Harnoncourt's letter of thanks. Also found are copies of three condolence letters to Sarah d'Harnoncourt following d'Harnoncourt's death.

Posthumous correspondence from 1975-1981 relates to inquiries made, and assistance provided, by Sarah d'Harnoncourt, primarily in relation to d'Harnoncourt's activities on the Indian Arts and Crafts Board. It includes correspondence with Carol K. Rachlin and Alice Marriott in regard to their research for a book on the history of the Board, and a photocopy of a memorandum (July 21, 1936) from John Oliver, then Commissioner of Indian Affairs, stating his unequivocal belief in the importance of employing d'Harnoncourt for the Board: "From any point of view, and whether whole or part time, the Arts and Crafts Board needs him. No one else possesses his experience or his many-sided equipment. We need him at the start when we are laying foundations."