Finding Aid
Submit Reference RequestPrintDownload PDF

Reference Request

* required
Please succinctly provide us with any information pertinent to your inquiry. If you are writing to us about a research request, provide as much detail as possible about the collections in which you are interested (including collection numbers, box numbers, and folder titles).
(if known)

The Smithsonian Institution Archives is using Constant Contact, a third-party contact management software vendor, to manage contacts and send eNewsletters. Please be advised that Constant Contact's Privacy Statement and Terms and Conditions apply to your use of these services. The Smithsonian Institution Archives has access to your name and email address which is subject to our privacy statement.

Finding Aids to Official Records of the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Accession 95-058

National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution). Department of Painting and Sculpture

Curatorial Records, 1960-1994

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution). Department of Painting and Sculpture
Title:Curatorial Records
Dates:1960-1994
Quantity:4 cu. ft. (4 record storage boxes)
Collection:Accession 95-058
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

This accession consists of records that document the career of Robert G. Stewart, Senior Curator in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG), and art historian. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1954, Stewart worked for the National Park Service as historical architect. From 1961 to 1964 he was Director of Properties for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In November 1964 Stewart became one of the first three staff members of the NPG when he was named Curator in that bureau. Stewart's work before coming to the Smithsonian is largely undocumented in these records, with the exception of a single article that was probably written in 1960. The bulk of the records describe Stewart's professional work both within and outside of the Smithsonian. Personal correspondence files dating from 1964 through 1994 consist mostly of letters concerning topics of professional interest to Stewart, in which he identifies himself as a curator. Professional correspondence files dating from 1985 through 1994 consist mainly of public inquiries and Stewart's replies. The records document Stewart's participation in several NPG exhibitions, most notably on the work of Henry Benbridge, which was shown in 1971. Records also contain documentation about Stewart's museum-sponsored travel and his involvement with Smithsonian committees and other bodies. These records also document Stewart's activities outside the Smithsonian. They contain files on competitions he adjudicated; articles and essays he contributed to various publications; guest lectures, speeches, and other presentations; and outside professional organizations in which he was involved. The records include several files on a course he taught at George Washington University from roughly 1967 to 1972 called "Principles of Museum Work," noted in the files as "ART 146."

Descriptive Entry

This accession consists of records that document the career of Robert G. Stewart, Senior Curator in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG), and art historian. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1954, Stewart worked for the National Park Service as historical architect. From 1961 to 1964 he was Director of Properties for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In November 1964 Stewart became one of the first three staff members of the NPG when he was named Curator in that bureau.

Stewart's work before coming to the Smithsonian is largely undocumented in these records, with the exception of a single article that was probably written in 1960. The bulk of the records describe Stewart's professional work both within and outside of the Smithsonian. Personal correspondence files dating from 1964 through 1994 consist mostly of letters concerning topics of professional interest to Stewart, in which he identifies himself as a curator.

Professional correspondence files dating from 1985 through 1994 consist mainly of public inquiries and Stewart's replies. The records document Stewart's participation in several NPG exhibitions, most notably on the work of Henry Benbridge, which was shown in 1971. Records also contain documentation about Stewart's museum-sponsored travel and his involvement with Smithsonian committees and other bodies.

These records also document Stewart's activities outside the Smithsonian. They contain files on competitions he adjudicated; articles and essays he contributed to various publications; guest lectures, speeches, and other presentations; and outside professional organizations in which he was involved. The records include several files on a course he taught at George Washington University from roughly 1967 to 1972 called "Principles of Museum Work," noted in the files as "ART 146."

Top of Page

This collection is indexed under the following access terms. These are links to collections with related topics, persons or places.

Name

Subject

Physical Characteristics of Materials in the Collection

Top of Page

Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 95-058, National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution), Department of Painting and Sculpture, Curatorial Records

Top of Page

Container List

Box 1

Personal Correspondence, 1964-1966

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1967-1968

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1969-1970

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1971-1972

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1973-1974

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1975-1976

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1977-1978

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1979-1980

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1981-1982

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1983-1984

Box 1 of 4

England (1986-1991)

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1985-1986

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1986-1987

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1987-1988

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1989-1990

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1991

Box 1 of 4

Personal Correspondence, 1992, 1993, 1994

Box 1 of 4

Publications, 1988-1994

Box 1 of 4

Portraiture in America, Main Street Press, 1976

Box 1 of 4

International Art Medals, 1988

Box 1 of 4

HABS Foundation (1983-1993)

Box 1 of 4

Box 2

"George Washington" (article in Antiques), 1988

Box 2 of 4

Address Book

Box 2 of 4

Johnson, Joshua, exhibition (1985-1987)

