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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbooks, October 1943-May 1947

ARCH.2003.29, Rendition: 803783

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This image shows a collection of historical newspaper clippings preserved in a green archival folder, likely from the Fogg Museum of Art at Harvard University, dated May 1947.

The main article, prominently displayed on the right, is a Boston Herald clipping dated May 19, 1947, titled:

"Harvard’s Art Treasure Took to Woods At Petersham During War, Now Returned"

Written by W. M. Honer, Jr., the article details how Harvard University’s valuable art collection — including masterpieces by John Adams, Thomas Boylston, Titian, and Rembrandt — was evacuated from Cambridge during World War II to protect it from potential wartime damage. The treasures were moved to the Fogg Museum’s country estate in Petersham, Massachusetts, where they were stored with great care under the watch of museum staff, including Edward G. Parker and V. K. Day. The article mentions that 350 paintings, drawings, prints, and ceramics were safely returned to Cambridge in December 1945 and May 1946. It also describes the elaborate protective measures taken, such as wrapping artworks, using special humidity control systems, and conducting bi-weekly inspections — a testament to the museum’s commitment to preserving its collection during the war.

On the left side of the folder, there are four smaller newspaper clippings from various Boston publications — the Christian Science Monitor, Evening Globe, and one from the Boston News Clip service — all dated between May 12 and May 26, 1947. These clippings announce a public lecture by Prof. Sau-Cheng Liang of Tsing Hua University, Peiping (Beijing), titled:

"Recent Discoveries in Chinese Architecture"

The lecture was hosted by the Fogg Museum on Friday at 4 p.m. and highlighted Prof. Liang’s role as head of the Academy of Architecture at Tsing Hua University, his graduate work at Penn, and his appointment as head of Tsing Hua’s architecture department in 1946.

Many of the clippings are stamped with the official seal and number “185F” from the Fogg Museum of Art, Harvard University, indicating they were part of the museum’s internal archival records. The clippings are mounted on aged, slightly yellowed paper and exhibit signs of mid-century newspaper texture and typography.

Overall, the folder serves as a historical record documenting two significant moments in 1947: the safe return of Harvard’s wartime-evacuated art collection, and the international academic outreach of the Fogg Museum through a lecture by a prominent Chinese architectural historian.


Key Details:

  • Date Range: May 12–26, 1947
  • Main Article Title: “Harvard’s Art Treasure Took to Woods At Petersham During War, Now Returned”
  • Main Publication: Boston Herald, May 19, 1947
  • Secondary Articles: Announcements of Prof. Sau-Cheng Liang’s lecture
  • Archival Marking: “185F” stamp from Fogg Museum of Art, Harvard University
  • Preservation Context: Clippings pasted into a green archival folder

This collection reflects the Fogg Museum’s dual focus in 1947: safeguarding its core collection during national crisis and fostering global cultural exchange through scholarship.

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The image shows a page from a newspaper or a collection of newspaper clippings. The page appears to be from the "Boston News Clip" section, dated May 12, 1947, and includes several articles and announcements. The main article is titled "Harvard’s Art Treasure Took to Woods At Petersham During War, Now Returned" and discusses the relocation of Harvard University's art collection to Petersham, Massachusetts, during World War II for safety. It mentions that the artworks were moved to a forested area to protect them from potential damage. The article includes details about the art collections, the process of relocation, and the precautions taken to protect the artworks. There are also smaller articles and announcements about other events and lectures, such as a lecture by Professor Ssu-Cheng of Tsing Hua University and exhibitions at the Fogg Museum of Art. The page has a vintage appearance, with faded colors and a slightly worn look, indicating its age.

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This image shows a scrapbook page with several newspaper clippings from Boston newspapers, dated in May 1947. The main article, titled "Harvard's Art Treasure Took to Woods At Petersham During War, Now Returned," is from the Boston Herald and discusses how Harvard's art treasures were moved to Petersham for safekeeping during the war and have now been returned. The article is written by W.M. Homer, Jr. and covers the logistics, precautions, and challenges involved in moving and protecting the art.

