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Herdle family papers

 Collection
Identifier: D.335

Biographical/Historical note

The Herdle Family is closely linked to the history of the Memorial Art Gallery (MAG). Its first director was George Herdle, son of Emma Miller Herdle. He and wife Elizabeth (Bachman) had two daughters, Gertrude and Isabel. Upon George's death in 1922, Gertrude succeeded him to become the nation's youngest art gallery director. Isabel joined her ten years later as assistant director, having graduated from the University of Rochester and studied at Harvard.

Throughout their fifty-year career, the sisters worked tirelessly, even splitting a salary during the Great Depression to keep the MAG alive. There were no endowments at the time and the Gallery sometimes had almost no money. For their efforts, the sisters were awarded the 1986 Culture and Arts Civic Award from the Chamber of Commerce and in 1990 received a special citation from the Arts Cultural Council for Greater Rochester.

Following Gertrude's divorce in the 1940s, she and Isabel lived together in a farmhouse on East Avenue in Pittsford. Gertrude retired in 1962 and died in 1993. Isabel retired in 1972 with the title curator emeritus.

Scope and Contents

Upon Isabel Herdle's death in 2004 at age 99, the Memorial Art Gallery inherited most of her estate, consisting of the contents of her longtime Pittsford home. The MAG kept papers that related to their institution and transferred what became the Herdle Family Papers to RBSCP in November 2005. The papers include numerous photographs of the Herdle, Bachman, and Miller families, as well as material related to Gertrude's interest in tombstones as American folk art.

Creator

Dates

  • Creation: 1840-1991

Language of Materials

English

Extent

10 box(es)

Access

The Herdle Family Papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact the Rare Collections & Preservation Department prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.

Use

In consultation with a curator, reproductions may be made upon request. Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from a curator. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions.

Preferred Citation

[Item title, item date], Herdle Family Papers, D.335, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Title
Herdle family papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by Rare Books and Special Collections staff. Processed by Eileen Fay.
Date
undated
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Library Details

Part of the Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation Library

Contact:
Rochester NY 14627-0055 USA