Harriet Severance Munn Postcard Collection (SC-14)

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
VMFA Archives
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Margaret R. and Robert M. Freeman Library
200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220-4007
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Roxanne Winfield
Phone: (804) 340-1497
Phone: (804) 340-1495
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The collection is subject to all copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright, beyond that allowed by fair use, requires the researcher to obtain permission of copyright holders.

Preferred citation:

Harriet Severance Munn Postcard Collection (SC-14). VMFA Archives, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
0.3 Linear Feet 2 boxes; 2 albums
Abstract:
The collection consists of two bound albums of postcards mostly depicting art and architecture throughout Europe and the United States. The volumes belonged to Harriet Severance Munn, and many contain correspondence between Harriet, her sister Marjorie, and other family members.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

Harriet Severance Munn Postcard Collection (SC-14). VMFA Archives, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

While the majority of the cards in the albums are blank, many contain correspondence between Harriet, her sister Marjorie, and other family members. Some are addressed to Harriet and her husband John Munn, while others are addressed to Marjorie and appear to have been returned to Harriet at a later date. Other cards bear no address or postmark, but contain notes by Harriet further describing the image on the postcard. They cover a period from circa 1911 to 1928, and some of the correspondence is in French.

The first smaller volume contains over 150 postcards housed in an Italian-made album designed specifically for postcard display. The cards depict the art and architecture of Europe, primarily France (Pau, Lourdes, Carcassone, Avignon, Arles, Orange, Antibes, Grasse) and Italy (Rome, Siena). Also included is a single, loose "Graves Stereal-Graph", also known as a stereogram or stereograph. The stereogram is entitled "Making a Welsh Rabbit" and was created by C.H. Graves in Philadelphia in 1903. On the reverse is a short poem of the same name.

The second larger volume contains over 290 postcards housed in a bound leather album engraved with the words "Souvenir Postals" and "Harriet Severance". The cards depict street scenes and architecture throughout Europe (including London, Windsor, Stratford-upon-Avon, Paris, Brussels, Antwerp, Trondheim), Africa (Johannesburg, Gilbraltar), the Carribbean (San Juan), and United States (Jekyll Island, GA, Norfolk, CT, Bennington, VT, Richmond, VA), works of art, and postcards with feminist themes.

Biographical / historical:

Sisters Harriet (1885-1960) and Marjorie Severance (1887-1958) were raised primarily in Los Angeles and were the granddaughters of the noted abolitionist and women's rights advocate Caroline Severance (1820-1914). Some of the postcards may have been sent during the time in which Harriet moved to England after marrying John R. Munn. According to the June 10, 1914 issue of "Princeton Alumni Weekly," Munn and Severance were married in London and spent their honeymoon traveling in Norway.

Custodial history:

Thes collection was donated by Sally Todd in 1996.

Processing information:

The postcards were left in their original albums. There is damage to the cover of the larger volume.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into one series.

Series 1
Postcard Albums, 1911-1928, undated