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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbooks, February 1958-December 1960

ARCH.2003.34, Rendition: 806913

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This image displays page 503 of the Harvard Alumni Bulletin, dated April 5, 1958, mounted on a piece of aged, tan-colored paper or cardstock, possibly from a scrapbook or archival folder.

The article is titled “The University” and details a highly unusual and elaborate event: Harvard’s “Fogg Museum Auction.”

Key Highlights from the Article:

  1. The Event: On March 28, 1958, Harvard staged a mock auction of “fakes” at the Fogg Museum Courtyard. This elaborate hoax was part of Harvard’s “Ten-hour Day” celebration and was conceived by Miss Agnes Mongan, Curator of Drawings at the Fogg. The purpose was to raise money for the Program for Harvard College, while also demonstrating how to spot forgeries.

  2. The Execution:

    • The auction was led by William A. Smith, a curator at the Park-Bernet Galleries in New York, who “dropped his gavel” in Paine Hall at half-past two.
    • The “fakes” were actually authentic Harvard holdings displayed for the auction. The “buyers” were real Harvard alumni and faculty who placed bids with real money.
    • The event was broadcast live via CBS radio to over 100 stations across the US and around the world.
    • Notable “bidders” included Katharine Abbott Batchelder (wife of a Harvard professor) and Philip H. Walker '39. Walker famously “bought” a “Copley” painting for $550, then “gave” it back to an auctioneer for a resale to benefit the Program.
  3. The Auction Results:

    • The total raised was $1,850 from 70 “sales.” The largest single sale was a small Renoir drawing to Mark M. Horblit '05 for $525.
    • Other notable “sales” included a Solvay painting to Stephen Wheatland '21 for $25, a John Bird portrait to Paulette Lloyd '40 for $250, and a Henry Moore drawing to John McAndrew '24 for $450.
    • A “Bourdon” painting sold to Mary Gass Robinson for $600.
  4. The Twist:

    • After the bidding, it was revealed that the “fakes” were all authentic. The items sold were genuine pieces from the Harvard collection.
    • The article explains that each “fake” was presented with a narrative about its supposed origin or forgery, which was then debunked by an eminent curator who would “expose” the truth. For example, the “Copley” was actually a fine copy made for a course in the Fogg.
    • In some cases, the “authentic” versions of the items were shown alongside the auctioned pieces.
  5. Additional Context:

    • A separate section mentions that three documentary films were shown to alumni in Albion Burr and the University Theater: Harvard Omenins, To the Age that is Waiting, and The Hunters.
    • Dr. Daniel S. Cheever, Director of University Alumni Affairs, is mentioned for assisting with the films.
    • The article also notes that Dr. James B. Conant (former Harvard president) and Professor Indeks were scheduled to speak at the Russian Research Center on the topic of “Soviet life,” with a screening of documentary footage.

The entire layout—a crisp, typewritten newspaper page pinned or taped to a weathered, yellowed sheet of paper—gives the image a rich archival feel, documenting a memorable and clever fundraising stunt by Harvard that combined art, education, and theatricality. The torn edge of the Bulletin page and the brown tape on the right side add to the authentic, historical character of the artifact.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-7B-Instruct

This image shows a page from the "Harvard Alumni Bulletin," dated April 5, 1958. The content of the page discusses an event titled "Harvard's Day" which took place on March 28. The article describes a mock auction held in Cambridge to celebrate the day, attended by a total of 2,600 alumni and their spouses. The auction featured a range of items, including works of art, with the proceeds benefitting Harvard College. The article details the auction process, the items sold, and the buyers. It also mentions that the auction was part of a larger program to benefit the college, with the proceeds going to the "Program for Harvard College." The event also included a film screening featuring "The Hunters," which was the first time the Kung Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert were portrayed in a film. The article concludes by mentioning that the event was well-organized and well-attended, with many alumni participating in the auction and the film screening.

Qwen, Qwen/Qwen2.5-VL-72B-Instruct

This image is a scanned page from the "Harvard Alumni Bulletin," dated April 5, 1958. The page is titled "The University" and discusses events related to Harvard's Day, which was held on March 28, 1958. The article describes a ten-hour celebration in Cambridge attended by 2,600 alumni and their wives, as well as smaller gatherings around the country and abroad. The day included a live broadcast from Sanders Theater, which was carried on the CBS network and various international radio services.

The article also details a mock auction of art items from the Fogg Museum Courtyard, which was part of the celebration. The auction involved both authentic and fake art pieces, with the proceeds going to the Program for Harvard College. The auctioneer, William A. Smyth, oversaw the bidding process, and various items were sold to attendees, including a Piranesi drawing, a Copley painting, and a small bronze attributed to Salvestrini.

The article concludes with mentions of other activities during the day, such as film screenings and discussions on topics like "The Soviet System" and "The Social Sciences and Group Conflict." The page number at the bottom is 503. The text is arranged in three columns, and the paper appears to be slightly aged, with a brownish tint and some wear along the edges.

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

The image is a photograph of a page from the "Harvard Alumni Bulletin" dated April 5, 1958. The page is part of a larger document, possibly a bound book or a collection of pamphlets. The page is slightly worn, with some edges torn and creased, indicating that it has been handled frequently over time.

The top of the page prominently features the title "HARVARD ALUMNI BULLETIN" in bold, uppercase letters. Below the title, the subtitle "The University" is written in a smaller font. The page number "503" is visible at the bottom right corner.

The main content of the page is a detailed article or report about an event or series of events related to Harvard University. The text is dense and appears to be written in a formal, journalistic style. It describes various activities, exhibitions, and auctions that took place at Harvard, including an art auction featuring works by notable artists such as Bronwen Salvidge, John McAndrew, and others. The text also mentions specific artworks, their prices, and the proceeds from the auction.

