Main content
Stella Bloch Papers Relating to Ananda K. Coomaraswamy
Notifications
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
Ananda K. Coomaraswamy was a noted art historian and champion of Ceylonese and Indian culture. Born in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), in 1877, Coomaraswamy moved to England in 1879 and attended Wycliffe College, a preparatory school, from the age of 12. In 1900, he graduated from University College, London, with a degree in geology and botany, and in 1906, he received a doctor of science for his study of Ceylonese mineralogy. He served as director of the Mineralogical Survey of Ceylon from 1902 to 1907 before moving to the United States to serve as curator of Indian art at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, where he stayed for the remainder of his life. Coomaraswamy devoted himself to the study of traditional Ceylonese and Indian arts and crafts, the cataloging of Indian art collections, and research on Indian art, religion, metaphysics, and culture. He died in 1947.
This collection consists primarily of correspondence by Coomaraswamy to Bloch from 1917 to 1942. These letters document both professional and personal issues, particularly their long-distance marriage. Also present is a small amount of correspondence by Bloch to Coomaraswamy, and miscellaneous correspondence between Coomaraswamy and Bloch and others, such as Charlotte Bloch ["Binney"] [Bloch's mother], Elizabeth Coomaraswamy [Coomaraswamy's mother], and S. Durai Raja Singam.
There are also manuscripts of Coomaraswamy's articles, lectures, and radio broadcasts-including two co-authored by Bloch-on topics of Indian art, religion, and philosophy. The variety of printed material comprises books by Coomaraswamy ( Domestic Handicraft and Culture: A Lecture Read before the Association of Teachers of Domestic Science, 28 May 1910 [1910], The taking of Toll: Being the Dāna Līlā of Rājendra [1915] [English translation], and Twenty-eight Drawings [1920]) and by Bloch ( Dancing and the Drama East and West [1922]), articles by Coomaraswamy and by Bloch, assorted material about Coomaraswamy and Bloch, and other miscellaneous material.
The drawings capture some images of Coomaraswamy and Bloch, but the main subject is anonymous female figures. The drawings by Coomaraswamy include three figures in pen-and-ink that also appear in Twenty-eight Drawings (1920), and three prints of drawings of Bloch. The drawings by Bloch consist of four unbound pencil drawings of she and Coomaraswamy, and two sketchbooks from their travels to Bali and Java. The photographs include portraits of Coomaraswamy and Bloch individually, together, and with others, as well as the couple's trips to Southeast Asia, Maine, and Wyoming, and a small selection of miscellanea. The series of un-mailed postcards were collected as mementos to document scenery, people, and dance from India and several Southeast Asian countries, as well as a few natural domestic landscapes.
Some of the drawings found in the collection came to print in the following publications: Coomaraswamy: 3: His Life and Work by Roger Lipsey (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1977), and Twenty-eight Drawings by Coomaraswamy (New York: Sunwise Turn, 1920).
This collection is part purchase and part gift from Stella Bloch and her family.
This collection was processed by Karla J. Vecchia in 2002. Finding aid written by Karla J. Vecchia in 2002.
No appraisal information is available.
People
Subject
- Art historians -- United States -- 20th century - Correspondence
- Art historians -- United States -- 20th century - Manuscripts
- Art, Hindu
- Art, Indonesian
- Artists -- United States -- 20th century -- Drawings
- Artists -- United States -- 20th century -- Notebooks, sketchbooks, etc
- Indian dance
- Dance, Indonesian
- Dancers -- United States -- 20th century -- Correspondence
- Husband and wife -- United States -- 20th century -- Correspondence
- Indian art
- Philosophy, Hindu
Place
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Author
- Karla J. Vecchia
- Finding Aid Date
- 2002
- 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
This series consists of manuscripts of articles, lectures, and radio broadcasts, as well as a few miscellaneous notes. The subjects include Indian art, religion, and philosophy. Two of the articles are co-authored with Bloch. The majority of the titles can also be found in the Series 2: Works of the Ananda K. Coomaraswamy Papers (C0038). This series is organized alphabetically by title, with miscellaneous materials located at the end.
The correspondence and photographs originally included with the writings are now located in Series 2: Correspondence or Series 4: Photographs, as appropriate.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
(broadcast from radio station WAAB on January 9)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(delivered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), Fogg Museum (Cambridge), and others)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(published in The Art Bulletin 20 ([?]): 443)
Physical Description1 folder
(broadcast from the University Club Studio of the International Short Wave Station WIXAL, Boston on January 13)
Physical Description1 folder
(delivered at the 36 th Annual Meeting of the American Association of Museums in Columbus, Ohio on May 15)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
(formerly with a Japanese theater program; see Box 8, Folder 4)
Physical Description1 folder
Consists of correspondence, primarily to Bloch (1917-1942), as well as some correspondence between Coomaraswamy and others. The letters to Bloch include a variety of enclosures, and nearly all retain the original envelopes. This subseries is organized alphabetically by correspondent, and then chronologically by date. All undated or partially dated letters are located at the beginning of the corresponding folder or correspondent section within the miscellaneous folder.
