Archives Scrapbooks

This image displays two newspaper clippings from 1953, mounted on a page within a scrapbook. The clippings are from the New England News Agency, Inc., based in Boston, Massachusetts, and are dated August 28, 1953, and September 24, 1953, respectively.

Left Clipping: “Boston Museum Displaying Mummy Trappings, Mask” (Aug 28, 1953)

• By Walter Merkel, this article announces an exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, focusing on ancient Egyptian art.
• The headline highlights the public debut of the “mummy trappings and mask” from the tomb of an Egyptian princess, Bakenrenef (B. C.), dated to around 661 B.C.
• The trappings — including a silver mask, jewelry, and other artifacts — were discovered in the tomb by the Egyptian Exploration Society and had never before been displayed publicly in Boston.
• A small black-and-white photograph accompanies the article, showing the ornate silver mask on exhibit.
• The piece describes the artifacts as “rare treasures,” notes their condition (some items were “incomplete” due to damage or looting), and mentions that the museum has installed the exhibit “in conjunction with Harvard University.”
• The article also credits Harvard’s Museum of the Ancient Near East for its role in the installation.

Right Clipping: “Japanese Art Treasurers To Be Shown Boston Viewers” (Sep 24, 1953)

• This article announces a Special Exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, featuring Japanese art treasures loaned from Japan.
• The exhibition, opening November 15, 1953, is described as “the greatest collection of Japanese art masterpieces ever to leave that country.”
• It includes over 100 objects spanning 1,000 years — paintings, sculpture, Buddhist art, and decorative objects — from the 6th to the 16th centuries.
• The treasures, drawn from Japanese museums, shrines, and private collections, were selected by G. H. Edzeld, Director of the Museum.
• Highlights include:
  • An 11th-century scroll depicting the “burning of the Sanjo Palace.”
  • A 12th-century scroll illustrating the “intrigues of a courtier.”
  • Four 11th-century “Chujo Gigaku” masks, with elaborate details.
  • A 12th-century scroll on human affairs in the decadent court of Japan.
  • A 13th-century set from the Heiji Monogatari (a famous historical war tale).
• The exhibit will be installed under the direction of Kojiro Tomita, Curator of Asiatic Art at the museum.
• The article notes that the exhibition’s centerpiece includes two outstanding portraits — one of a 12th-century courtier and a 13th-century monk (possibly Buddha Tetsugen) — and includes Buddhist sculpture, screens, folding scrolls, and albums.
• The treasures were returned to Japan after December 15, 1953, after a 30-day display in Boston.

Overall Context

Both clippings reflect major cultural exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 1953 — one showcasing ancient Egyptian funerary artifacts and the other presenting a landmark collection of Japanese art on loan from Japan. The scrapbook presentation suggests someone was documenting major cultural events of the time. The paper is aged with yellowing and slightly fragile edges, and a small, partially torn label in the bottom-right corner appears to contain handwritten notes or catalog numbers (e.g., “201” or “701”).

The articles highlight Boston’s role in bringing international art to American audiences during the early 1950s, and they are valuable historical documentation of museum practices, international lending, and cross-cultural exhibitions at mid-century.

In summary: This scrapbook page preserves two 1953 newspaper clippings detailing major exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston — Egyptian mummy artifacts and rare Japanese art treasures — offering a glimpse into mid-century museum culture and global art appreciation.

The image shows a page from a newspaper clipping book, dated around 1953. The page contains two articles side by side.

On the left, there is an article titled "Boston Museum Displaying Mummy Trappings, Mask" by Walter Merkel. This article discusses the exhibition of mummy-related artifacts at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. It mentions a silver mask and mummy trappings from the tomb of an Ethiopian princess, which were on display for the first time at the museum. The article also highlights the skill and care taken in preparing these ancient artifacts for display.

On the right, there is an article titled "Japanese Art Treasurers To Be Shown Boston Viewers" by the same author, Walter Merkel. This article announces that a special exhibition of Japanese art masterpieces would be shown at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The exhibition, sponsored by the Government of Japan, would feature works that were part of a tour of the United States. The collection includes paintings and sculptures that depict events of a civil war in 1159 between two opposing feudal clans. It also mentions that the exhibition will be directed by Kojiro Tomita, the Museum's Curator of Asiatic Art.

