Description:

Adams Ansel

Archive Consisting of Two Typed Letters Signed, and One Postcard Signed from the period August 1951 – November 1951



(1) Typed Postcard Signed, “Ansel Adams”, August 7, 1951, one page, 5.5” X 3.25”, on printed “Ansel Adams” postcard, San Francisco, California, with unused printed “Ansel Adams” reply envelope. Addressed to “C.P.” [Chappie Packard]. Referring to the Portfolios in a previous letter, Adams writes, “Due to my father’s illness and other pressing matters it would be very helpful if you could pick the Portfolios up here…I suggest you call for them within this week; we do not know what will occur, and I may have to leave on a trip…” Adams’ mother had died March 22, 1950 with both Adams’ father, Charlie [Charles Hitchcock Adams], and Ansel by her side. Adams’ father never recovered from this loss, and died August 9, 1951, just two days after this postcard was written. Adams confessed in a letter to friends that he cried for the first time in his life when his father died. Light soiling and the usual folds; else fine condition.



(2) Typed Letter Signed, “Ansel Adams”, November 5, 1951, one page, 8.5” X 11”, on printed “Ansel Adams Photography” stationery, San Francisco, California, with mailing envelope. Addressed to “Chappie Packard.” Adams thanks Packard for selling the Portfolios, “I am delighted that you had the display of the Two Portfolios, and am naturally much pleased that you disposed of them. / I regret that I did not take the numbers of the Portfolios – I should have these for my records – and the names of the purchasers as well – if possible and convenient for you to obtain them for me.” Adams tells Packard of an upcoming housewarming he will be invited to at his renovated “studio-residence." “…I would take great pleasure is [sic] having you come over and see all the prints I have available. Unfortunately, my printing has suffered – in quantity especially – over the past several years, and I do not have too much to show. Most of my best work just was shipped off to the Art Institute of Chicago for an exhibit opening there November 15th. It then goes on to George Eastman House in Rochester. But I hope to get into the routine of creative printing soon!” Light toning and soiling to envelope, else fine condition with no tears. Letter is in very fine condition.



(3) Typed Letter Signed, “Ansel Adams”, November 14, 1951, one page, 8.5” X 11”, on printed “Ansel Adams Photography” stationery, San Francisco, California, with unmatched mailing envelope to “Mr. H.C. Packard”, postdated March 4, 1950. An insightful letter from Ansel Adams as he admits he has difficulty promoting and selling his own work. He invites Chappie Packard to “think about” a relationship where Adams would create prints and photographs and Packard would be the “creative agent” to promote and sell them. In part, “…it seems that if you display prints, and can sell them, that you evidence a very considerable potential for service! And, of course, I infer that you should benefit thereby, too…We desperately need someone hereabouts to take up the task of encouraging people to purchase original prints and Portfolios…it is..the need for a dynamic approach …I guess I mean a type of ‘creative agent’…my bottleneck is entirely within the ‘sales’ (promotional) sphere…I am sure it would be a satisfying and profitable venture. Think about it…” According to author Mary Alinder in her biography of Adams, “Money had always been Ansel’s Achilles’ heel, and he had to scramble for it most of his life.” Light soiling and ragged upped edge to envelope. Typed Letter has the usual folds, else very fine condition. During the Depression, the Farm Security Administration (F.S.A.) hired photographers to document American rural life. In the 1930’s, Dorothea Lange was an F.S.A. photographer and Ansel Adams printed her photographs for her while she was out in the field in order to get feedback before they were sent to Washington, D.C. Chappie Packard worked in the California regional office of the F.S.A. during that time, so this may have been how the relationship between Packard and Adams began.



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