The manuscripts, drawings, and photographs originally included with the correspondence are now located in Series 1. Writings by Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, Series 3: Drawings, or Series 4: Photographs, as appropriate.
Physical Description4 boxes
This subseries consists of correspondence, primarily to Bloch (1917-1942), as well as some correspondence between Coomaraswamy and others. The letters to Bloch include a variety of enclosures, and nearly all retain the original envelopes. This subseries is organized alphabetically by correspondent, and then chronologically by date. All undated or partially dated letters are located at the beginning of the corresponding folder or correspondent section within the miscellaneous folder.
All the correspondence identified in this subseries listing is by AKC unless otherwise indicated. The date in parentheses refers to the letter that contains the enclosure.
Physical Description4 boxes
1 box
Includes: typed poem by AKC ( 1917 September 24)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Includes: Typed poem by AKC in French and autograph English translation ( 1918 November 13); AN by SB to AKC and clipping of "Nietzsche and His Teachings" ( 1918 December 7); and typed excerpt from Chuang Tzu ( 1918 December 7)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Includes: letter with bottom of first page and signature clipped off ( 1919 January 12); TN by SB to Isodora Duncan ( 1919 February 18); AL by (Unknown) to SB ( 1919 May 15); and ALS by (Unknown) to AKC ( 1919 December 7)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Includes: Clipping of "Art from India" ( 1920 March 12); ALS by Hesper Le Gallienne to AKC ( 1920 May 7); and clipping from "Introduction to Museum Catalogues" ( 1920 May 9)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Includes: ALS by Charlotte Bloch ("Binney") (SB's mother) to SB, and clipping of "Isodora Duncan and Sarah Bernhardt" ( 1921 May 14); TN by O. C. Gangoly ( 1921 July 31); telegram by Richard Offner (SB's cousin) to AKC ( 1921 September 25); ALS by Margaret (?) to AKC, and TL (carbon) by AKC to Mary (?) ( 1921 October 18); AC by (Unknown) to SB ( 1921 December 21); ANs by SB ( 1921 December 3); and ALS by Alice (?) to AKC ( 1921 December 22)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Includes: ALS by Abanindrathata Tagore to AKC ( 1922 June 12); AL (copy) by AKC to Charlotte Bloch ("Binney") (SB's mother), and AL (copy) by AKC to de Lody ( 1922 August 18); and ALS by Anna (?) to SB ( 1922 October 3)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Includes: TL by Premier Paymaster Mines Co. to AKC ( 1923 January 15); lock of (SB's?) hair ( 1923 April 25); clipping of "Days of a Husband" ( 1923 May 20); TLS by Francis Stewart Kershaw to AKC ( 1923 September 11); TLS by R. M. Riefstahl to AKC ( 1923 October 2); and TLS by O. C. Gangoly to AKC ( 1923 December 12)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Includes: Pamphlet for Princess Nyota-Inyoka's dance recital ( 1924 February 12); fishing line ( 1924 July 11); and bill ( 1924 November 26
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Includes: TC for AKC's lecture "Classical Drama in Japan. No-Gaku 'Hagoromo'" ( 1926 January 9); TLS with AN by Theodore Izer to AKC ( 1926 February 23); bank deposit slip for SB ( 1926 June 21); clipping of "New York—Portland Line" ( 1926 August 4); pamphlet of "The Invention of Painting in China and its Spread Westward" ( 1926 August 12); typed limerick ( 1926 September 30); and pamphlet of "Oriental Conference" ( 1926 October 23)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Includes: ALS by Charolotte Bloch ("Binney") (SB's mother) to SB ( 1927 April 29); invitation for China-India Frendship Dinner ( 1927 May 10); receipt for SB ( 1927 July 26); TLS (fragment) by John Eastman to AKC ( 1927 August 15); clipping of "The Light That Failed" ( 1927 August 19); and TL (copy) by AKC to Little Brown and Co. and TLS by Alfred McIntyre to AKC ( 1927 December 6)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Includes: TLS by F. J. P. Richter to AKC ( 1928 March 23); TLS by (Unknown) (art director of Encyclopedia Britannica) to AKC ( 1928 July 31); typed excerpt from Genji Monogatari ( 1928 August 2); and ALS by Harriet Brown to AKC ( 1928 September 25)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Includes: Clipping of "Harlem Negroes Dance at Doll and Richards" ( 1929 April 23); clipping of review for La Conception de la Loi et les Théories des Légistes à la Veille de Ts'in ( 1929 April 24); clipping of "A Bostonian Paints her Impressions of the East" ( 1929 May 14); TL (carbon) by W. H. Johnston (Indiana Mines Exploration Company) to AKC ( 1929 September 25); TLS by Theodore Johnson to AKC with AN by AKC ( 1929 October 2); and ALS by Elizabeth Riefstahl to AKC ( 1929 November 27)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Includes: Clippings of "Art of American Negro at Library," "Negro Artistic Show Ability," "Spirited, Rhythmic Dance Studies Shown by Stella Bloch 1930 April 3-15," "Dancers by Stella Bloch," and 2 untitled ( 1930 May 2); clipping of "Thelma Tipson Takes to the Stage" ( 1930 July 12); and AN by SB ( 1930 November 15)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
This subseries consists of correspondence with Coomaraswamy, Charlotte Bloch ["Binney"] [Bloch's mother], Elizabeth Coomaraswamy [Coomaraswamy's mother], S. Durai Raja Singam, and others. This subseries is organized alphabetically by correspondent, and then chronologically by date. All undated or partially dated letters are located at the beginning of the corresponding folder or correspondent section within the miscellaneous folder.
