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Fogg Art Museum Scrapbook, May 1973-March 1978

ARCH.2003.39, Rendition: 806758

Qwen, qwen.qwen3-vl-235b-a22b

This image displays a yellowed, vintage newspaper clipping mounted on a piece of light brown cardboard, likely for preservation or display. The clipping is from the Boston Herald-American, dated July 4, 1976.

The clipping contains two distinct news articles from different Boston newspapers:


Main Article (Top Section):

  • Headline: Revolutionary War loser given equal time
  • Byline: By ROBERT GARRETT
  • Section: ART (a small box with “ART” printed inside)

This article is a feature piece about Andrew Oliver, Jr., a direct descendant of the infamous Loyalist Andrew Oliver, who was tarred and feathered by Bostonians during the American Revolution.

The article portrays Oliver as a contemporary art patron and prominent figure associated with the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard. It highlights his unique position as a descendant of a reviled Tory, noting that he is the only one of his name still alive in America. He is quoted expressing his amusement at the historical reversal of fortune and his own views on the Revolution, feeling that the “losers” (Loyalists) are now given “equal time.”

A black-and-white photograph is embedded in the text, showing Andrew Oliver standing next to a large, ornate painting titled “Harvard Divided,” which appears to depict a dramatic historical scene. A caption beneath the photo reads: ANDREW OLIVER stands before his Tory ancestor on a recent visit to the Fogg Art Museum’s bi-centennial exhibit, “Harvard Divided,” through Oct. 10.

The article includes quotes from Peter Oliver, a former Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Court, and discusses the family’s complex history, including a “perfectly good established government before” the Revolution. It notes that the Oliver family continues to live as “strictly British” emigrants and that Andrew Oliver’s branch lives in England and South Africa.

A note at the bottom indicates this article was originally from The Boston Globe, Friday, July 2, 1976.


Secondary Article (Bottom Left Section):

  • Headline: Six paintings stolen from Harvard, Bok
  • Byline: By Stephen F. Crimmin, Globe Correspondent (the text is slightly cut off, but implied)

This is a short crime report detailing the theft of six paintings valued at $385,000 from the home of Harvard President Derek Bok at 33 Elmwood Avenue.

Key points:

  • The theft occurred around 11:30 a.m., discovered by Bok’s wife about 8:15 a.m. the next day.
  • Five paintings were from the Fogg Museum and belonged to the Bok family; one was a 19th-century French Impressionist.
  • Paintings include works by Berckheyde (“Dutch City View”), Twachtman (“Landscape”), and others.
  • Entry was made through a storm window in the rear of the house.
  • Police said the paintings were removed from walls in three different rooms and were “about to be returned to Harvard in 1962.”

Physical Details:

  • The newspaper clipping shows signs of aging, with yellowed paper and slight discoloration.
  • The cardboard backing is a pale, muted brown.
  • There are two punched holes along the left margin of the cardboard, suggesting it was once stored in a binder or scrapbook.
  • The clipping is neatly mounted, with slight overhangs on the right and bottom edges.

Historical Context:

The date — July 4, 1976 — marks the United States’ Bicentennial. The main article’s focus on a Loyalist descendant being “given equal time” is ironic and fitting for a country celebrating its revolutionary origins. The art exhibit “Harvard Divided” referenced in the photo also underscores the theme of historical reflection during the bicentennial year.


In summary, this clipping is a time capsule from America’s Bicentennial, featuring two contrasting stories: a human-interest piece on a modern descendant of a Revolutionary War villain finding peace with history, and a straightforward police report about a major art theft from a Harvard president’s home — both printed side by side on July 4, 1976.

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

The image is a photograph of a newspaper clipping from "Boston Herald-American" dated July 4, 1976. The main article is titled "Revolutionary War loser given equal time" and discusses the life and legacy of Andrew Oliver, a descendant of a prominent Tory family during the American Revolutionary War. The article provides insights into Oliver's perspective on the events of 1776 and includes quotes from him, as well as commentary on the historical context.

The article also mentions Oliver's involvement with the Fogg Art Museum's exhibit "Harvard Divided," which features artifacts related to the revolutionary era. The exhibit allows for a more balanced view of the historical events and includes the perspectives of those who were considered "losers" during the war.

