The Wilbur D. Peat Research Papers contain materials related to Peat’s articles, books, lectures, and classes predominantly from the years 1935-1958. The collection includes notes and index cards on Indiana artists and collectors, article clippings, bibliographies, exhibition catalogs, photographs of artworks, and correspondence with art collectors, curators and artists’ families. The materials contain extensive notes relating to a number of Peat’s books including Pioneer Painters of Indiana, Indiana Houses of the Nineteenth Century, Chinese Ceramics of the Sung Dynasty, and Portraits and Painters of the Governors of Indiana, 1800-1943. A portion of this collection, relating to Pioneer Painters of Indiana, has been digitized in partnership with IUPUI University Library made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Indiana State Library. You can access the digital collection here: https://cds.ulib.iupui.edu/collections/WilburPeat
Peat, Wilbur David, 1898-1966The Wilbur David Peat Papers, 1924-1972, undated, contains records regarding the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields while under the directorship of Wilbur Peat after he took over as director from acting director Anna Hasselman. The collection contains records primarily sourced from the director’s office. It documents the administrative actions of the institution from the director level. Note that administration reorganization has taken place since these records were created. Many of the earlier papers in this collection were not originally housed in the director’s office due to the administrative setup of the institution at the time.
It is important to note that this collection extends past both Wilbur Peats's life and his final year as director in 1966. Isabel Martin, executive assistant to the director, started in 1967 and continued/finished many of the projects started under director Peat. Martin also compiled and added context to these files prior to their addition to the archives.
The series are organized by subject, but the individual files are in original order with no further arrangement. Due to Peat’s involvement with education and community, researchers will find information regarding correspondence and education of value.