There are also smaller clippings from the Christian Science Monitor, the Evening Globe, and the Boston Herald, discussing various events and exhibitions at the Fogg Museum of Art at Harvard University. These clippings are dated May 12, 14, and 26, 1947. The page is bound with a green fabric cover.

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The image shows a scrapbook page featuring newspaper clippings and other printed materials. The clippings are from various Boston newspapers, including the Boston News Clip, Boston Herald, and Christian Science Monitor, dated from May 12 to May 26, 1947. The clippings are arranged on a beige background with a green border. The main article is about Harvard's art treasure being taken to the woods at Petersham during the war and now returned. There are other articles about Fogg Museum lectures and other news. The clippings are neatly arranged, and some have handwritten notes.

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The image is of an open book that features several newspaper clippings. The book is bound in a green cover and has a gold border on the edges of the pages. The clippings are from the Boston News Clip, Evening Globe, and Christian Science Monitor, all from May 1947. The clippings are pasted on the pages of the book, and some of them have been cut out and placed in a specific order. The clippings contain news articles about Harvard's art collection being moved to the woods during the war and later returned.

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The image depicts an open book or scrapbook containing a collection of newspaper clippings dated from May 1947. The clippings are neatly organized and appear to be from various Boston-based newspapers, including the Boston News Clip, Boston Herald, Evening Globe, and Christian Science Monitor. Each clipping is labeled with the newspaper name, address, and date, indicating a systematic archiving effort.

Key Details:

  1. Top Left Clipping:

    • Newspaper: Boston News Clip
    • Address: 120 Tremont Street, Boston, Mass.
    • Date: May 12, 1947
    • Content: The headline reads, "Harvard's Art Treasure Took to Woods At Petersham During War, Now Returned." The article discusses the relocation of Harvard's Fogg Art Museum treasures to Petersham, Massachusetts, during World War II for safekeeping and their subsequent return.
  2. Top Right Clipping:

    • Newspaper: Boston News Clip
    • Address: 120 Tremont Street, Boston, Mass.
    • Date: May 10, 1947
    • Content: This clipping appears to be the same article as the one on the left, as indicated by the identical headline and content. It is likely a duplicate or a different edition of the same article.
  3. Bottom Left Clipping:

    • Newspaper: Boston News Clip
    • Address: 120 Tremont Street, Boston, Mass.
    • Date: May 14, 1947
    • Content: The headline reads, "Prof. Sau-Ming-Leng to Give Lecture." This article announces a public lecture by Professor Sau-Ming-Leng at the Harvard University Fine Arts Library, scheduled for Friday, May 16, 1947, at 4:15 p.m.
  4. Bottom Right Clipping:

    • Newspaper: Boston News Clip
    • Address: 120 Tremont Street, Boston, Mass.
    • Date: May 26, 1947
    • Content: The headline reads, "Christian Science Monitor." This appears to be a reference or excerpt from the Christian Science Monitor, though the specific content is not visible in the image.

Additional Observations:

  • Annotations: There are handwritten notes and markings on the clippings, such as "128F" and "128F" on the top left and bottom left clippings, respectively. These likely serve as cataloging or indexing references.
  • Condition: The pages show signs of age, with slight discoloration and wear, typical of historical documents.
  • Purpose: The arrangement suggests this is part of a curated collection, possibly for research, historical documentation, or personal archiving purposes.

Overall Impression:

The image portrays a well-organized collection of historical newspaper clippings from May 1947, focusing on events related to Harvard University, art preservation during World War II, and academic lectures. The meticulous labeling and preservation indicate a deliberate effort to document and maintain these articles for future reference.

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This image depicts a page from a scrapbook or photo album, featuring a collection of newspaper clippings and articles. The page is open to reveal the contents, with the left side showing the spine of the book and the right side displaying the page with the clippings.