Additionally, the article discusses the display of certain artworks, including a bronze sculpture by Stephen Wheatland and a painting by Bronwen Salvidge. It also references a lecture series and an exhibition of Soviet life under the Soviets, which was curated by a Harvard professor.

The content suggests that the bulletin is aimed at alumni, providing them with updates on university events, exhibitions, and academic activities. The detailed descriptions of the artworks and auction results indicate a focus on the cultural and artistic contributions of the university community.

In summary, the image depicts a page from the "Harvard Alumni Bulletin" that provides comprehensive coverage of recent events and exhibitions at Harvard University, highlighting the artistic and academic achievements of its members.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

An open book, perhaps a magazine, with a white page that has the text "HARVARD ALUMNI BULLETIN" at the top. The page has some text that seems to be a report about an art exhibition. The text is in a slanting position, and the page is slightly torn. The book has a brown cover, and the edges of the page are slightly curled. The image is in black and white.

Amazon, us.amazon.nova-2-lite-v1:0

The image depicts a page from the Harvard Alumni Bulletin, dated April 5, 1958. The page is part of a printed document, likely a newsletter or magazine, and features a clean, formal layout typical of mid-20th-century publications. The text is arranged in a structured format, with a prominent title at the top reading "HARVARD ALUMNI BULLETIN" in bold, capitalized letters. Below the title, the subtitle "The University" is displayed.

The content of the page is an article discussing Harvard Day, which took place on March 28, 1958. The article provides details about the event, including:

  • Event Overview: Harvard Day was a ten-hour celebration held in Cambridge, featuring a parade, displays, and various activities.
  • Attendance: Approximately 2,600 alumni and guests participated, with smaller groups attending in other parts of the country.
  • Broadcast: The event was broadcast on radio and television, including CBS and network stations, with coverage by the Armed Forces Radio Service.
  • Highlights: The article mentions a display of artwork at the Fogg Museum, including a painting by Lorentzo, a drawing by Batchelder, and a painting by Walker. It also notes the sale of a painting by Lorentzo for $1,550 and a small Rembrandt oil sketch for $5,000.
  • Art Auction: The Fogg Museum auction featured notable items, including a painting by Lorentzo, which sold for $325, and a painting by Salviati, which sold for $5,000.
  • Other Events: The article references a film study center, a lecture hall, and a film portraying Kung Bakhman of the Khillon Desert, among other activities.

The page also includes a small header at the top left corner with the date "April 5, 1958." The text is printed in a serif font, and the page number "503" is visible at the bottom right corner. The overall appearance suggests a formal and informative tone, consistent with alumni bulletins of the era. The paper has a slightly aged, cream-colored appearance, indicative of its historical context.

OpenAI, gpt-4o-2024-11-20

This image contains a page from the Harvard Alumni Bulletin, dated April 5, 1958. The title is prominently displayed at the top, and the content appears to detail events associated with "Harvard's Day" on March 28 that year, including activities, lectures, exhibitions, and auctions.

The page is printed in a serif font on cream-colored paper. The left side has text that begins with "The University" in bold, followed by a paragraph discussing the celebrations and reunion events, which involved CBS broadcasts, auctions, and cultural engagements at Harvard.

The page is part of a larger book or collection and seems affixed with visible binding on the right-hand side. Torn edges at the upper left corner suggest it may have been worn or torn over time.

OpenAI, gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07

  • A single page clipping from the Harvard Alumni Bulletin, dated April 5, 1958.
  • The header is bold and reads “HARVARD ALUMNI BULLETIN” with “The University” in smaller type to the left.
  • The article is laid out in two columns of text and begins with a large drop cap “H” in “HARVARD’S Day…”.
  • The clipping is mounted on a light brown, tan scrapbook page. The edges of the clipping are slightly torn, and there is a small piece of tape or paper at the top left corner.
  • The page number 503 is visible at the bottom right of the clipping.
  • Overall, the image shows a vintage magazine clipping affixed to a scrapbook page, with a neutral, sepia-toned background.

OpenAI, gpt-4

The image shows a page from the "Harvard Alumni Bulletin" dated April 5, 1958. The article on the page seems to be discussing various events and happenings related to Harvard University and its community. The page is titled 'The University' and mentions "HARVARD'S Day, March 28," followed by a description of activities involving the alumni, including an art auction that took place.

There are several paragraphs of text detailing different events and auctions involving various pieces of art, drawings, and also a reference to three motion pictures shown to alumni. It appears to detail the sales of art pieces, mentions of individuals associated with the university, and some cultural and artistic activities related to the alumni community.

The physical condition of the page indicates it is old with visible signs of wear and tear, including a tear on the top left corner, discoloration, and slightly frayed edges. The page appears to be part of a bound volume, as seen by the binding along the right edge.

OpenAI, gpt-4.1-mini-2025-04-14

The image shows a single page from a publication titled "HARVARD ALUMNI BULLETIN" dated April 5, 1958. The main article on the page is titled "The University" and discusses events such as Harvard's Day on March 28. The article mentions how 2,600 alumni and their wives gathered in Cambridge and around the country to celebrate, including details about broadcasts and auctions held at the Fogg Museum. It outlines the sale of various art items, the bidders involved, and the causes supported by these events. There is also mention of activities related to authenticating works and exhibitions.

The page is slightly yellowed, indicating its age, and has some minor tears on the outer edge. The text is in a clear serif font and is neatly arranged in columns. There is a small caption or note about Robert W. Scrivner '57 at the bottom left. The overall appearance suggests this is a historical document from the Harvard Alumni Bulletin publication.