COLLECTION GUIDES

1924-2002

Offsite Storage Inventory

Restrictions on Access

The Mary A. Reardon papers are CLOSED pending processing. Some materials may be made available for research at the discretion of the MHS library staff following a review to identify copyright, privacy, and/or preservation concerns. Prior to placing a request through Portal1791, contact the library at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org to initiate this review. Please allow up to two weeks for requests to be reviewed.

This collection is stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.


Collection Summary

Abstract

This collection consists of the professional and personal papers of liturgical artist Mary Agnes Reardon of Quincy and Hingham, Mass., 1924-2002. Professional papers include art exhibition and sales records; records of commissions for murals, book covers, Christmas cards, and other artwork; sketches; and teaching files from Emmanuel College. Personal papers include correspondence with her father Daniel B. Reardon, her mother Mary Cashman Reardon, her brothers George and Paul C. Reardon, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. The collection also includes subject files, clippings, photographs, and diaries.

Biographical Sketch

Mary A. Reardon attended Radcliffe College, 1930-1934, Yale School of Fine Arts, 1938, and studied in Mexico with artist David Alfaro Siquieros. Her major liturgical works include the Guadalupe Chapel and two transept ceilings at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.; a triptych at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Baltimore, Maryland; an early mural at Cabot Hall at Radcliffe College; and two half domes, soffits, and historical walls at the St. Louis Cathedral. She also illustrated seven children's books.

Processing Information

This collection is UNPROCESSED.

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated by the family of Mary A. Reardon through Martha A. R. Bewick, July 2005.

Restrictions on Access

The Mary A. Reardon papers are CLOSED pending processing. Some materials may be made available for research at the discretion of the MHS library staff following a review to identify copyright, privacy, and/or preservation concerns. Prior to placing a request through Portal1791, contact the library at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org to initiate this review. Please allow up to two weeks for requests to be reviewed.

This collection is stored offsite and must be requested at least two business days in advance via Portal1791. Researchers needing more than six items from offsite storage should provide additional advance notice. If you have questions about requesting materials from offsite storage, please contact the reference desk at 617-646-0532 or reference@masshist.org.

Summary Description of the Collection

Carton 1SH 17DH /

Correspondence

Carton 1SH 17DH /

Photographs

Carton 1SH 17DH /

"Paul's Papers" (correspondence)

Carton 1SH 17DH /

Art exhibition and sales records

Carton 1SH 17DH /

Exhibition invitations

Carton 1SH 17DH /

School notebooks

Carton 1SH 17DH /

Church records

Carton 1SH 17DH /

Business cards

Carton 1SH 17DH /

Travel papers

Carton 1SH 17DH /

Museum of Fine Arts

Carton 1SH 17DH /

Miscellaneous material

Carton 2SH 17DI +

Art exhibition invitations

Carton 2SH 17DI +

Artwork and sketchbooks

Carton 2SH 17DI +

Emmanuel records

Carton 2SH 17DI +

Printed material

Carton 2SH 17DI +

Clippings and newspapers

Carton 2SH 17DI +

Miscellaneous material

Carton 3SH 17DJ %

Subject files

Carton 3SH 17DJ %

Mary Reardon's office files

Including papers related to Yale, Radcliffe, artwork, friends, and donations.

Carton 4SH 17DK 0

Diaries, 1944-1947

Carton 4SH 17DK 0

Subject files

Carton 4SH 17DK 0

Books illustrated by Mary Reardon

Carton 5SH 17DL 1

Family correspondence, 1920s-1990s

Including letters written by her brother Paul Reardon to parents Daniel and Mary Cashman Reardon.

Carton 6SH 17DM 2

Correspondence

Carton 6SH 17DM 2

School notebooks

Carton 6SH 17DM 2

Exhibit loan and sales records

Carton 6SH 17DM 2

Travel diary, 1963

Carton 6SH 17DM 2

Miscellaneous material

Carton 7SH 17DN 3

Correspondence

Carton 7SH 17DN 3

Records related to art commissions and teaching

Carton 7SH 17DN 3

Miscellaneous material

Carton 8SH 17DP 5

School papers

Carton 8SH 17DP 5

Correspondence, 1952

Mostly condolence letters of the death of Mary Cashman Reardon.

Carton 8SH 17DP 5

Miscellaneous material

Carton 9SH 17DQ 6

School notes

Carton 9SH 17DQ 6

Sketchbooks

Carton 9SH 17DQ 6

Prints

Carton 9SH 17DQ 6

Clippings

Carton 9SH 17DQ 6

Correspondence

Carton 9SH 17DQ 6

Emmanuel College

Carton 9SH 17DQ 6

Papers from trip to Mexico

Carton 9SH 17DQ 6

Miscellaneous material

Carton 10SH 17DR 7

Correspondence, 1940s

Carton 10SH 17DR 7

Subject files

Carton 11SH 17DS 8

Radcliffe papers

Carton 11SH 17DS 8

School notes

Carton 11SH 17DS 8

Trip to Mexico

Carton 11SH 17DS 8

Sketches

Carton 11SH 17DS 8

Miscellaneous material

Carton 12SH 17DT 9

Correspondence, 1929-1930s

Carton 12SH 17DT 9

Subject files

Carton 12SH 17DT 9

Miscellaneous material

Carton 13SH 17DU A

Photographs

Carton 13SH 17DU A

International Exposition of Sacred Art, Trieste, Italy, 1961

Carton 13SH 17DU A

School papers

Carton 13SH 17DU A

Travel diary, India, 1981

Carton 13SH 17DU A

Guest book, 1939

Carton 14SH 17DV B

Correspondence

Carton 14SH 17DV B

Daniel Reardon condolence letters, 1961

Carton 14SH 17DV B

Subject files

Carton 14SH 17DV B

Photographs

Carton 14SH 17DV B

Miscellaneous material

Carton 15SH 17DW C

Commissions

Carton 15SH 17DW C

Christmas cards

Carton 15SH 17DW C

Ars Instaurare

Carton 15SH 17DW C

Emmanuel College

Carton 15SH 17DW C

Subject files

Carton 16SH 17DX D

Daybooks and diaries, 1940s-1950s

Carton 17SH 17DY E

Subject files

Carton OS 1SH1A7J

Oversize sketchbooks

Carton OS 2SH1A7K

Oversize photographs

Carton OS 2SH1A7K

Oversize clippings

Carton OS 2SH1A7K

Oversize miscellaneous material

Preferred Citation

Mary A. Reardon papers, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Access Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in ABIGAIL, the online catalog of the Massachusetts Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related persons, organizations, or subjects should search the catalog using these headings.

Persons:

Reardon, Daniel B., -1961.
Reardon, George.
Reardon, Mary Cashman, -1952.
Reardon, Paul C., 1909-

Organizations:

Emmanuel College (Boston, Mass.)--Faculty.

Subjects:

Christian art and symbolism.
Women artists--Massachusetts--Hingham.
Women artists--Massachusetts--Quincy.