Box 2 of 4

Pine exhibition, November 6, 1979

Box 2 of 4

Henry Benbridge, 1743-1812: American Portrait Painter (April 2, 1971-May 16, 1971) - Publicity, 1971

Box 2 of 4

Benbridge general, after exhibit (1971-1983)

Box 2 of 4

Benbridge - Associative Objects

Box 2 of 4

Biographies of Benbridge Sitters, done by Education Department

Box 2 of 4

Benbridge - Press Release

Box 2 of 4

Benbridge General - Norfolk Museum

Box 2 of 4

Benbridge General - Gibbes Art Gallery

Box 2 of 4

Benbridge - Exhibition Hall

Box 2 of 4

Benbridge Script

Box 2 of 4

Benbridge General - Miscellaneous

Box 2 of 4

Henry Benbridge

Box 2 of 4

Application for Research Grant - James Earl

Box 2 of 4

James Earl, January 15, 1970 - April 17, 1970

Box 2 of 4

Abroad in America - Miscellaneous (1976)

Box 2 of 4

American Portrait Drawings - May 1, 1980

Box 2 of 4

Performance Appraisal - Robert Stewart I (appraisals removed - file contains position descriptions and performance plans) (2 folders)

Box 2 of 4

Conservation - R. S. Wiles (1965-1966)

Box 2 of 4

ART 146: "Principles of Museum Work," course taught at George Washington University, 1967-1972 - Outline

Box 2 of 4

ART 146 - Lecture Notes

Box 2 of 4

ART 146, 1967-1968

Box 2 of 4

ART 146, Fall 1968

Box 2 of 4

ART 146, 1968 (2 folders)

Box 2 of 4

ART 146, Spring 1969

Box 2 of 4

ART 146, Fall 1969

Box 2 of 4

Box 3

ART 146, 1969

Box 3 of 4

ART 146 - Notes, 1969-1970

Box 3 of 4

ART 146, Spring 1970

Box 3 of 4

ART 146Interns - Comprehensive Exam, December 15-16, 1970

Box 3 of 4

ART 146, 1967-1972

Box 3 of 4

Robert G. Stewart, Speeches (1967-1968)

Box 3 of 4

Robert G. Stewart, Articles (1960-1980)

Box 3 of 4

Public Library, Martin Luther King (1983, 1985)

Box 3 of 4

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (1970-1977)

Box 3 of 4

Civil Service Commission (1965-1971)

Box 3 of 4

Gilman School (1985)

Box 3 of 4

Robert G. Stewart Travel - London, July 1973

Box 3 of 4

Painting in the South, February 1979

Box 3 of 4

Robert G. Stewart - Lauren Rogers Museum, April 10, 1987, Symposium and Lecture, Manuscript for Southern Quarterly - Benbridge and Earl

Box 3 of 4

Jamaica National Fine Arts Commission, July 24-August 2, 1971

Box 3 of 4

Encyclopedia of the American Revolution - Blanco, State University of New York (1988-1993)

Box 3 of 4

Lecture, St. John Museum, Wilmington, North Carolina (1988-1990)

Box 3 of 4

Krimmel Book Review by RGS, Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography (1988)

Box 3 of 4

Peale Conference, April 13, 1991

Box 3 of 4

Trip to England, November 1987

Box 3 of 4

Dictionary of Art (1986, 1988)

Box 3 of 4

Bicentennial of the American Revolution, 1969-1975

Box 3 of 4

Inquiries, 1986-1987

Box 3 of 4

Log of Visitors, September 1986-December 1986

Box 3 of 4

General Correspondence, 1986

Box 3 of 4

Correspondence, 1987

Box 3 of 4

Inquiries - Responses, 1987-1988

Box 3 of 4

Inquiries, 1987

Box 3 of 4

Correspondence, 1988

Box 3 of 4

Correspondence, 1989

Box 3 of 4

Box 4

Inquiries - Responses, 1989-1990

Box 4 of 4

General Correspondence, 1990

Box 4 of 4

Inquiries - Responses, 1988-1989

Box 4 of 4

Inquiries, January-June 1990

Box 4 of 4

Inquiries, June-December, 1990

Box 4 of 4

Correspondence, 1991

Box 4 of 4

Inquiries, 1991

Box 4 of 4

Inquiries, 1992

Box 4 of 4

Correspondence, 1993

Box 4 of 4

Correspondence, 1994

Box 4 of 4

Maryland - National Capital Park and Planning's "Eye to Eye: The Painted Portrait" Competition, 1994

Box 4 of 4

Top of Page