00209 Guide to the James H. Chillman, Jr. papers, 1891-1972 Inventory prepared by Tyler Kruse, Summer intern, 2005 Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, Texas 2005 Finding aid encoded by Amanda Focke, Fondren Library July 11, 2005 Finding aid written in English. Collection Summary Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University, Houston, TX Moody, John Wyatt James H. Chillman, Jr. papers 1891-1972 2.5 lin. ft. (5 boxes) MS 482 Materials are in English. Correspondence, typescripts, printed material, news clippings, photographs, books, memorabilia, dating 1891 to 1972 and covering family and professional life of James Chillman, Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Fine Arts at the Rice Institute and the first director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Many of the transcripts of his radio show "Art is Fun" are in the collection along with a thorough photographic history of his family and career. A large number of news articles are featured concerning his life and career as leading member of Houston's burgeoning academic and art communities. Biographical Sketch

James H. Chillman was the first director of the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and one of the first faculty members of the Rice Institute, now known as Rice University. In the 1950's Chillman aired a very popular radio show called "Art is Fun" which discussed art relating to Houston, popular currents, and new art, all aimed at getting the Houston community interested in art. He was the first director of the Museum of Fine Arts until the early ’50s, and he also was Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Fine Arts (part of the Department of Architecture) at Rice from the formative years into the early ’70s. He worked half time as the director and half time on the faculty at Rice. He died in 1972 after 55 years of service to the Rice community.

 Scope and Contents

Correspondence, typescripts, printed material, news clippings, photographs, books, memorabilia, dating 1891 to 1972 and covering family and professional life of James Chillman, a faculty member at the Rice Institute and the first director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Many of the transcripts of his radio show "Art is Fun" are in the collection along with a thorough photographic history of his family and career. A large number of news articles are featured concerning his life and career as leading member of Houston's burgeoning academic and art communities.

Restrictions on Access

This material is open for research.

 Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from the Chillman Papers must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University.

 Index Terms Subjects (Persons) Chillman, James H., Jr. Chillman, Helen Subjects (Organizations) Rice University. Department of Architecture - history. Formats Correspondence Notes Typescripts Photographs Newsclippings Arrangement

This material has been arranged in the following four series:

Series I: Personal and Family, 1891-1972 Series II: Academic and Professional records, 1913-1972 Series III: Manuscripts and Typescripts, 1934-1972 Series IV: Photographs, Books, and printed materials, 1909-1972 Preferred Citation

James H. Chillman, Jr. papers, 1891-1972, MS 482, Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library, Rice University

 Acquisition Information

The collection was a gift of Helen Chillman, 1973.

Detailed Description of the Collection Series I: Personal and Family, 1891-1972 11 Documents, 1891-1953 12 Correspondence, 1909-1953 13 Helen Chillman Papers, ca. 1945 14 Correspondence and documents re: Dawes Chillman, 1950-1957 15 Correspondence re: Samuel Gray, 1947-1995 16 Correspondence, 1947-1954 17 Correspondence1956-1959 18 Correspondence re: Estate of Dorothy D. Chillman, 1968-1969 19 Correspondence and miscellaneous documents, 1950-1971 110 Correspondence to family after J. Chillman's death, 1972 Series II: Academic and Professional records, 1913-1972 111 University of Pennsylvania, 1913-1963 (NIL) 112 American Academy in Rome; Photos ca. 1920's 113 American Academy in Rome; notes ca. 1922 114 American Academy in Rome; Miscellaneous 1923-1925 115 "The Casino in of the Semicircular Collonades at Hadrian's Villa, " by J.H. Chillman 116 Rice career memorabilia, 1937-1962 117 Rice related correspondence and notices, 1951-1972 118 Rice related correspondence, 1952-1972 119 Rice University: Watkin Memorial Purchases, 1952-1965 120 Bureau of University Travel, 1937-1947 121 Newspaper articles and clippings, 1917-1972 122 Houston Philosophical Society, 1920 123 Texas Medical Center, 1948-1970 124 American Institute of Architects, 1954-1971 125 Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, 1961 126 Kiwanis Club, 1962-1969 127 Junior Service League of Longview, 1967-1971 128 Women's Institute, 1969-1970 Series III: Manuscripts and Typescripts, 1934-1972 21 Lecture and speech notes, 1934, 1939, n.d. 22 Lecture notes, exams, etc., 1964-1972 23 Lecture notes, ca. 1965 24 Lecture notes, ca. 1968-1969 25 Typescript and manuscript of a lecture, n.d. 26-7 "Art is Fun," manuscript and typescript notes, 1949-1957 26-7 Draft of articles, n.d. 26-7 Manuscript on Frederick Remington, 1947 26-7 Typescripts, drawings, photos, ca. 1920's 26-7 Notebooks of drawings and sketches, n.d. Series IV: Photographs, Books, and printed materials, 1909-1972 3- Family album photographs, ca. 1915-1920 3- Photos: Rice, Europe, etc., 1920-1960 3- Framed brass medals: Society of Beaux Arts, 1913-1914 3- Painting "Texas Pines", n.d. Funeral Register, 1972 3- Certificates (rolled and boxed), Stella Della Soledarieta Italiana, 1958 3- Northeast 50th reunion yearbook, 1959 3- Who's Who in Northeast, 1909 3- Northeast class record, 1909 3- University of Pennsylvania class record, 1913 4- River Oaks by Ron Diddle, 1929 4- Rice University Certificate of Merit, 1962 4- American Student Competitions, 1912-1913 4- Large rolled photo of Northeast 50th Reunion, 1959 4- Pencil Points, January 1942 4- Yearbooks of the 26th and 30th annual architects exhibits, Philadelphia, 1923, 1927 4- 100 Drawings by Diego Rivera, 1949 4- "The Casino of the Semicircular Collonades at Hadrian's Villa," by James Chillman (three copies) 4- Stucco Reliefs of the of the First and Second Centuries Still Extant in Rome, n.d. 4- River Oaks: Eighteenth Year, 1941 4- Blaffer Room Clambake Medal of Honor, 1963 4- Certificate from American Academy in Rome, 1922 4- Certificate of Fellowship AIA, 1950 4- Kiwanis plaque for 50 years of service, 1969 4- Documents re: River Oaks estate, 1924-1973 5- Drawing of a "Restoration of the so called Gedicula Tiburtine Vila of The Emperor Hadrian," by Chillman (4 feet, 11 in. wide by 15 in. , 1921)