Both articles are accompanied by photographs of the artifacts discussed. The page appears to be part of a collection of newspaper clippings, as evidenced by the labels at the top of each article indicating the source of the clippings. The labels also provide additional context about the newspaper sources and their distribution.

This image shows a page from a scrapbook containing newspaper clippings about exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The clippings are from the "Worcester, Mass. Republican" and the "Back Bay Ledger & Beacon Hill Times" dated August 28, 1953, and September 24, 1953, respectively.

The left clipping, titled "Boston Museum Displaying Mummy Trappings, Mask," discusses an exhibition of mummy cases and trappings at the Museum of Fine Arts. It mentions a silver mask and mummy trappings from the tomb of an Ethiopian princess dating from the late Seventh century B.C. The article highlights the craftsmanship and artistry involved in these ancient artifacts and their significance in the museum's collection.

The right clipping, titled "Japanese Art Treasures To Be Shown Boston Viewers," announces the display of a collection of Japanese art masterpieces at the Museum of Fine Arts. The exhibition, which is part of a tour sponsored by the Government of Japan, features paintings, sculptures, and other artworks spanning from the sixth to the nineteenth century. The article emphasizes the historical and cultural importance of these artifacts and their relevance to understanding Japanese art and culture.

Both clippings include detailed descriptions of the exhibits and their historical context, providing insight into the cultural and artistic significance of the artifacts on display.

The image shows a page from a newspaper with two articles. The top article is titled "Boston Museum Displaying Mummy Trappings, Mask." It features a photograph of a mummy mask and trappings, with the text discussing the display of these artifacts at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. The article mentions that the mummy mask and trappings are silver and date back to the Seventh Century.

The bottom article is titled "Japanese Art Treasures To Be Shown Boston Viewers." It announces an exhibition of Japanese art masterpieces at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, which will be on display from November 15 to December 15. The exhibition includes paintings, sculpture, and decorative art from the seventh to the nineteenth centuries, selected from private collections in Japan and Buddhist shrines and temples. The article highlights the significance of the exhibition, stating that it is the most important collection of Japanese art ever shown in the United States. It also mentions that the exhibition will provide a unique opportunity to study the history and culture of Japan through its art.

The image shows a page from a newspaper, with a headline that reads "Boston Museum Displaying Mummy Trappings, Mask" and "Japanese Art Treasures To Be Shown Boston Viewers." The page features several articles about exhibitions at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. One article discusses the display of Egyptian mummy trappings and a mask, while another article highlights an exhibition of Japanese art treasures sponsored by the Japanese government. The page also includes advertisements for various businesses and services in Boston.

The image shows an open newspaper spread featuring two articles from August 28, 1953. The left page is from the Worcester Telegram (Worcester, Mass., Republican), and the right page is from the Beacon Hill Times (Boston, Mass., Non-Partisan Weekly). Both articles are from the New England News Agency, Inc., and are dated September 24, 1953.

Left Page: "Boston Museum Displaying Mummy Trappings, Mask"

• Headline: "Boston Museum Displaying Mummy Trappings, Mask"
• Byline: WALTER MERKER
• Content:
  The article discusses an exhibition at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, highlighting rare artifacts such as a silver mask and mummy trappings. It emphasizes the historical and cultural significance of these items, noting that they were discovered in an expedition to the Sudan. The article describes the artifacts in detail, including their origin, materials, and the challenges faced in preserving them. It also mentions the museum's efforts to showcase these treasures, which are considered among the most important in the field of ancient art.

Right Page: "Japanese Art Treasures To Be Shown Boston Viewers"

• Headline: "Japanese Art Treasures To Be Shown Boston Viewers"

• Content:
  This article announces a special exhibition of Japanese art treasures at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. It highlights that this will be the greatest collection of Japanese art masterpieces ever shown in the United States, featuring over 300 pieces from the museum's own collection and loans from the Government of Japan. The exhibition includes paintings, sculptures, scrolls, textiles, and other artifacts spanning from the sixth to the nineteenth century. Notable items mentioned include:

  • A portrait of a Japanese warlord from the fourteenth century.
  • A scroll depicting the burning of the Sanjo Palace.
  • A portrait of a third-century child seated on a lotus.
  • A scroll illustrating the story of the Intelliences of a courier in the year 896.
  • A famous scroll, the Heiji Monogatari, from the twelfth century.

