Lorenzo James Hatch and Hatch family papers
name: label: Creator
content: Hatch, Lorenzo James, 1856-1914
label: Names
content: Harrison, Effie C.
label: Names
content: Hatch, Grace
label: Names
content: Sun, Yat-sen, 1866-1925
label: Names
content: Yuan, Shikai, 1859-1916
place: label: Place
content: China -- Social conditions -- 1644-1912
label: Place
content: China -- History -- Qing dynasty, 1644-1912
label: Place
content: China -- History -- Revolution, 1911-1912
label: Place
content: China -- Description and Travel
topic: label: Topic
content: Engravers
acqinfo: label: Provenance
content: The papers of Lorenzo James Hatch and the Hatch family were donated in 1989 by Hatch's great-grandniece, Janet Young Brockmoller.  Additional materials were donated in 2015 by John and Janet Fesler, who acquired the material from a neighbor who received the papers from Gail Harrison, executor for her sister Grace Harrison Hatch and Hatch's sister-n-law.
creator: label: Creator
content: Hatch, Lorenzo James, 1856-1914
setName: label: See more items in
content: Lorenzo James Hatch and Hatch family papers
abstract: label: Summary
content: The Lorenzo James Hatch and Hatch family papers measure 1.7 linear feet and date from circa 1890-1950, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1902-1914. The papers consist of family correspondence, printed material, three scrapbooks of printed materials and photographs, and a travel account. Letters are from Lorenzo Hatch, his wife Grace Harrison Hatch, and other family members. Most of the collection concerns the family's time in Peking (Beijing), China from 1908-1914 while Hatch was assisting the Chinese government create a Bureau of Printing and Engraving. The papers reveal impressions of the social and economic conditions of the Chinese, the revolutionary events of 1911 and 1912, the Pneumonic Plague epidemic in China from 1910-1911, and sight-seeing trips.  An unprocessed addition of 0.4 linear feet includes biographical material; photographs of Hatch, his family and works of art; personal correspondence; artwork; printed material, and legal and financial records relating to the estate of Lorenzo Hatch. Also included is a horseshoe from Harrison Hatch's pony "Moses" (in China).
bioghist: label: Biographical Note
content: Lorenzo James Hatch (1856-1914) was born in Vermont and is best known for his work as a portrait engraver in Washington, D.C. and New York. He worked for the United States Bureau of Printing and Engraving, private bank note printers, and in China, assisting the government with establishing a government bureau of printing and engraving.

 Early in his career, Lorenzo found his talent for engraving intricate portraits in metals. In 1874, the head of the United States Bureau of Printing and Engraving admired Hatch's portrait of George Washington on copper and hired him. During his time in Washington, D.C., Hatch spent his nights studying drawing and watercolor painting. However, his talent to engrave vignettes of presidents and other famous figures proved more impressive. 

In 1888, Hatch moved to Chicago to work for a private bank note company. There, he met Grace Harrison of California. They were married and had one son, Harrison in 1902. After taking a job in New York City with another bank note company, Hatch solidified his reputation in the field. Around 1908, the Chinese government invited Hatch to establish a Bureau of Printing and Engraving modeled after that of the United States. He accepted a six-year contract to oversee the building of the bureau and train the Chinese to run the office. With his wife, their son, and sister-in-law Effie Harrision, Lorenzo moved to Peking. 

During his time in China, Lorenzo Hatch succeeded in building the foundations for a modern printing bureau. However, the revolution in China between 1911-1912 hindered completion. He described his experiences, perceptions, and insecurities of being in China to his family and friends through letters. Before his contract ended, Hatch passed away on February 3, 1914.
physdesc: label: Extent
content: 1.7 Linear Feet
unitdate: label: Date
content: bulk 1902-1914
label: Date
content: circa 1890-1950
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Archives of American Art
identifier: label: Identifier
content: AAA.hatclore
objectType: label: Type
content: Collection descriptions
label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Scrapbooks
label: Type
content: Photographs
arrangement: label: Arrangement
content: The collection is arranged into 6 series:

Series 1: Correspondence, 1902-1914 (Box 1-3; 0.9 linear feet)

Series 2: Writings, circa 1912 (Box 3; 1 folder)

Series 3: Printed Material, 1902-1937 (Box 3; 2 folders)

Series 4: Photographs, circa 1911 (Box 3; 1 folder)

Series 5: Scrapbooks, 1908-1911, circa 1920s (Box 3-4; 0.3)

Series 6:  Unprocessed Addition, circa 1902-1937 (Box 5; 0.4)
processinfo: label: Processing Information
content: The papers were processed by Jayna Hanson in September of 2008. In 2010, the collection was arranged for digitization by Jayna Hanson with funding provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art.  Additional materials acquired in 2015 remain mostly unprocessed.
altformavail: label: Alternative Forms Available
content: This site provides access to the papers of Lorenzo James Hatch in the Archives of American Art that were digitized in 2010, and total 3656 images.
genre_format: label: Genre/Form
content: Scrapbooks
label: Genre/Form
content: Photographs
scopecontent: label: Scope and Content Note
content: The Lorenzo James Hatch and Hatch family papers measure 1.7 linear feet and date from circa 1890-1950, with the bulk of the materials dating from 1902-1914.  The papers consist of family correspondence, printed material, three scrapbooks of printed materials and photographs, and a travel account. Letters are from Lorenzo Hatch, his wife Grace Harrison Hatch, and other family members. Most of the collection concerns the family's time in Peking (Beijing), China from 1908-1914 while Hatch was assisting the Chinese government create a Bureau of Printing and Engraving. The papers reveal impressions of the social and economic conditions of the Chinese, the revolutionary events of 1911 and 1912, the Pneumonic Plague epidemic in China from 1910-1911, and sight-seeing trips.  An unprocessed addition of 0.4 linear feet includes biographical material; photographs of Hatch, his family and works of art; personal correspondence; artwork; printed material, and legal and financial records relating to the estate of Lorenzo Hatch. Also included is a horseshoe from Harrison Hatch's pony "Moses" (in China).

Letters trace the family's journey from California to Peking, China, and their life in China. Lorenzo's correspondence includes information concerning Chinese politics and the revolution, the roles of Sun Yat-Sen and Yuan Shih K'ai between 1911-1912 and the fall of the Qing Dynasty. Effie Harrison's and Grace Hatch's letters discuss day-to-day life in China, sight-seeing trips and their reactions to the social and political unrest in the country. Additional correspondence includes condolence letters sent to the family after Lorenzo's death. There is a also a written account by Effie Harrison describing her travel to China on a steamer ship. 

Printed materials consist of clippings and a Macbeth Gallery exhibition catalog from a 1937 show of Hatch's paintings. 

There are three photographs of Peking. Three disbound scrapbooks include photographs of the Chinese landscape and monuments, interior shots, and of the family traveling through China. Photographs are of the Ming Tombs, the Great Wall of China, as well as temples and city buildings. Some later photographs are of family members that were taken around 1920, after their return to the United States. The scrapbooks also contain examples of Chinese currency designed by Lorenzo James Hatch. 

An unprocessed addition of 0.4 linear feet includes biographical material; photographs of Hatch, his family and works of art; personal correspondence; artwork; printed material, and legal and financial records relating to the estate of Lorenzo Hatch. Also included is a horseshoe from Harrison Hatch's pony "Moses" (in China).