Orlando Rouland Papers, 1905-1939

 

RLIN ID No.

NYGG01-A29

 

Creator

Rouland, Orlando, 1871-1945.

 

Title

Papers, 1905-1939.

 

Physical Description  

2 boxes (3 linear feet)

Ca. 200 photographs

              

Historical/Biographical Note

Portrait painter Orlando Rouland was born in Pleasant Ridge, Illinois (12 December 1871). He studied in Germany with Max Thedy, at the Julian Academy in Paris, and in London and New York City. Rouland’s portraits began to attract notice around 1905. He married New York socialite Minnie Dwight, who actively promoted his career. Dwight’s patronage of the dancer Ruth St. Denis led to Rouland painting her performing her work “Cobras.” In addition to his portraits of socialites, Rouland painted portraits of such public figures as Theodore Roosevelt, John Burroughs, Chauncey Depew, Thomas Alva Edison, and the opera singer Dame Nellie Melba. During the 1930s, Rouland was a member of the Allied Artists of America and the Artists’ Professional League. He was particularly active in the latter group’s promotion of the exhibition and sale of work by emerging American artists. He was also active in the Lotos Club of New York City and arranged a number of exhibitions by its artist-members. 

 

Scope and Contents

Correspondence relating to commissions and to Rouland’s work with the Artists’ Professional League, material on the American Federation of Artists and the Fine Arts Foundation, as well as material documenting Rouland’s activities at the Lotos Club in New York City. His correspondents include James Lane Allen, Edwin H. Blashfield, James Montgomery Flagg, Admiral Albert Gleaves, John Huston Finley,  sculptor Georg Lober, William Gibbs McAdoo, Thomas Mott Osborne,  playwright Jessie Lynch Williams, and his wife Minnie Dwight Rouland. Also, three albums of photographs of his portraits as well as informal snapshots of Rouland and his wife at their summer home in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Collection includes newspaper clippings which mention Rouland as well as the typescript of an article about him by Selwyn Brinton (ca. 1910), newspaper clippings by New York Sun columnist Bob Davis which mention him (1938), the typescript of a play by the architect H. Van Buren Magonigle entitled “Shadows” (1917), and biographical information and tracings concerning artist Edith Marsden.

 

Names

Allen, James Lane, 1849-1925. Correspondence.

Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936. Correspondence.

Brinton, Selwyn.

Davis, Bob, journalist of New York, fl. 1938.

Depew, Chauncey (Chauncey Mitchell), 1834-1928.

Gleaves, Albert, 1858-1937. Correspondence.

Finley, John Huston, 1863-1940. Correspondence.

Flagg, James Montgomery, 1877- Correspondence.

Lober, Georg, sculptor. Correspondence.

McAdoo, William Gibbs, 1863-1941. Correspondence.

Mansfield, Richard, 1857-1907.

Magonigle, Harold Van Buren, 1867-1935. Shadows: a pantomime. 1917.

Marsden, Edith.

Osborne, Thomas Mott, 1859-1926. Correspondence.

Rouland, Minnie Dwight.

Williams, Jesse Lynch, 1871-1929. Correspondence.

 

American Federation of Arts.

American Artists Professional League.

Fine Arts Foundation.

Lotos Club (New York, N.Y.)

 

Genre

Albums.

Photographs.

 

Occupation (as reflected in the collection)

Artists. New York (State). New York. 20th century.

Portrait painters. New York (State). New York. 20th century.

 

Location 

Grolier Club, 47 East 60th Street, New York, N.Y. 10022-1098.

 

Collection Inventory

 

Correspondence: Letters to Orlando Rouland (OR)

Edwin Howland Blashfield. 1 ALS: 24 May 1921 (1 p.)

 

Admiral Albert Gleaves, U.S.N. Letters concerning his portrait. File includes 2 photographs of OR at

work on the portrait. 15 x 20 cm.

 

John Huston Finley.  2 TLS: 19 January 1922 (1 p.); 17 December 1931 (1 p.). 1 ALS 4 July 1932 (1 p.).

 

Thomas Mott Osborne (and family). Correspondence 1917-1933 regarding TMO’s efforts at prison

reform.

