Agnes Baldwin Brett papers, 1900 - 1959
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
- American Numismatic Society
- Extent
- 6.7 cubic feet (39 boxes)
- Language
- English
- Abstract
- Correspondence and manuscripts generated by Agnes Baldwin Brett, ANS curator from 1910 through 1913. Also includes photographic images apparently taken by Brett during her trips to Bermuda and various European countries (Greece, France, Italy, Great Britain) from about 1900 through 1909.
Agnes Baldwin Brett (Image courtesy of Barbara Brett Sanders)
Creator
- Name
- Brett, Agnes Baldwin, 1876-1955 (xeac:entity)
- Abstract
- Assistant Curator, then Curator of the ANS from 1909 to 1912, Brett also served as honorary Associate Curator of Ancient Coins from 1923 to 1955 and Chair of the ANS Publication Committee from 1923 to 1946.
Administrative Information
Access
Collection open to all researchers.
Preferred Citation
Agnes Baldwin Brett papers, 1900-1928, 1950s, Archives, American Numismatic Society.
Restrictions
Copyright restrictions may apply. Permission to publish or reproduce must be secured from the American Numismatic Society.
Biographical Note
Agnes Baldwin Brett, the first female curator at the American Numismatic Society, was born in 1876 and grew up in Newark, New Jersey. She received her B.A. from Barnard College in 1897. After graduation Brett studied archaeology at Columbia, receiving her master's degree there in 1900. She then spent two fellowship years at the American School in Athens, where she discovered her interest in numismatics. From 1910 through 1913, Brett worked as Curator at the ANS. (At the time, the ANS maintained only one curatorial position.) Between 1912 and 1914, the Society granted her permission to study abroad at the Cabinet des Médailles in Paris and to consult the private and museum collections of Europe. This research resulted in the publication of her first monograph, The Electrum Coinage of Lampsakos. In 1914 she returned to New York to marry George Monroe Brett, a professor of accountancy and curator at the City College of New York. In 1919 the ANS honored Brett as the second recipient of the Archer M. Huntington Medal Award for her work in ancient numismatics. However, her achievements were not limited to classical studies. In 1922 and again in 1929, Brett temporarily shifted her focus any from ancient numismatics to the study of contemporary medals and sculpture, compiling two important catalogues for the ANS and National Sculpture Society. Brett returned to Columbia to teach courses in numismatics as a visiting lecturer of archaeology in 1936. Brett's broad knowledge of numismatics is also demonstrated through her long tenure as the Chair of the ANS Publications Committee from 1923 to 1946, and her continued work as a member of the committee up until the time of her death in December 1955. Brett was a particularly noted authority on the coinages of the city-states Chios and Lampsakos in Asia Minor and her studies of their coinage continue to be standard works. She also worked extensively on Roman Medallions, publishing four books on this subject. Brett's most highly acclaimed work, Catalog of Greek Coins, was produced during her time as honorary Curator of Classical Coins at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. She was also an important collector of ancient Babylonian cylinder seals, and in 1936 the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute published a catalog of her collection. Edward Newell's seal collection was published in the same series two years before. Brett was a fellow of the Royal Numismatic Society, a member of the Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies London, and an honorary member of the Société Royale de Numismatique de Belgique.
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence (1902, 1913-1928) on various topics, including the publication and sales of Brett’s writings on the symbolism on Greek coins, the electrum and silver coins of Chios, and gold staters of Lampsakos (Lampsacus); the buying of coin catalogs and coins; and coins loaned by the J.P. Morgan Library to the American Numismatic Society, along with a list of Morgan coins. A portion of the correspondence is from Sydney Noe, Bauman Belden, and Howland Wood of the ANS and pertains to the publication of Brett’s articles and other topics, including difficulties relating to the production of American coin casts because of counterfeiting laws. Also included are a personal telephone directory with entries for sculptor Chester A. Beach, Brentano’s book store, Audubon Printery, various individuals associated with ANS, and others; the text of a lecture on Greek portraiture on Greek coins; coin photographs, including plates produced for publications on the Sandeman and Montagu collections; various notes for publication; and manuscripts for her Catalogue of Greek Coins (1955) and Hellenistic Coin Portraits (unpublished,1950s?), including notes, annotated and corrected typescript texts, and photographic plates. Also found are glass lantern slides in the categories “people and horses” and “ruler cult” along with other images presumably used to illustrate her lectures. There are prints and glass plate and film negatives, many apparently taken by Brett during her trips to Bermuda and various European countries (Greece, France, Italy, Great Britain) from about 1900 through 1909, and others of coins, statues, displays of medals, and other items.
