Frank Weitenkampf papers

1886-1962

Frank Weitenkampf (1866-1962) worked for the New York Public Library for 61 years. He started as a page at the Astor Library in 1881, became head of the NYPL Art Department, and served as Curator of Prints from 1921 until his retirement in 1942. Weitenkampf wrote several books and numerous articles on prints, was a print collector, and corresponded with artists and other collectors. Early in his career he used the pseudonym Frank Linston White. Collection consists of Weitenkampf's correspondence and his writings. Letters, spanning the years 1888-1962, include those received by Weitenkampf and drafts of his replies. A portion of the letters relates to Weitenkampf's official duties at NYPL. There are rarely more than a few letters from any one individual except for the following: Samuel P. Avery (1822-1904), a merchant and art collector; Edwin D. French (1851-1906), an engraver; and Julius J. Lankes (1884-1960), who was a printmaker specializing in woodcuts. The rest of the collection consists of Weitenkampf's own writings, both published and unpublished. Two of the manuscript works, Social History of the United States in Caricature and American Life in American Prints, are valuable for locating visual source material for American history. Living in One Man's Reading is a typed collection of quotations that appealed to Weitenkampf. Copies of his published works are all annotated by Weitenkampf with corrections or additions to the text. There is also an 8-volume scrapbook containing clippings of articles written by Weitenkampf, clippings mentioning him, and a few letters from editors concerning his articles.