The image is a page from the Harvard Gazette, dated July 17, 1987, featuring a memorial minute for Charles Louis Kuhn, a distinguished figure in the Faculty of Arts & Sciences at Harvard University.

Summary of the Memorial Minute:

Charles Louis Kuhn:

• Born: December 14, 1901, in Cincinnati.
• Died: July 21, 1985, in Cambridge.
• Education: Received his A.B. from the University of Michigan in 1923 and his Ph.D. in 1929.
• Career: Joined Harvard's German Department in 1929 and later became the curator of the Busch-Reisinger Museum in 1930.
• Achievements:
  • Published his dissertation as "Romanesque Paintings of Catalonia."
  • Assembled significant collections of German art, including works by notable artists like Ernst Ludwig Kirchner and Alexander Calder.
  • Played a crucial role in establishing the Busch-Reisinger Museum as a center for German art.
  • Organized temporary exhibitions and wrote scholarly articles on German art.
  • Authored books like "Catalogue Raisonné of German Paintings of the Middle Ages" and "German Gothic Sculpture 1350-1550."
  • Taught courses on art history, influencing many students.

Personal Life:

• Married Hilde Levi in 1930.
• Known for his dedication, kindness, and warmth.
• Enjoyed music and was a skilled pianist.

Legacy:

• Recognized as the most versatile person to teach the history of art at Harvard.
• Contributed significantly to the understanding and appreciation of German art.
• Remembered for his scholarly works, teaching, and the establishment of the Busch-Reisinger Museum.

Tributes:

• Colleagues and friends, including John Coolidge, Mark Harthan, Julian Phelps, James Ackerman, Seymour Slive, and Neil Levine, remember him fondly for his contributions and personal qualities.

The memorial highlights Kuhn's profound impact on the art world, his dedication to education, and his enduring legacy at Harvard University.

Faculty of Arts & Sciences—Memorial Minute

At a meeting of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences on May 19, 1987 the following Minute was placed upon the records.

Charles Louis Kuhn was born in Cincinnati on December 14, 1901, and died in Cambridge on July 21, 1985. His family were financiers and reputedly quite conservative. Kuhn, somewhat fractious, was sent to a military school. A double reaction ensued: he became an artist, and he became a liberal. He was, in the best sense, the gentlest, the least ambitious of men.

Kuhn received an A.B. from the University of Michigan in 1923. He then came to Harvard for graduate study in Fine Arts and was awarded his Ph.D. in 1929. His dissertation was published as Romanesque Wall Painting in France (1930).

During his graduate student years there were in Cambridge some remarkable young enthusiasts for contemporary art, men such as Alfred Barr, Russell Hitchcock, “Chick” Austin, Edward Warburg, and A. Conger Goodyear. Kuhn’s role was that of the art historian, and he played it with a devotion that was to be the hallmark of his life. His special concern was the art of the German avant-garde.

In 1928 Kuhn married Margaret “Peggy” Tarrant. In 1929 he was appointed assistant curator of what was then Harvard’s German Museum. In 1930 he was promoted to associate curator, and in 1938 to curator. He remained in that post until his retirement in 1968.

The first need, of course, was to raise funds, no easy task while the Great Depression was at its height. But the task was successfully accomplished. The first exhibition, in 1931, was of the work of the German Expressionists. It was followed by a series of exhibitions of the work of individual artists, including that of Max Beckmann, whose work Kuhn particularly admired. In 1932, the museum was officially renamed the Busch-Reisinger Museum.

The public reaction was immediate and favorable. Already in October 1931, the Boston Transcript noted the museum “taking the dust of antiquity from its collections to make way for art of contemporary interest.”

What were those collections? The museum had been founded in 1901 by Professor Kuno Francke to be the handmaiden of the Department of Germanic Languages and Literature. The galleries, as Kuhn found them, were filled with plaster casts of German art. There were but two originals, a standard portrait of Kaiser Wilhelm II and a tapestry without any particular distinction. All the original works of art now in the Busch-Reisinger, whether German Expressionist paintings or 20th-century American, were acquired after Kuhn’s arrival.