  The article also discusses the historical and cultural significance of these artifacts, noting their connection to Japanese emperors, Buddhist temples, and private collections. It mentions that the exhibition will run for thirty days, closing on December 15, and will be sponsored by the Government of Japan.

Visual Elements:

• The left page includes a black-and-white photograph of an artifact labeled "ON EXHIBIT," showing a silver mask and mummy trappings.
• The right page features a detailed description of the exhibition and its contents but does not include any photographs.

Overall Context:

The spread provides a glimpse into mid-20th-century cultural and artistic exhibitions, showcasing both ancient Egyptian artifacts and Japanese art treasures. The articles emphasize the historical and artistic value of the displayed items, as well as the efforts of museums to bring these treasures to the public. The layout and typography are typical of newspaper design from the 1950s, with clear headlines, subheadings, and descriptive text.

This image displays an open scrapbook or journal containing various newspaper clippings primarily focused on art and museum exhibits. The left page has a title "Arts and Artists" with a subheading "Boston Museum Displaying Mummy Trappings, Mask" and accompanying text discussing the exhibition. There's an image of an Egyptian mummy case or sarcophagus with hieroglyphic inscriptions and patterns on display. The right page has a different heading, "Special Exhibition," with an article titled "Japanese Art Treasures To Be Shown Boston Viewers," discussing a collection of Japanese fine art being showcased. The pages are yellowed with age and the articles provide insights into historical art exhibitions. There's additional text and smaller articles or elements on both pages, continuing the overall theme of art, culture, and museum-related news.

This image is a scrapbook page featuring newspaper clippings affixed onto a brown background. The clippings highlight two separate articles:

1. "Boston Museum Displaying Mummy Trappings, Mask"

   • Discusses an exhibition at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts showcasing mummy artifacts and trappings, including an Ethiopian princess's mummy. The clipping includes an image of a mummy figure labeled "On Exhibit."

2. "Japanese Art Treasures To Be Shown Boston Viewers"

   • Highlights a special exhibition of Japanese art at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, featuring historical pieces spanning centuries, including paintings, sculptures, scrolls, and artifacts. It notes this exhibition as one of the most significant collections brought to the U.S. under the sponsorship of the Japanese government. The article also mentions details about the cultural significance and specific showcased items.

Accompanying these articles are small tags identifying the source newspapers and dates: "Telegram and Gazette," "Back Bay Ledger & Beacon Hill Times," and publication dates in 1953.

The image shows a scrapbook page with two newspaper clippings and a small photograph of a silver mask in the center. The clippings are from news agencies dated 1953, one on August 28 and the other on September 24.

The left clipping is titled "Boston Museum Displaying Mummy Trappings, Mask" by Walter Merkel. It discusses an exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston showcasing ancient mummy cases and trappings. It mentions silver mask and mummy trappings from the tomb of an Ethiopian prince, exhibited at the museum for the first time recently. There are descriptions of the artifacts, including a silver mask and decorated bead nets.

The right clipping is titled "Japanese Art Treasures To Be Shown Boston Viewers," discussing an exhibition of Japanese art masterpieces at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts from November 15. It details the collection, which includes paintings, sculptures, religious and secular art spanning 1,400 years, including Buddhist, Shinto shrines, and private collections. The exhibition is sponsored by the Government of Japan and includes pieces from the Samon Palace. The report mentions the show as a great opportunity to study the culture of Japan, indicating it is the largest collection of Japan-related masterpieces ever displayed in the country.

Both clippings together highlight significant cultural art exhibitions in Boston during 1953, focusing on ancient Egyptian and Japanese artifacts.

The image shows a scrapbook page with several old newspaper clippings taped to tan paper.

• Left clipping: “Arts and Artists” section with a headline about Boston Museum displaying mummy trappings and a photo of a mummy’s mask.
• Center clipping: A larger article headlined “Japanese Art Treasures To Be Shown Boston Viewers” under a “Special Exhibition” banner, describing a major loan of Japanese art.
• Right clipping: Another piece about the Japanese art loan exhibition, with more text and a smaller inset illustration.

There are date stamps (e.g., Aug 28, 1953; Sep 21, 1953) and the pages appear aged, giving a mid-20th-century press-clipping collage feel.