All the correspondence identified in this subseries listing is by SB unless otherwise indicated. The date in parenthesis refers to the letter that contains the enclosure.
Physical Description1 box
(including 1 fragment)
Physical Description1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(formerly with The Dress Review 2, no. 4 ( 1906 October); see Box 8, Folder 4)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Includes: 1 sheet of AKC stamps from India and pamphlet about stamps
Physical Description1 folder
Consists of both pen-and-ink and pencil drawings, as well as three prints and one tracing. The primary subject is female figures, but there are also two portraits and a small selection of miscellaneous drawings. Three drawings, "Relaxation," "Memory," and "Extension" [circa1919-1920], were published in Twenty-eight Drawings [see also Box 7, Folder 1]. Also consists of unbound pencil drawings and two sketchbooks from Bloch's travels, one each from Bali (1919) and Java (1919-1920). The primary subject of the unbound drawings is Coomaraswamy and Bloch, while that of the sketchbooks is indigenous people and dancers of Bali and Java. Also included in the Bali sketchbook are two drawings of Coomaraswamy, one of him wearing a typical Balinese hat, and two prints of a Balinese dancer, one hand-colored [see also Box 8, Folder 1].
The measurements listed for the drawings are in inches.
Physical Description2 boxes
This subseries consists of both pen-and-ink and pencil drawings, as well as three prints and one tracing. The primary subject is female figures, but there are also two portraits and a small selection of miscellaneous drawings. Three drawings, "Relaxation," "Memory," and "Extension" [circa1919-1920], were published in Twenty-eight Drawings [see also Box 7, Folder 1]. Furthermore, this subseries contains three prints of drawings of Bloch. This subseries is organized by subject and then by medium, with miscellaneous material located at the end.
Arranged by genre of material.
Physical Description1 box
(See also Box 7, Folder 1)
Physical Description1 box
1 folder8 ½ x 12 [10 ½ x 15 mounted])
1 folder12 x 8 ½)
1 folder16 ½ x 5 ½)
1 box
1 folder8 x 11
1 folder12 ¼ x 7 ½)
1 folder12 x 10
1 folder11 x 14
1 box
1 folder8 ¼ x 3 ¼)
1 folder8 ¼ x 4
(formerly with ALS by AKC to SB, ( 1919 May 26))
Physical Description1 folder17 x 11 ¾)
1 folder13 x 14 ½)
1 folder14 x 18 ½)
1 box
1 folder9 ¼ x 6 ½)
1 folder9 x 12 [10 x 13 mounted])
1 box
(formerly with ALS by AKC to SB, ( 1920 February 8))
Physical Description1 folder2 x 2 ½)
(formerly with ALS by AKC to SB, 1920 March 3)
Physical Description1 folder5 ½ x 4 ½)
(formerly with ALS by AKC to SB, 1920 March 3)
Physical Description1 folder9 x 6 ½)
This subseries consists of unbound pencil drawings and two sketchbooks from Bloch's travels, one each from Bali (1919) and Java (1919-1920). The primary subject of the unbound drawings is Coomaraswamy and Bloch, while that of the sketchbooks is indigenous people and dancers of Bali and Java. Also included in the Bali sketchbook are two drawings of Coomaraswamy, one of him wearing a typical Balinese hat, and two prints of a Balinese dancer, one hand-colored [see also Box 8, Folder 1]. This subseries is organized by format (unbound or sketchbook), and then chronologically by year.
