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Princeton University Library Collection of Robert Garrett Materials

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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.

Overview and metadata sections

Garrett, Robert, b. 1875

Robert Garrett (1875-1961) of Baltimore, Maryland, a member of the Princeton Class of 1897, was an American banker and philanthropist. Garrett was also an Olympic athlete (the first modern Olympic champion in shot put and discus throw), a Princeton Charter Trustee, and a collector of manuscripts.

Consists of correspondence, financial material, and printed matter of Garrett (Princeton Class of 1897). The collection contains correspondence between Garrett and Ernest Cushing Richardson, Harry Clemons, and James Thayer Gerould of the Princeton University Library regarding his gift (1942) of mainly Islamic books and manuscripts; correspondence, invoices, and lists of purchases from manuscripts dealers, including Bernard Quaritch, Ltd.; correspondence with William Gates concerning the Mesoamerican Manuscripts Collection; correspondence concerning the University Committee on Humanistic Collections; and offprints of articles about the Garrett Collection. Additional correspondence (1941-1942) of Robert Garrett with Philip K. Hitti, A. S. Yahuda, Harold W. Dodds, and Julian P. Boyd concerns the Yahuda Collection of Islamic Manuscripts.

In addition, there is a folder of Garrett correspondence with R. E. Brunnow, E. C. Richardson, and others, concerning the acquisition of Babylonian clay tablets (1911-1945). Additional provenance files are housed at the end of the collection.

The collection has been arranged chronologically by subject.

Dodds, Harold W. "The Garrett Collection of Manuscripts: Acceptance of the Collection by President Dodds," Princeton University Library Chronicle 3, no. 4 (June 1942), pp. 113-130. (this issue also contains articles about other aspects of the Garrett Collection). Garrett, Robert. "Recollections of a Collector," Princeton University Library Chronicle 10, no. 3 (April 1949) Skemer, Don C. "The Garrett Collection Revisited," Princeton University Library Chronicle 56, no. 3, pp. 420-28. William, Harold A. Robert Garrett & Sons Incorporated: Origins and Development, 1840-1965. Baltimore: n.p., 1965.

Gift of Robert Garrett, Mrs. Emanuel Petitpas, and Josephine Petitpas. Additions transferred from James Weinberger Near East Collections.

This collection was processed by Teresa T. Basler in 2003. Finding aid written by Teresa T. Basler in 2003.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Author
Teresa T. Basler
Finding Aid Date
2003
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research use.

Use Restrictions

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.

Collection Inventory

Index of correspondence regarding the Robert Garrett Collection, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

2 boxes

1903-1905, 1903-1905. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1906-1907, 1906-1907. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1908-1911, 1908-1911. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1912-1914, 1912-1914. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1915-1920, 1915-1920. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1921-1924, 1921-1924. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1925, 1925. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1926, 1926. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1927, 1927. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1928, 1928. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1929, 1929. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1930-1934, 1930-1934. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1935-1936, 1935-1936. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1937, 1937. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1938-1940, 1938-1940. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1941-1945, 1941-1945. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

undated, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

Correspondence, 1940-1949. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Photocopies from the Institute for Advanced Studies), dates not examined. 3 folders.
Physical Description

3 folders

Physical Description

1 box

1931, 1941, 1931. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1942, 1942. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Miscellaneous articles regarding the Islamic manuscripts in the Robert Garrett Collection, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Library correspondence chiefly concerning the Papyri collection, 1907-1924. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Physical Description

1 box

1925-1927, 1925-1927. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1928-1933, 1928-1933. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1934-1940, 1934-1940. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

1911-1945, 1911-1945. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Correspondence with R. E. Brunnow, E. C. Richardson, and others, concerning the acquisition of Babylonian clay tablets.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence regarding the Robert Garrett Collection and the Committee on Humanistic Collections, ALsS and TLsS, 1938-1943. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Photocopies from Office of the President Records: Jonathan Dickinson to Harold W. Dodds (AC#117). Series 15, subseries 1, Box 81, folder 11.

Physical Description

1 folder

Photostats, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Clippings, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Printed matter concerning the Robert Garrett Collection, dates not examined. 3 folders.
Physical Description

3 folders

Printing plate for bookplate of Robert Garrett Collection, dates not examined. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Additional Provenance Files (mostly correspondence), 1901-1992. 1 box.
Physical Description

1 box

Print, Suggest