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Klots family papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS 2404

Abstract

This collection is primarily the incoming correspondence of Agnes Klots (1879-1936) written to her by her husband Alfred Partridge Klots (1875-1939) and their son Trafford Partridge Klots (1913-1976), both of whom were internationally known artists.

Dates

  • 1889-1978

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

The reproduction of materials in this collection may be subject to copyright restrictions. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine and satisfy copyright clearances or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections. For more information visit the MCHC’s Rights and Permissions page.

Biographical Note

This collection is largely the incoming letters (1901-1935) of Agnes (Boone) Klots. Most letters were written by her husband, Alfred, and their son, Trafford. The earliest letters (1902-1904) are from Alfred who was living and painting in France. These courtship letters are the most descriptive he wrote about his work. In 1904 Alfred and Agnes were married, and there are few letters from Alfred until 1917. At this time, Alfred was working on portraits in Baltimore while Agnes spent the summer with the children in East Glouster, Massachusetts. Alfred wrote of the progress of various portraits and his social activities.

In 1918 Alfred was still working in the U.S., but in July he offered the Red Cross the use of the Klots' Chateau in Rochefort-en-Terre for a convalescent hospital. The Red Cross accepted, and in the fall Alfred returned to Rochefort-en-Terre with the Red Cross. The hospital remained open from October 1918 until April 1919. During this time Alfred wrote detailed letters about the Red Cross work.

The Klotses had been at their Chateau in Rochefort-en-Terre at the outbreak of the war and began French War relief work in 1915. Agnes Klots continued her war relief work in Baltimore. In her war work papers (Box 2) there is a summary report of her relief activities from 1914-1919. Her incoming letters from 1918 discuss an especially difficult issue: the rivalry among groups competing for funds to aid the French people. Agnes Klots was most active in the French Wounded Emergency Fund and the American Ouvroir Fund to aid French War orphans, but her 1918 incoming letters discuss the competing groups as well.

Agnes Klots returned to France in 1919. The next series of letters are from 1925-1927, the years Alfred devoted to rebuilding the chateau in Rochefort-en-Terre. His letters to Agnes speak of little else, but they are detailed concerning the renovation.

From 1927-1929 Agnes and Alfred's son, Trafford, attended Ecole des Roches and wrote his parents of his studies and activities. Trafford was not much of a scholar and these letters, like those written from Gilman School in Baltimore during 1929-1932, described his poor performance in all things but art. After leaving Gilman in 1932, Trafford studied with his father, Alfred. Then he studied in the fall of 1932 at the British Academy in Rome and at Shaw School in London from 1933-1935. Trafford's letters to his mother during these years revealed something of his artistic development. Newspaper clippings about Trafford's career are in Box 3.

The collection ends with the last letters written to Agnes in 1935. There are a few letters written to Alfred and Trafford, and some papers relating to Alfred's parents, Elizabeth U. Brown and Walter T. Klots.

Extent

1.3 Linear Feet (3 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Mrs. Trafford P. Klots (Isabel) in March 1979.

Related Materials

MS 3019, Klots family papers supplement, 1898-1983

Separated Materials

Photographic material originally transferred to the Prints and Photographs Department in 1979. Named "Photo Collection B-50" it was then assimilated into collection MS 3019, Klots family papers supplement, boxes 4-8.

Scope and Contents

The collection is largely the incoming letters (1902-1935) of Agnes (née Boone) Klots (1879-1936) written to her by her husband Alfred Partridge Klots (1875-1939) and their son Trafford Partridge Klots (1913-1976). Topics covered include Brittany, France; the art work of both Alfred and Trafford Klots; World War I relief efforts in France and the United States; and Trafford's education in France and Baltimore. There are also some materials relating to Alfred's parents Elizabeth Underhill (née Brown) Klots and Walter T. Klots and to Agnes' father William Marshall Boone.

Title
Guide to the Klots family papers
Status
Under Revision
Author
Cynthia H. Requardt
Date
1979-03
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script

Revision Statements

  • 2020-02-07: Manually entered into ArchivesSpace by Sandra Glascock.

Repository Details

Part of the H. Furlong Baldwin Library Repository

Contact:
H. Furlong Baldwin Library
Maryland Center for History and Culture
610 Park Avenue
Baltimore MD 21201 United States
4106853750