There was nothing timid about Kuhn. He began by weeding out the collection of casts, for, as he wrote at the time, “the student may have to accept the fact that the best of the past is not always to be found in the museum.” Those he retained represent such familiar masterpieces as the Fries of the Dancers of the Schinkel, and the Fountain of Life of the Freiberg Cathedral. These he gradually supplemented with original works of art, whether by purchase, bequest, or gift. The results are the Busch-Reisinger of today, a museum that exemplifies the art of the northern late Gothic, the courtly elegance of the 18th-century Rococo, and the austerity of the Bauhaus.

But Kuhn’s greatest curatorial achievement was to assemble a collection of Expressionism, Germany’s first contribution to the art of the 20th century. Finding them “degenerate,” Hitler had taken them out of the German museums, and they were available for purchase at low prices. Kuhn bought them and put them on the market. Thus they became available to perceptive collectors like Kuhn. The group of drawings, sculpture, prints, and paintings he assembled is today considered outstanding in Germany itself. In addition, Walter Gropius arrived in Cambridge in 1938 and helped him assemble works by former Bauhaus colleagues.

Remarkable among these were Gropius’s own papers, the archives of Lyonel Feininger, a splendid group of Barlach’s, and a magnificent Frenzel tapestry presented by the internationally known performer E. Power Biggs.

Simply put, the Busch-Reisinger Museum presents almost a thousand years of German art in a way that is unrivaled outside their country of origin.

In this achievement were made known by scholarly articles and by two indispensable catalogues: German Expressionist Art (1958) and German and Netherlandish Sculpture 1200-1800 (1963).

In the classroom, Kuhn was a master of the quiet, unobtrusive kind. He began his teaching career at Harvard in 1931 and continued to do so until his retirement in 1968. His specialty was the art of the northern Renaissance, and his book A Catalogue of German Paintings of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance in American Collections (1963) is still the basic work on the subject. When asked how he managed to teach so effectively, he replied, “I try to make my lectures as clear as possible, and I try to make them as interesting as possible.”

As a lecturer he was lucid and informative, invariable in his respect for the student. He had a remarkable gift for explaining the most complex ideas in the simplest terms. His courses were always filled, and his students were often inspired to go on in the field of art history.

Kuhn’s service to the University was not confined to the classroom. He was the chairman of the Department of Fine Arts from 1949 to 1953. Also he was for a full four-year term the editor of the leading American scholarly journal in our field, The Art Bulletin. All in all, Charles Kuhn was the most versatile person who has ever taught the history of art at Harvard.

As a friend, two qualities in particular come to mind. He was a superb judge of character. He helped shape the careers of many men and women who later achieved distinction in the teaching and museum fields.

A quiet firmness was of his very nature. He invariably reached his objectives without confrontation. Always willing to hear about your problems, he would, when asked, explain how you could most effectively overcome them. In short, he was that rare combination, a perceptive, wise, and warmhearted man.

John Coolidge
Mark Haxthausen
Julia D. Armstrong
E. C. Eldridge
Seymour Slive
Neil Levine (Chairman)

The image is a page from the Harvard Gazette dated July 17, 1987, featuring a "Memorial Minute" for Charles Louis Kuhn, who was a faculty member in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University.

Summary of the Memorial Minute:

Biographical Information:

• Charles Louis Kuhn was born in Cincinnati on December 14, 1901, and died in Cambridge on July 21, 1985.
• His family were financiers and conservative, which led Kuhn to initially enlist in the military during World War I. He later became the least military of men.

Education and Early Career:

• Kuhn received an A.B. from the University of Michigan in 1923.
• He then pursued graduate studies at Harvard University in Fine Arts, earning his Ph.D. in 1932.
• His dissertation was later published as a monograph titled "German and Netherlandish Sculpture, 1280-1800."

Professional Career:

• Kuhn began teaching at Harvard in 1928 and remained there until his retirement in 1969.
• He was appointed as the curator of what became Harvard's Germanic Museum in 1930, later renamed the Busch-Reisinger Museum.
• Kuhn's early efforts were focused on fundraising and acquiring notable artworks, often with limited funds, leading to the museum's significant growth.
• He was instrumental in organizing exhibitions and acquiring works of German avant-garde artists, despite facing financial and logistical challenges.
• Kuhn's cultural achievement included assembling a notable collection of Expressionist art, which was the first of its kind in the United States.

