Harvard Libraries: Berenson Archive

Berenson Archive


Hours:	Mon.-Fri., 9am to 6pm, by appointment.

Phone Numbers:

	039-055-603251
Fax	039-055-603383

Email Addresses:

	mrocke@vit.iris.firenze.it
	fsuperbi@vit.iris.firenze.it

Address:

Biblioteca Berenson
Villa I Tatti
The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies
Via di Vincigliata, 26
50135 Florence, Italy

Access Policy:

Open by appointment.

Open to qualified researchers.

Letter of introduction required.

Extent of Collections:

253 linear ft.

Dates:

ca. 1890-present

Holdings Description:

Bernard Berenson's manuscripts and correspondence with leading art historians, collectors, novelists, poets, historians, and statesmen, including Henry Adams, Isabella Stewart Gardner, Ernest Hemingway, and Edith Wharton.

Mary Berenson’s correspondence (partial) and manuscripts.

Nicky Mariano’s correspondence.

Roberto and Livia Papini’s correspondence and documentation concerning his activity as architect.

Giorgio Castelfranco’s papers documenting his activity as art historian and official of the Soprintendenza.

Frederick Hartt’s papers documenting his activity as art historian. Andrea Francalanci’s papers documenting his activity as historian of theater and dance.

History:

The nucleus of the collection consists of Mary and Bernard Berenson’s correspondence, manuscripts, and other papers, which were included in Mr. Berenson’s bequest of Villa I Tatti to Harvard University at his death in 1959. Other collections have since been donated to the Harvard Center.

Printed Guides & Catalogs:

Nicky Mariano, The Berenson Archive: An Inventory of Correspondence (Florence: Villa I Tatti, Distributed by Harvard University Press, 1965); Myron Gilmore, "Villa I Tatti, The Harvard University Center for Italian Renaissance Studies: The First Ten Years," Harvard Library Bulletin 19 (January 1971).

Contact for permission to publish requests:

Curator of the Berenson Archive

Reproduction services:

Photographic reproduction services.

Items allowed in Reading Room:

Laptops

Please address comments and updates to archinfo@hulmail.harvard.edu.