Arranged by genre of material.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 box
1 folder3 ¾ x 5 ½)
1 folder7 x 9 ½)
1 folder9 x 11 ½)
1 folder9 x 11 ½)
Includes: 2 drawings of AKC, one of him wearing a typical Balinese hat; and 2 prints of a Balinese dancer, one hand colored (See also Dancing and the Drama East and West in Box 8, Folder 1)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
This series consists of photograph portraits of Bloch and Coomaraswamy, as well as other photographs that document their travels and artistic interests. The majority of both the formal and informal portraits of Bloch were taken by Coomaraswamy. In some photographs Bloch appears in Asian dress, dancing, or traveling. The portraits of Coomaraswamy include some in Indian dress; two by Mortimer Offner [Bloch's cousin]; two silver prints, one each by Count de Streclicki and Arnold Genthe; and a W. C. Ward photo of Jo Davidson's bust of Coomaraswamy signed by the sculptor. There are also portraits of Coomaraswamy and Bloch together and with others, such as members of Bloch's family and other unidentified individuals. The subjects of the Southeast Asia photographs include dancers, market scenes, rural life, monuments, sculptures, theater, and shadow theater. Also present is a selection of photographs from camping and country excursions to Maine and Wyoming. Furthermore, there are two landscapes by Coomaraswamy that were later used for a calendar with the Camera Club. All photographs include subject, location, and date information, if known; and some contain inscriptions by Bloch. This series is organized alphabetically by subject.
Arranged alphabetically by subject of photograph.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of books and articles by Coomaraswamy. The selection of books includes Domestic Handicraft and Culture: A Lecture Read before the Association of Teachers of Domestic Science, 28 May 1910 (1910), The Taking of Toll: Being the Dāna Līlā of Rājendra (1915) [English translation by Coomaraswamy], and Twenty-eight Drawings (1920). Also present are a variety of articles in journals, reprints, and clippings that cover the following topics: Chinese and Javanese theater; Indian sculpture, painting, architecture, texts, and religion; Eastern philosophy; book reviews; metaphysics; and poetry. Also consists of the book Dancing and the Drama East and West (1922) [introduction by Coomaraswamy] and articles by Bloch. The assorted articles in journals, reprints, and clippings cover the following topics: dance and theater; Siamese, Khmer, and Chinese art; and Buddhist texts.
The correspondence, autograph notes, and photographs originally included with the printed material is now located in Series 2: Correspondence or Series 4: Photographs, as appropriate.
Physical Description2 boxes
This subseries consists of books and articles by Coomaraswamy. The selection of books includes Domestic Handicraft and Culture: A Lecture Read before the Association of Teachers of Domestic Science, 28 May 1910 (1910), The Taking of Toll: Being the Dāna Līlā of Rājendra (1915) [English translation by Coomaraswamy], and Twenty-eight Drawings (1920). Also present are a variety of articles in journals, reprints, and clippings that cover the following topics: Chinese and Javanese theater; Indian sculpture, painting, architecture, texts, and religion; Eastern philosophy; book reviews; metaphysics; and poetry. This subseries is organized by genre (books and then journals, reprints, and clippings), with the books alphabetized by title.
Arranged by genre of material.
Physical Description1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
(See also Box 5, Folder 1)
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
This subseries consists of the book Dancing and the Drama East and West (1922) [introduction by Coomaraswamy] and articles by Bloch. The assorted articles in journals, reprints, and clippings cover the following topics: dance and theater; Siamese, Khmer, and Chinese art; and Buddhist texts. This subseries is organized by genre (books and then journals, reprints, and clippings).
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
(See also Box 7, Folder 2 for articles by SB that appear in the same publication with an article by AKC)
Physical Description1 folder
This subseries consists of assorted printed material about Coomaraswamy and Bloch, and includes the following: autobiographical sketch by Bloch; brochures from Beaux Arts Gallery (Woodbury, CT) exhibits of Bloch's art; clippings of Bloch's dancing, and of Coomaraswamy in Asia; pamphlets of Coomaraswamy's publications and lectures; catalogs of Orientalia books, and of Coomaraswamy and Bloch's drawings; and travel brochures.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
This subseries consists of assorted printed material associated with the intellectual and artistic interests of Coomaraswamy and Bloch, and includes the following: Coomaraswamy's lecture notes from a university course on Indian art edited by S. Durai Raja Singam; programs of dance performances in Java; texts about Javanese dance, theater, and music (in Dutch); prints of Javanese dance; a Japanese theater program; A Dream of John Ball by William Morris (New York: Little Leather Library, undated); and a manuscript of the radio broadcast "The Chinese Exhibition at London" by Langdon Warner.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
This series consists primarily of postcards from Southeast Asia, with a few from domestic locations. The featured countries include the following: Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Singapore, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), and Viet Nam. All the postcards are free of writing, stamps, and postmarks.
Not arranged according to any arrangement scheme.
Physical Description1 box
1 box