Contributions to Harvard and Art History:

• Kuhn was renowned for his versatile knowledge and teaching in the history of art, particularly noted for his incorporation of local collections into his teaching.
• He authored a seminal catalog on German Paintings of the Middle Ages and contributed to the understanding of German Renaissance art.
• Kuhn was also involved in various administrative and scholarly activities, including his role in the Department of Fine Arts at Harvard and his editorial work for the Art Bulletin.

Personal Traits:

• Kuhn was remembered for his wit, wisdom, and warm-hearted nature.
• He was deeply committed to his students and the broader academic community, leaving a lasting impact on both.

Signatories:
The memorial minute was signed by several colleagues, including John Coolidge, Mark Ashton, John Rosenfield, and Seymour Slive, with Neil Levine noted as the Chairman.

The image is a newspaper clipping from the Harvard Gazette dated July 17, 1987. The article is titled "Faculty of Arts & Sciences—Memorial Minute" and honors Charles Louis Kuhn, who passed away on July 21, 1985.

Here is a detailed summary of the article:

Charles Louis Kuhn:

• Born in Cincinnati on December 14, 1901.
• Died in Cambridge on July 21, 1985.
• He was a notable art historian and curator.

Early Life and Education:

• His family moved to Cambridge, where he attended a military school.
• He received his A.B. from the University of Michigan in 1923.
• Came to Harvard for graduate studies in Fine Arts, earning a Ph.D. in 1929.
• His dissertation was published as "Romanticism in French Painting."

Career:

• Kuhn was a curator at the Busch-Reisinger Museum from 1928 until his retirement in 1968.
• He was instrumental in introducing contemporary art from Germany to America.
• Known for his expertise in German art, he organized numerous exhibitions and contributed to various publications.
• His exhibitions included works by artists such as Alfred Barr, Wassily Kandinsky, and others.
• He was involved in organizing shows of modern art and was a key figure in the Harvard Art Museums.

Achievements:

• Kuhn was responsible for assembling a significant collection of German Expressionism at the Busch-Reisinger Museum.
• He was known for his ability to find and purchase artworks that were not widely available.
• He authored several books and articles, including "German Expressionism and Abstract Art" and "German and Netherlandish Sculpture 1280-1800."
• He served as the chairman of the Department of Fine Arts from 1949 to 1953.

Character and Influence:

• Described as a versatile person who was ever-taught and knowledgeable about art history.
• Known for his wit, charm, and warmth.
• His colleagues and students remember him fondly for his contributions to the field and his personal qualities.

The memorial minute concludes with a quote from Kuhn's colleagues, praising his contributions and character. The article is signed by John Coolidge, Mark Hasthausen, Julia Phelps, Seymour Slive, and Neil Levine, with Neil Levine noted as the Chairman.

The image is a page from the Harvard Gazette, dated July 17, 1987, featuring a memorial minute for Charles Louis Kuhn, a faculty member of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences.

Key Points:

1. Memorial Minute:

   • The meeting of the Faculty of Arts & Sciences on May 19, 1987, placed a memorial minute on the records in honor of Charles Louis Kuhn.

2. Biographical Information:

   • Charles Louis Kuhn was born in Cincinnati on December 14, 1901, and died in Cambridge on July 21, 1985.
   • He was a prominent figure in the field of art history, known for his expertise in German art and culture.

3. Education:

   • Kuhn received his A.B. from the University of Michigan in 1923 and later went to Harvard for graduate studies in Fine Arts.
   • He was awarded a Ph.D. in 1929, and his dissertation was published as Romanticism in German Painting.

4. Career:

   • Kuhn was a curator at Harvard’s Busch-Reisinger Museum, which he significantly contributed to by raising funds and organizing exhibitions.
   • He was instrumental in establishing the museum's collections, especially focusing on German art, and was recognized for his expertise in Expressionism and other contemporary German art movements.

5. Personal Life:

   • Kuhn married Hettie Shuman in 1933 and had a long and productive career at Harvard until his retirement in 1968.

