The Frick Fine Arts Library ~ Early History

Overview of the Early Years

The Frick Fine Arts Library was established using a gift from Miss Helen Clay Frick in 1927, a gift that also established the new Fine Arts Department at the University of Pittsburgh (Alberts 1986, 351). The library was separate from the University Library System and located on the first floor of State Hall (Kinne 1936, 74-75). Although at the time of establishment catalog cards for all newly acquired books were sent to the University Library for a proposed union catalog for all of the libraries in the ULS, the Frick Fine Arts Library operated independently of the larger system (Kinne 1936, 74-75).   

It was out of Miss Frick's generosity that the Fine Arts staff were paid, including those who worked with her to establish the library (Alberts 1986, 351). One of these individuals included Dr. Frederick Mortimer Clapp, who was sent by Miss Frick on a year long trek across Europe to buy books, slides, and equipment for the library (Alberts 1986, 351). Some documented countries that Dr. Clapp traveled to included England, France, Germany, Austria, and Italy (The University of Pittsburgh Record 1927, 44). The history states that "Miss Frick sent him to acquire volumes essential for the finest university art history libraries" (Friends of Frick Fine Arts 1987, 21). Dr. Clapp, under the recommendation of Harvard University's chairman of Fine Arts, was also to be the director of the Fine Arts Department at Pitt beginning in 1927 (Alberts 1986, 351). 

 The library was "reported in the October 1927 issue of the University of Pittsburgh Record to own 1,000 volumes. Within another year, under Dr. Clapp’s leadership and knowledgeable acquisitions, the collection had grown to 3,100 volumes purchased for $26,631.86" (Friends of Frick Fine Arts 1987, 21). Later down the road, in 1986 when asked about his thoughts on the Frick Fine Arts Library, Carnegie Mellon art history Professor Jean Seznac stated that the library had a good foundation, and that it was "extremely well stocked with reference works and periodicals" (Alberts 1986, 353).

 

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