1902 Family Correspondence Alfred Houghton Clark, Academy of Fine Arts, Boston For Sale

1902 Family Correspondence to Florence, Italy — Alfred Houghton Clark — 5¢ Grant Cover
Interesting intact group of early 20th-century family correspondence preserved together in its original mailing cover.
The group consists of approximately a dozen handwritten letters, notes and/or manuscript pages associated with Alfred Houghton Clark, addressed at the Hotel Berchielli, Florence, Italy.
The original envelope is franked with a 5-cent dark blue Ulysses S. Grant stamp and bears its original circular date stamp and transit/receiving postal markings, including markings on the reverse documenting its international journey.The partial circular date stamp, datedJuly 1902, appears to read MOUNTAINVILLE; the contained correspondence makes numberous refrences to New Jersey place names, strongly suggesting that the originating post office was likely MOUNTAINVILLE, NJ. The cover was subsequently handled through New York on its journey to Florence and bears an additional postal mark with the letters S.S., possibly from the ship it was transported on.
The correspondence appears to consist primarily of personal family letters written by a woman to her brother and sister. A preliminary examination indicates that the letters discuss family affairs and everyday life in both Italy and the United States. Because of the quantity of material and the sometimes difficult period handwriting, the correspondence has not been completely transcribed or researched.
Alfred Houghton Clark (1868–1936) was an American portrait artist, illustrator and art teacher who studied with noted American artists including Joseph DeCamp, Edmund Tarbell and Frank Benson and who spent time teaching and working in Florence. The identification is offered as a research lead for the purchaser; prospective buyers are encouraged to conduct their own additional research.
All of the correspondence found together inside the cover is included and is being offered intact as a single family archive, rather than separated into individual letters.
The photographs include the original cover, the 5-cent Grant stamp, postal markings, and views of the surviving correspondence. Additional representative letter pages are shown so buyers can evaluate the handwriting and content.
An appealing group for collectors or researchers interested in American family correspondence, Florence and Italy, turn-of-the-century travel and expatriate life, artists and art history, genealogy, or U.S. international postal history.
The cover and correspondence are more than 120 years old and show expected folds, toning, staining, edge wear, opening wear and other signs of age, handling and storage. Please examine all photographs carefully for condition and content.
From the collection of Dr. Allan C. “Doc” Johnson (1889-1941) of Clinton, Massachusetts, an active stamp collector during the early 20th century. Doc\'s collection has remained with his family for more than eight decades.
Free shipping to USA addresses.
About Alfred Houghton Clark
Biography, askart website

• Born Lawrence, MA, Dec. 10, 1868; died Colorado Springs, CO, Sept. 27, 1936. Painter, specialized in portraits. Teacher.
• Studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Boston, MA.
• Pupil of Joseph Decamp; Edmund Tarbell; Frank Benson.
• Taught at the University of Kansas from 1893-1900; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the Kansas City Art Institute.
• Married to Mary M. P.
• Painted portraits of President William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, University of Kansas Chancellors and chairmen of various University of Kansas departments.
• Illustrated several books including Six American Authors: Plate Proofs of Pastels Drawn from Life (1902) and Grandma\'s Book of Rhymes (1925).

Alfred Houghton Clark – findagrave website
Alfred Houghton Clark was a portrait artist. He lived in Massachusetts; New York City, New York; Kansas City, Missouri; Lawrence, Kansas; and Colorado. After the passing of his first wife, he married again.
According to newspaper advertisements, he painted several famous people, including Clara Barton (organizer of the American Red Cross). He sketched Booker T. Washington from life.
Contributor Russ C. adds: \"In the 1890s he was professor of drawing and painting at the University of Kansas. A number of his portraits of chancellors of the university are held by the university archives, Spencer Research Library.\"