6. Achievements and Contributions:

   • He curated notable exhibitions, including those of German Expressionists such as Emil Nolde and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner.
   • He was a prolific writer and scholar, publishing extensively on German art and culture.
   • Kuhn was praised for his ability to assemble a significant collection of German art and his dedication to the museum's growth.

7. Tributes:

   • The memorial minute highlights his versatility and deep knowledge of art history, noting his significant contributions to Harvard and the broader academic community.
   • The text includes a quote from the Boston Transcript, praising his ability to make Harvard's collections a significant resource for art of contemporary interest.

8. Eulogy:

   • The text concludes with a eulogy emphasizing Kuhn's versatility, his scholarly achievements, and his role in mentoring students and colleagues.

9. Signatories:

   • The memorial minute is signed by several faculty members including John Coolidge, Mark Hasthaus, Julia Phelps, Seymour Slive, and Neil Levine, who is noted as the Chairman.

This page serves as a tribute to Charles Louis Kuhn, celebrating his impactful career and contributions to the field of art history and the Harvard community.

The image is a page from the Harvard Gazette dated July 17, 1987, featuring a memorial minute for Charles Louis Kuhn. The page is titled "Faculty of Arts & Sciences – Memorial Minute".

The main article discusses the life and contributions of Charles Louis Kuhn, who was born in Cincinnati in 1901 and passed away in Cambridge on July 21, 1985. Kuhn's achievements are highlighted, particularly his role in establishing and curating the Busch-Reisinger Museum at Harvard, which specializes in German art.

Key points include:

• Kuhn's early education and subsequent studies at Harvard.
• His significant contributions to the museum, including fundraising efforts and the acquisition of important works.
• His efforts to create a collection that showcases the best of German art, encompassing various periods and styles.
• The public recognition and positive reception of his work, which helped establish the museum's reputation.
• Kuhn's leadership in the department of Fine Arts and his role in shaping Harvard’s curriculum and collections.

The text also notes Kuhn's versatility, his extensive knowledge of art history, and his ability to bring together diverse and influential works of art.

The memorial minute was written by John Coolidge, Mark Hashtan, Julia Phelps, Richard Feld, Seymour Slive, and Neil Levine. The article is a tribute to Kuhn's dedication, expertise, and lasting impact on the Faculty of Arts & Sciences at Harvard.

This image shows a page from the Harvard Gazette dated July 17, 1987, titled "Faculty of Arts & Sciences—Memorial Minute." It is dedicated to Charles Louis Kuhn, who was born on December 14, 1901, and died on July 21, 1985.

The memorial article describes Kuhn's background, education, career, and contributions. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1923, completed graduate studies at Harvard, and earned a Ph.D. in 1929. He was an expert in contemporary art, German avant-garde, and served as Chairman of the Department of Fine Arts at Harvard from 1949 to 1953.

The text includes recollections of his significant impact on the art history field, his scholarly articles, his role in exhibitions and museum collections, and his personal qualities such as quiet firmness and warmth.

On the page, there is a large block of text detailing these aspects, framed with a bold border. There is also a portrait of Charles Louis Kuhn that is obscured by a square gray overlay. The memorial concludes with signatures from several individuals including John Coolidge, Mark Haithausen, Julia Phelps, John Rosenfield, Seymour Slive, and the chairman Neil Levine.

The image displays an open page from the Harvard Gazette dated July 17, 1987, featuring an article titled "Faculty of Arts & Sciences—Memorial Minute." The article, located on page 9, is dedicated to someone from the faculty, discussing their contribution to arts and sciences, including details about their academic background and professional achievements. There is a column on the right with the individual's name, followed by a tribute to their versatility and impact on the history of art at Harvard University. The text elaborates on various aspects of the person's career, including their work with collections and engagement with art from Germany.

The left column provides a historical account of the person's life and significant milestones, referring to their educational history and noting distinctions such as studying Fine Arts and receiving awards. Details about their contributions to museum curation and scholarly activities are mentioned further down the article. This memorial minute appears to be a record of respect and remembrance for the individual's life and work within the Harvard academic community.