The clippings are arranged in a collage style, with some overlapping each other. They appear to be from various newspapers, including the Boston News Clip, Boston Herald, and Evening Globe, all dated May 1947. The articles cover a range of topics, including art, science, and current events.

One of the clippings stands out as it is larger than the others and features a headline that reads "Harvard's Art Treasure Took to Woods At Petersham During War, Now Returned." This article likely discusses the relocation of Harvard's art collection during World War II and its subsequent return.

The overall appearance of the page suggests that it was created by someone who was interested in collecting and preserving newspaper articles from a specific time period. The use of a scrapbook or photo album as a medium for displaying the clippings adds a personal touch to the collection, implying that the creator wanted to keep these articles as a memento or reference for future use.

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The image shows a page from a scrapbook or photo album, featuring a newspaper clipping from the Boston Herald dated May 19, 1947. The clipping is titled "Harvard's Art Treasure Took to Woods at Petersham During War, Now Returned" and reports on the return of Harvard University's art collection to its Petersham, Massachusetts location after being relocated during World War II.

The clipping is surrounded by other newspaper clippings, including one from the Boston News Clip dated May 12, 1947, which appears to be a notice about a lecture at Harvard University. Another clipping from the Boston News Clip dated May 14, 1947, mentions a lecture at Harvard University, while a clipping from the Christian Science Monitor dated May 26, 1947, reports on a lecture at Harvard University.

The background of the image is a plain gray color, suggesting that the scrapbook or photo album is being displayed against a neutral backdrop. Overall, the image provides a glimpse into the history of Harvard University's art collection and its relocation during World War II, as well as the university's academic activities during the 1940s.

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The image depicts a page from a scrapbook or album, featuring a collection of newspaper clippings and articles.

Page Layout:
The page is open to a section with a green cover, revealing a yellowed interior page. The page is divided into two main sections: the left side contains four smaller newspaper clippings, while the right side showcases a larger article.

Left-Side Clippings:
The four clippings on the left are arranged vertically, each with a "BOSTON NEWS CLIP" label at the top, indicating their source. The clippings are dated May 12, 1947; May 14, 1947; and May 26, 1947, suggesting that they were collected over a period of time. The articles appear to be related to art and culture, with one clipping featuring a lecture announcement by Prof. Liang-Su-Cheng at the Fogg Museum.

Right-Side Article:
The larger article on the right is titled "Harvard's Art Treasure Took to Woods At Petersham During War, Now Returned." The article discusses the relocation of Harvard's art treasures to Petersham during World War II and their subsequent return. The article is dated May 19, 1947, and is attributed to W.M. Homer, Jr.

Overall:
The page provides a glimpse into the past, showcasing a collection of newspaper clippings and articles related to art and culture in the mid-20th century. The use of a scrapbook or album suggests that the collector was interested in preserving these articles for future reference or nostalgia.

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The image presents a vintage newspaper clipping from the Boston Herald, dated May 19, 1947, with the headline "Harvard's Art Treasure Took to Woods At Petersham During War, Now Returned." The article discusses how Harvard's art collection was relocated to Petersham during World War II and has since been returned.

Newspaper Clipping:

  • Headline: Harvard's Art Treasure Took to Woods At Petersham During War, Now Returned
  • Date: May 19, 1947
  • Source: Boston Herald

Surrounding Newspaper Clippings:

  • Top-Left: Boston News Clip, dated May 12, 1947, from the Christian Science Monitor
  • Middle-Left: Boston News Clip, dated May 14, 1947, from the Evening Globe
  • Bottom-Left: Boston News Clip, dated May 26, 1947, from the Christian Science Monitor

Additional Features:

  • Green Border: A green border surrounds the newspaper clippings.
  • Gray Background: The image has a gray background.

Overall, the image showcases a historical newspaper clipping and its surrounding context, providing a glimpse into the past.