On the left side of the image, there is a smaller article titled "Six paintings stolen from Harvard, Bok." This article reports on a theft of six valuable paintings from the home of Harvard President Derek Bok, which occurred early in the morning while the family was asleep. The article provides details about the theft, including the value of the stolen items and the circumstances surrounding the event.

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

The image is a scanned page from the Boston Herald-American dated July 4, 1976. The page features two main articles.

The top article is titled "Revolutionary War loser given equal time" and is written by Robert Garrett. It discusses Andrew Oliver, a descendant of a prominent Tory family, and his views on the American Revolution. The article mentions that Oliver is a lender to the Fogg Art Museum's "Harvard Divided" exhibit, which gives a balanced view of the Revolution by including perspectives from both sides. The article also includes a photograph of Andrew Oliver standing in front of a statue, with the caption stating that he is standing before his Tory ancestor on a recent visit to the Fogg Art Museum's bicentennial exhibit.

The bottom article is titled "Six paintings stolen from Harvard, Bok" and is written by Stephen F. Crimmin. It reports on the theft of six paintings valued at $385,000 from the home of Harvard President Derek Bok. The article details the paintings stolen, their values, and the method of the theft.

The page is attached to a beige folder with two holes punched on the left side, suggesting it might be part of a scrapbook or collection.

Amazon, amazon.nova-pro-v1:0

The image appears to be a collage of newspaper clippings, featuring various articles and headlines. The clippings are arranged in a grid-like pattern, with some articles overlapping each other. The articles cover a range of topics, including art, history, and crime.

The top left corner of the collage features an article titled "Revolutionary War loser given equal time," which discusses the historical figure Andrew Oliver and his role in the Revolutionary War. The article is accompanied by a photograph of Oliver.

Below the Oliver article, there is a headline that reads "Six paintings stolen from Harvard, Bok," which reports on the theft of six paintings from the Harvard Art Museums. The article provides details about the stolen paintings and the ongoing investigation.

In the bottom right corner of the collage, there is an article titled "ART," which features a photograph of a man standing in front of a painting. The article discusses the life and work of the artist Joseph Blackburn, who is described as "a direct descendant of Andrew Oliver."

The collage also includes other articles and headlines, such as "The Boston Herald-American July 4, 1976" and "The Boston Globe Friday, July 9, 1976," which suggest that the clippings are from newspapers published in the mid-1970s.

Overall, the collage presents a diverse range of topics and subjects, showcasing the breadth of coverage in newspapers during that time period. The inclusion of historical figures, art, and crime stories provides a glimpse into the interests and concerns of the readers of these newspapers.

Amazon, amazon.nova-lite-v1:0

The image shows a newspaper clipping with two articles. The first article, titled "Revolutionary War loser given equal time," discusses the life and legacy of Andrew Oliver, a British official during the American Revolution. The article highlights Oliver's complex relationship with the American colonists and his eventual downfall. The second article, titled "Six paintings stolen from Harvard," reports on the theft of six paintings from Harvard University. The stolen paintings are described, along with details about the burglary and the investigation. The image also includes a photograph of Andrew Oliver standing before his Tory ancestor's portrait, which was part of a special exhibit at the Fogg Art Museum.

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

The image is a scanned newspaper page from July 4, 1976, featuring two articles from the Boston Herald-American and The Boston Globe. The page is divided into two main sections, each discussing different topics.

Top Section: Boston Herald-American

Headline: "Revolutionary War loser given equal time"

  • Byline: Robert Garrett
  • Content: The article discusses the artist Joseph Oliver, who is described as a "biocenental exile" and a prominent figure in Boston's art scene. It highlights Oliver's work, which includes a portrait of Andrew Oliver Jr., a member of one of Boston's most prominent Tory families during the Revolutionary War. The article explores Oliver's artistic style, his views on history, and his commentary on the portrayal of historical figures, particularly those associated with the Revolutionary War. It also touches on Oliver's perspective on the bicentennial celebrations and the public interest in history.