The image shows an open book with a page that appears to be from a magazine or journal, specifically the Harvard Gazette, dated July 17, 1987. The page is titled "Faculty of Arts & Sciences—Memorial Minute" and features an article about Charles Louis Kuhn, who was a professor at Harvard University.

The article begins with a photograph of Charles Louis Kuhn, which is positioned in the top right corner of the page. The image shows Kuhn in formal attire, looking to the side. The photograph is bordered by a simple black frame.

Below the photograph, the text provides a detailed account of Kuhn's life and career. It mentions his birth in Cincinnati on December 14, 1901, and his death in Cambridge on July 21, 1985. Kuhn was described as a conservative financier and a collector of contemporary art. The article highlights his role as a benefactor of the Busch-Reisinger Museum at Harvard, where he donated his collection of German Expressionist art.

The text also notes Kuhn's academic background, including his undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan and his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1929. It mentions his early career as an A.B. from Harvard in 1923 and his subsequent work as an assistant in fine arts.

The article discusses Kuhn's contributions to the field of art history and his role in promoting German Expressionist art in the United States. It also touches on his personal life, including his marriage to Hetty Shuman in 1934 and their joint efforts in collecting art.

The page is well-organized with a clear layout, featuring the title at the top, the photograph on the right, and the text on the left. The text is written in a formal and academic tone, reflecting the nature of the publication. The page is part of a larger volume, as indicated by the presence of other pages visible in the background.

The image shows a page from a printed document titled "Faculty of Arts & Sciences—Memorial Minute", dated July 17, 1987, and published in the Harvard Gazette. The page is part of a formal tribute or memorial minute honoring Charles Louis Kuhn, a faculty member at Harvard University.

Key Elements of the Image:

Header:

• The top of the page features the title: "Faculty of Arts & Sciences—Memorial Minute".
• Below the title, there is a subheading indicating the date of the meeting: "At a meeting of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences on May 19, 1987 the following minute was placed upon the records."

Main Content:

• The body of the text is a detailed memorial minute describing Kuhn's life, career, and contributions to Harvard and the field of art history.
• The text begins with a brief biography of Kuhn:
  • Born in Cincinnati on December 14, 1901.
  • Died in Cambridge on July 21, 1985.
  • Educated at the University of Michigan (A.B. in 1923) and Harvard (graduate study in Fine Arts and Romance Languages; Ph.D. in 1930).
  • Received an M.B. from the University of Michigan in 1923.
  • Joined the Harvard faculty in 1938 and remained there until his retirement in 1968.

Professional Contributions:

• The text highlights Kuhn's significant role in establishing the ** Busch-Reisinger Museum** at Harvard, which was dedicated to German art.
• It emphasizes his dedication to assembling a remarkable collection of German art, including works by notable artists such as Gropius, Feininger, and Power Riggs.
• The museum was founded during a time of economic and political turmoil (the Great Depression and the rise of the Third Reich), and Kuhn's efforts were crucial in preserving and showcasing German art during this period.

Legacy and Impact:

• The memorial minute praises Kuhn's scholarly contributions, including his work on German Expressionism and Abstract art.
• It notes his role in teaching and mentoring students, highlighting his influence on the field of art history.
• The text also acknowledges his personal qualities, such as his integrity, wisdom, and warmth.

Visual Elements:

• On the right side of the page, there is a black-and-white photograph of Charles Louis Kuhn. The photo shows him in formal attire, with a serious expression, and is accompanied by a caption: "Charles Louis Kuhn".
• Below the photograph, there is a quote: "All in all, Charles Kuhn was the most versatile person who has ever taught the history of art at Harvard."

Footer:

• At the bottom of the page, the names of individuals who contributed to the memorial minute are listed:
  • John Coolidge
  • Mark Hapgood
  • Julia Meyerson
  • James S. Plimpton
  • Seymour Slive
  • Neil Levine (Chairman)

Overall Context:

The page is a formal and respectful tribute to Charles Louis Kuhn, emphasizing his academic achievements, his role in establishing the Busch-Reisinger Museum, and his lasting impact on the study of German art at Harvard. The inclusion of a photograph and a quote adds a personal touch, underscoring his significance and legacy. The document is part of a memorial minute, likely intended for official university records or publication.