 

(Mrs.?) Edward Hugh Sothern. 2 ALS: 19 April 1923 (1 p.) (to Minnie Rouland); 23 April 1926 (3 p.).

 

Jessie Lynch Williams. 2 TLS: 8 April 1929 (1 p.) (to Minnie Rouland); 31 May 1929 (1 p.).

 

Correspondence from Smithsonian Institution regarding OR’s portrait of American actor Richard Mansfield

in the role of Beau Brummel and gift of this portrait to the Institution, 1931-1933.

 

Correspondence from various firms and individuals regarding boat owned by OR and used at Marblehead,

               Mass., 1920s.

 

Miscellaneous correspondents, 1907-1938. Includes letter requesting OR to autograph a photograph of his

portrait of American novelist James Lane Allen.

 

 

Correspondence: Letters from Orlando Rouland

To Minnie Dwight Rouland. 2 ALS: 10 June 1925 (4 p.); 10 June 1925 “11 p.m.” (4 p.). Discuss family of

Chauncey M. DePew, who was the subject of portrait by OR. File includes newspaper articles about DePew.

 

To Minnie Dwight Rouland. 3 ALS: 19 April 1923 (1 p.); 10 October 1928 (4 p.); date uncertain (4 p.) (pencil; some damage).

 

 

Other Family Correspondence

[Illegible] Marlowe Sothern to Minnie Dwight Rouland. 2 ALS: 19 April 1923 (2 p.); 23 April 1926 (3 p.).

 

 

Professional Associations and Clubs: Correspondence, notices, etc.

American Artists Professional League. Correspondence and biographies of emerging artists with lists of

their work, 1930s. File includes 1 ALS from James Montgomery Flagg to OR:  23 December 1938

(1 p.).

 

American Federation of Arts. Correspondence, 1929-1931.

 

American Artists Professional League. National Lecture Committee. Notices, etc., 1930s.

 

Fine Arts Foundation. Events, 1931.

 

Lotos Club. Correspondence from members, notices, etc. mainly relating to OR’s role in organizing

exhibits at the club of members’ work.

 

 

Material about Work of  Orlando Rouland

Brinton, Selwyn. “Portrait Work of Orlando Rouland.”  Typescript signed by author, 1910? (7 p.).

 

Miscellaneous rotogravure sections from newspapers, which mention or illustrate the work of OR, 1910-

1930.

 

Bob Davis, journalist for New York Sun. Newspaper article ca. 1938, some of which mention OR.

 

 

Photographs

“Christ the Man”. Photograph of painting by OR taken by art photographer Peter Juley & Sons, 1930s.

(4 copies). File includes holograph poem entitled “Christ Speaks” signed “Wade Oliver” and undated ALS from Black, Starr and Gorham, silver merchants, regarding the painting.

 

3 albums of photographs of portraits painted by OR between 1904 and 1937 (ca. 150 black and white

photographs, 26 x 29 cm.).

                              Album 1: portraits of men and of women

                              Album 2: portraits primarily of men

                              Album 3: portraits of men and women

 

Photographs (mostly mounted) of portraits by OR; some not identified as to sitter (100 photographs,

               20 x 25 cm.).

 

Miscellaneous, unidentified photographs, possibly of individuals considering portraits (8 photographs,

               20 x 25 cm. and smaller). 

 

Snapshots of OR and his wife. Most appear to have been taken at their summer home in Marblehead,

Mass. 2 show OR in his studio at 103 West 55th Street about 1905 (ca. 20 photographs).

 

 

Miscellaneous Items

Album apparently kept in Weimar, ca. 1894/1895. Contains one sketch and a few autographs. Most pages

blank (12 x 19 cm.).

 

Marsden, Edith (artist).  Biographical information; tracings of drawings/paintings and labels for catalog,

1930s?

 

Dame Nellie Melba. Holograph notes on OR’s portrait, undated (1 p.). Possibly in hand of Minnie Rouland.

 

H. Van Buren Magonigle, (FAIA). “Shadows: a Pantomime,” 1917 [typescript] (14 p.). Includes 1 TLS

from author to OR: 14 February 1917. In loose brown buckram wrapper.

 

Tree of Light (Community Christmas Tree). Correspondence and articles, ca. 1920-1939.