Howard Merritt papers
Creator: Merritt, Howard S.
Call Number: D.479
Dates: 1941-2004 [bulk]
Physical Description: 10 Linear Feet
Language(s): Materials are in English
Repository: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Table of Contents:

Biographical/Historical Note
Scope and Content
Subject(s)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Access
Use
Citation
Content List
Collection Overview
Title: Howard Merritt papers
Creator: Merritt, Howard S.
Call Number: D.479
Dates: 1941-2004 [bulk]
Physical Description: 10 Linear Feet
Language(s): Materials are in English
Repository: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester

Biographical/Historical Note
Born in 1915, Howard Merritt completed his undergraduate degree at Oberlin College and went on to earn a Masters of Fine Arts from Princeton University, after which he served in the army during WWII. Upon his discharge from active duty, Merritt returned to the United States to complete his PhD. Merritt then became a professor at the University of Rochester from 1946-1976. Merritt originally studied Renaissance paintings; however, he later developed expertise in the work of the 19th century painter Thomas Cole. As a result, Merritt wrote or co-authored a number of books including Thomas Cole (1969), Studies on Thomas Cole (1967), and The Genesee Country (1975). Florence Merritt was born in 1915 and was employed at the University of Rochester as a lecturer. Florence and Howard had four children. After retiring from the University, the couple bought and sold antiques. During this period, they also donated several pieces to the Memorial Art Gallery, including Thomas Cole's Genesee Scenery.

Scope and Content
The majority of the collection includes the research, lecture notes, published articles and books for Howard Merritt, with a small portion of materials related to Florence. Merritt. Howard wrote and lectured extensively on 19th century painters such as Thomas Cole and Thomas Chambers. Much of Howard's research and lecture notes focus on painting in early America and American landscape, however, his lectures also covered topics such as the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Baroque period. Florence's research and lecture notes, though limited, focus on early America, specifically the American West. The collection also contains the couple's correspondence exchanged among colleagues from 1963-1988.

Subject(s):
Correspondence
Lectures
Research notes
Merritt, Howard S.
Merritt, Florence
University of Rochester
Art historians
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was made a gift of the Merrritt family in 2007.Access
The Howard Merritt papers is open for research use. Researchers are advised to contact Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation prior to visiting. Upon arrival, researchers will also be asked to fill out a registration form and provide photo identification.Use
Reproductions are made upon request but can be subject to restrictions. Permission to publish materials from the collection must currently be requested. Please note that some materials may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the researcher's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information contact rarebks@library.rochester.eduCitation
[Item title, item date], Howard Merritt papers, D.479, Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Administrative Information
Author: Kristina Fricker and Danielle Vander Horst
Publisher: Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation, River Campus Libraries, University of Rochester
Address:
Rush Rhees Library
Second Floor, Room 225
Rochester, NY 14627-0055
rarebks@library.rochester.edu
URL:


Content List