Carnegie Mellon University - Andrew Carnegie Online Archives

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  • Subject = Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence
  • Subject = Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits
  • Subject = Carnegie, Louise

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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(Andrew Carnegie to Samuel Church, May 19, 1911)
(Andrew Carnegie to Samuel Church, May 19, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--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, Butler, Howard Russell, 1856-1934, Painters--United States, Margaret Morrison Carnegie College (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Carnegie Institute. Technical Schools, New York (N.Y.), Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Correspondence
A handwritten letter from Andrew Carnegie to Samuel H. Church regarding the portrait Anders Zorn painted of Andrew Carnegie. He explains that he had four sitting with Anders Zorn and that Mrs. (Louise) Carnegie, Miss (Estelle) Whitfield and Mrs. (Thetta Quay) Franks do not care for the portrait Zorn painted of him. Carnegie writes that the portrait is sitting facing inwards on a shelf in Mr. James Bertram's office. He writes that Mr. Zorn said that ""some one was to call for it"", but no one has come yet for the portrait. Carnegie writes that the before mentioned ""ladies vote"" for the portrait painted by Howard Russell Butler that hangs ""in our gallery here"". Mr. Carnegie then writes that Mrs. Carnegie bought from Mr. Butler a ""full life size"" painting he did of Carnegie in ""Saint Andrews robes"" that is to be given to the ""Margaret Morrison Ladies School"" or the ""Tech School"" and is ""said to be much finer"". Carnegie concludes the letter by extending an invitation to visit him when ""any of you"" are in New York.
(J.A. Poynton to Col. S.H. Church, May, 20, 1914)
(J.A. Poynton to Col. S.H. Church, May, 20, 1914)
Poynton, John A.--Correspondence, Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Carnegie, Louise, Lwoff-Parlaghy, Vilma Elisabeth, Princess, 1863-1923, Painters--Hungary, Portraits, Art commissions, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Cunningham, Charles R., Carnegie Institute
A typescript letter from John A. Poynton, Andrew Carnegie's personal secretary, to Col. Samuel Harden Church explaining the portrait painted by Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy of Andrew Carnegie is being packed and will be shipped to the Institute (Carnegie Institute). Carnegie is sending the portrait to the Institute ""because it is the costliest picture of him, by far, ever purchased"". On Andrew Carnegie stationary, signed in ink by J.A. Poynton. Includes handwritten note at bottom of letter from Samuel H. Church to Mr. Cunningham (custodian of buildings and grounds at the Carnegie Institute), dated May 22, 1914, stating that Mr. Church is going to ""deposit"" the picture in the ""President's Room"" and asks that Cunningham notify him when it arrives.
(J.A. Poynton to Col. S.H. Church, May, 21, 1914)
(J.A. Poynton to Col. S.H. Church, May, 21, 1914)
Poynton, John A.--Correspondence, Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Carnegie, Louise, Lwoff-Parlaghy, Vilma Elisabeth, Princess, 1863-1923, Painters--Hungary, Portraits, Art commissions, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Butler, Howard Russell, 1856-1934, Pittsburgh (Pa.), Cunningham, Charles R., Carnegie Institute
A typescript letter from John A. Poynton, Andrew Carnegie's personal secretary, to Col. Samuel Harden Church explaining that Mrs. Louise Carnegie thinks the portrait painted by Princess Lwoff-Parlaghy of Andrew Carnegie is not good enough to be displayed in the President's office. The portrait is the costliest portrait painted of him to date but it is not the best portrait of him. Mr. Butler's painting of Andrew Carnegie ""is considered the finest likeness"" and Mrs. Carnegie is having a replica made of this painting and will have it sent to Church's ""address at Pittsburgh"". On Andrew Carnegie stationary, signed in ink by J.A. Poynton. Includes handwritten ink notations: ""Informal"" at top of letter, correction in body of letter and a handwritten note at bottom of letter from Samuel H. Church to Mr. Cunningham (custodian of buildings and grounds at the Carnegie Institute), dated May 22, 1914, asking Cunningham to note and return this letter along with another letter sent to him ""today"" (presumably a letter dated May 20, 1914 from J.A. Poynton to Col. S.H. Church)
(James Bertram to Samuel H. Church, June 30, 1911)
(James Bertram to Samuel H. Church, June 30, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Portraits, Art commissions, Carnegie, Louise, Church, Bertha Jean, Bertram, James, 1872-1934--Correspondence
A handwritten letter from James Bertram to Samuel Harden Church concerning a portrait of Andrew Carnegie painted by Anders Zorn. Bertram explains that Mrs. Carnegie is disappointed with the painting and a ""lady caller"" made an unflattering remark about how Carnegie looks in the portrait. Mr. Bertram asks Mr. Church if his wife would like a portrait of Church that ""represented to the world in his home town as the bibulous personage which the painter has put on that canvas?"" The letter then includes ""kind regards"" to him and Mrs. Bertha Jean Church. A P.S. is included with the note: ""Enclosed order for your use.""
(Samuel H. Church to John W. Beatty, May 19, 1911)
(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"".
(S.H. Church to James Bertram, July 13, 1911)
(S.H. Church to James Bertram, July 13, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Bertram, James, 1872-1934--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Portraits, Art commissions, Carnegie, Louise, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Homes and haunts--New York (State)--New York
A typescript letter from Samuel H. Church to James Bertram concerning a portrait of Andrew Carnegie that was painted by Anders Zorn. Church writes that he received Bertram's private letter dated June 30, 1911 and he states that they (presumably Carnegie Institute, Board of Trustees) are all very disappointed with the portrait. He relates that he went to New York to inspect Zorn's portrait and he agrees with Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Carnegie's opinions of the portrait. Church notes that ""while Mr. Zorn may be one of the world's greatest portrait painters "", he feels that he rushed in painting the portrait and didn't pay enough attention to the portrait. He writes that Zorn gave President Taft eight sittings and Andrew Carnegie only four. His portrait of President Taft is ""said to be a good one"". Church states that he wrote to Zorn and told him the portrait of Carnegie was a failure. He has included a copy of the letter to Anders Zorn. The paining is being left at Carnegie's house for now. A P.S. states that he returns the private memorandum Bertram sent to him.