Bottom Section: The Boston Globe

Headline: "Six paintings stolen from Harvard, Bok"

  • Byline: Stephen F. Crimin, Globe Correspondent
  • Content: This article reports on the theft of six paintings valued at $385,000 from the home of Darkis Bok, a retired president of the Harvard family. The stolen paintings include works by notable artists such as Eugène Louis Houdon and John Singer Sargent. The article provides details about the theft, including the time of the incident (1:30 a.m.) and the fact that the paintings were taken from a side window of Bok's home in Cambridge. It also mentions that the paintings were insured for $100,000 each and that the theft was reported to the Cambridge Police. The article includes quotes from Frederick Scales, a family member, who described the paintings as "very rare" and noted their historical significance.

Visual Elements:

  • Photograph: To the right of the articles, there is a black-and-white photograph of Andrew Oliver standing in front of his Tory ancestor during a recent visit to the Fogg Art Museum's bicentennial exhibit titled "Harvard Divided." The caption beneath the photo reads: "ANDREW OLIVER stands before his Tory ancestor on a recent visit to the Fogg Art Museum's bicentennial exhibit, 'Harvard Divided,' through Oct. 10."
  • Layout: The page is formatted with clear headings, bylines, and subheadings, typical of a newspaper layout from the 1970s. The text is dense and uses a serif font, consistent with the style of the era.

Overall Theme:

The page combines two distinct stories: one focusing on art and historical commentary through the lens of Joseph Oliver's work, and the other detailing a significant art theft involving valuable paintings from the Bok family. The inclusion of the photograph of Andrew Oliver adds a visual element that ties into the historical and artistic themes of the top article.

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

This image shows a scanned page from a scrapbook, featuring two newspaper articles mounted on a brown background. The articles are as follows:

  1. "Revolutionary War loser given equal time":

    • Published in the Boston Herald-American on July 4, 1976.
    • The article discusses historical and artistic aspects involving Andrew Oliver, a Loyalist during the Revolutionary War. Included is a photograph of Oliver standing next to a portrait of a Tory ancestor, likely on display in a museum exhibition (the Fogg Art Museum's bicentennial exhibit titled "Harvard Divided").
  2. "Six paintings stolen from Harvard, Bok":

    • Published in The Boston Globe on Friday, July 9, 1976.
    • It covers a theft involving six valuable paintings, estimated at $85,000, stolen from Harvard President Derek Bok's family home. This article touches on the details of the artwork stolen, their monetary value, and the ongoing police investigation to recover them.

Each article is presented with a clear format, aligned on the page for preservation purposes. The lower portion of the mounting page is left blank. The page also has holes punched along one side, likely for securing it into a binder.

OpenAI, gpt-4

The image shows a newspaper clipping pinned onto a corkboard. The newspaper is dated July 4, 1976, and comes from the "Boston Herald-American." The heading of the primary article reads "Revolutionary War loser given equal time," and it is printed in the 'ART' section of the paper. In addition to the main article, there is another smaller article with the title "Six paintings stolen from Harvard, Bok," by the author Isby Stearns. The newspaper appears to be discussing historical subjects, as indicated by the articles related to American heritage and art theft. On the right side of the larger article, there is an illustration, but specific details about it are not the focus of this description. There are signs of wear on the newspaper, such as slight discoloration and creases, suggesting that the clipping may be of some age. The newspaper is attached to the board with a single tack in the top left corner.

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

The image shows a brown scrapbook page with two newspaper clippings attached.

The larger clipping is from the Boston Herald-American dated July 4, 1976, with the headline titled "Revolutionary War loser given equal time." The article, written by Robert Garrett, discusses Andrew Oliver, who is described as a direct descendant of Andrew Oliver Jr., a Tory family member during the American Revolutionary War. The article explores Andrew Oliver's perspective on the historical context of the war and the treatment of Tory families during the bicentennial celebration. Included is a black and white photo of a man named Andrew Oliver standing beside a painting of his Tory ancestor in the Fogg Art Museum's bicentennial exhibit "Harvard Divided."

The smaller clipping is from The Boston Globe, dated Friday, July 9, 1976. The headline reads "Six paintings stolen from Harvard, Bok." The article, by Stephen F. Crimmin, reports the theft of six paintings valued at $385,000 from the home of Harvard President Derek Bok. It provides details of the paintings stolen, their estimated value, and the circumstances around the theft and investigation by the Cambridge police. Some of the paintings were on loan to Harvard's Fogg Museum, and the house from which the paintings were taken is described as an 18th-century mansion once owned by the family of poet James Robert Lowell.

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