Lectures, 1937-1939

The Municipal Art Society Records are a collection of notes, correspondence, printed ephemera, and record books that fill 18 boxes. This collection contains the records of both the Municipal Art Society and the Friends of Art, which merged with the Municipal Art Society in 1932. MS. 2840 spans the years 1905-1949, although the bulk of the papers falls between the years 1932-1942.

MS. 2840 contains the minute books, correspondence, notes, and legal papers of the Friends of Art, from the founding meeting of 1919 to their merger with the Municipal Art Society. This organization was entirely separate from the Municipal Art Society prior to 1932. Therefore, their papers are filed as their own series, except in a limited number of cases. Series III (Friends of Art House), for example, contains all material concerning this house from its purchase by the Friends of Art, through the merger of the two organizations, to its sale in the late 1940's. Details are provided in Series Description.

The records of the premerger years of the Municipal Art Society (1899-1931) are limited. A record book covers the years 1908-1919 and contains letterpress copies of correspondence, minutes of meetings, project reports, and membership lists. This book provides the most information on the premerger Municipal Art Society.

The arrangement of the material after the 1932 merger focuses on different aspects of the organization's activities. Papers which relate to certain subjects have been put into chronological order and placed in series such as Membership, Exhibits, and Treasurer.