Carnegie Mellon University - Andrew Carnegie Online Archives

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  • Subject = Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924--Correspondence
  • Date = 5/19/1911

About This Collection

This collection contains primary resources about Carnegie's bequests along with supporting explanatory text, that teachers will be able to use as part of their curriculum.
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(John W. Beatty to S.H. Church, May 19, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Portraits, Art commissions, Bellevue-Stratford Hotel, Hotels--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia, Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924--Correspondence
Postal Telegraph Cable Company telegram from John W. Beatty to Samuel H. Church presumably in response to a note (telegram) dated May 19, 1911 from Samuel H. Church. The telegram states that Beatty will see Andrew Carnegie and will ""do best he can"", presumably in regards to judging a portrait painted by Anders Zorn of Andrew Carnegie. He suggests that Church telegraph, presumably Andrew Carnegie and ask him to let Zorn finish the portrait of him. The telegram ends by stating Zorn (presumably) is at the Bellevue-Stratford that night.
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(Samuel H. Church to John W. Beatty, May 19, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Correspondence, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Art commissions, Portraits, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Carnegie, Louise, Whitfield, Estelle, Franks, Thetta Quay, Bertram, James, 1872-1934
A typescript letter from Samuel H. Church to John W. Beatty in regards to a portrait of Andrew Carnegie that was painted by Anders Zorn. In the letter Church refers to a telegram he sent Beatty from the train he was on May 19, 1911 in which he stated ""that the Zorn portrait of Mr. Carnegie is a total failure"". Church writes that Mr. Carnegie, Mrs. (Louise) Carnegie, Miss (Estelle) Whitfield and Mrs. (Thetta Quay) Franks all dislike the portrait. Church states that Carnegie thinks that the portrait looks like a ""beer-swilling, lounging German"" and is a ""libelous canvas"". The portrait has been placed facing inwards on a shelf in James Bertram's office. Carnegie was told by Zorn that someone would ""call for it"" but no one has done so yet. Church believes that if the portrait is that bad he thinks that ""we should reject it"" and not pay the $7,000 fee for the portrait. In his above mentioned telegram he asked Beatty to take one or two experts to look at the painting. Church writes that he has written to Carnegie to inform him that Beatty will call on him to look at the portrait. Signed Secretary. Includes a P.S. with a note that Church has asked Mr. Bruce to sign letter for him and another P.S. that he also just received Beatty's telegram presumably of May 19, 1911. He asks Beatty to send him a wire on Monday ""so that I will know what is in the air"".
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(S.H. Church to John W. Beatty, May 19, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Portraits, Art commissions
A handwritten text, presumably for a telegram from Samuel H. Church to John Beatty, concerning Andrew Carnegie's dislike of a portrait painted of him presumably by Anders Zorn. After four sittings the work was stopped and Church asks Beatty to ""take one or two competent judges"" to look at the painting at Andrew Carnegie's house. He asks Beatty to respond to him. Care Conductor P.R.R. No. 24 beginning of text.
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