Controlled Access Headings
Genre/Format
Person
- Brett, Agnes Baldwin, 1876-1955 (xeac:entity),
- Belden, Bauman L. (Bauman Lowe), 1862-1931 (xeac:entity),
- Noe, Sydney P. (Sydney Philip), 1885-1969 (xeac:entity),
- Wood, Howland, 1877-1938 (xeac:entity)
Components List
Photographs
Note:Displayed are a portion of the images from the Brett collection.
- Hotel Des Etrangers, Greece
Images
- American School students wearing bug bags, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00242
Images
Controlled Access Headings- Place
- American School students wearing bug bags, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00241
Images
Controlled Access Headings- Place
- Unidentified scene, Greece
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Tatoi, Greece
Images
Controlled Access Headings- Place
- Castilian spring and Shining Cliffs in Delphi, Greece
Images
Controlled Access Headings- Place
- Borotia [sic], Greece
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Borotia [sic] plateau, Greece
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Eretria, Greece
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Underground passage in Eretria theatre, Greece
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Eretria theatre, Greece
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Dr
Images
Controlled Access Headings - S
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Agnes Baldwin Brett on board the S
Images
Controlled Access Headings - S, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00229
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified scene, Greece
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified streetscape, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00227
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Salamis, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00226
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Salamis, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00225
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Salamis, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00224
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Salamis, Greece, arsenal, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00223
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Man in a field, Pyrgos, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00222
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Pyrgos, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00221
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Road to Pyrgos, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00220
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Pyrgos, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00219
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Pyrgos, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00218
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Girl at water fountain, Pyrgos, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00217
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Tennis court, Pyrgos, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00216
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Tennis court, Pyrgos, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00215
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified landscape, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00214
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified street scene, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00213
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Near Hymethus, Greece
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Vari, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00211
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified village, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00210
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified people and buildings, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00209
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified street scene, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00208
Images
Controlled Access Headings - American School students, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00207
Images
Controlled Access Headings - American School students, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00206
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified men, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00205
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified landscape, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00204
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Road to American School, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00203
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Piraeus, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00202
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified street scene, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00201
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified village, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00200
Images
Controlled Access Headings - View from the roof of Merlin House, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00199
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Old Phaliron, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00198
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Piraeus, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00197
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Piraeus, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00196
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Eleusis, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00195
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Syntagma Square, Athens, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00194
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Court, monastery of Kaesariane, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00193
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified buildings and landscape, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00192
Images
Controlled Access Headings - On the road to Kaesariane, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00191
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Acropolis, from road to Kaesariane, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00190
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Soros, Marathon, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00189
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Road to Marathon, Greece? October 29, 1900 (06-00188), 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00188
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Stavros, Greece, on road to Marathon, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00187
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Nauplia, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00186
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Hydra, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00185
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Poros, Greece, from ship, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00184
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Poros, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00183
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Frog's mouth, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00123
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Pyrgos, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00122
Images
Controlled Access Headings - View from the roof of Merlin House, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00121
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Mount Lycabettus, Athens, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00120
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Mycenae, Greece, view east from citadel, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00119
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Church near Monasteraki, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00118
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified landscape, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00117
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified coastal village, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00116
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Parnassos, Greece
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Greek couple at Borotia [sic], Greece
Images
Controlled Access Headings - S, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00112
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Hagia Saranta, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00111
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Street scene, Munich, Germany, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00110
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Woman and child, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00109
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified street scene, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00108
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified street scene, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00107
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified street scene, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00106
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Athens, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00105
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified landscape, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00104
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified city, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00103
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified village, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00102
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Thespiae, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00101
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified coastal village, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00100
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified woman painter, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00099
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified street scene, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00098
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Picnicking at Vari, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00095
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Bert Hodge Hill on the S, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00094
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Boy from steerage on the S, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00093
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Mule with cargo and man on unidentified street, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00092
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified street scene, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00091
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified street scene, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00090
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00089
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified landscape, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00088
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Canal, Isthmus of Corinth, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00087
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Larissa, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00086
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified young man, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00085
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Eleusis, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00083
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified individuals in doorway, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00084
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Outside wall of Tiryns Acropolis, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00082
Images
Controlled Access Headings - German architect and archaeologist Wilhelm Dörpfeld lecturing, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00081
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00080
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00079
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00079
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Tomb of Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00078
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Tholos, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00077
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified Greek archaeological objects, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00076
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified Greek vase, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00075
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Acropolis Museum, Niki Balustrade, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00074
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Poros Harbor, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00073
Images
Controlled Access Headings - The Lion of Chaeronea, Boeotia, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00072
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00071
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00070
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00069
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00068
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Eleusis, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00067
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00066
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00065
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00064
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Monument of Maecrates, Corfu, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00063
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00062
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00061
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00060
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Man with camels, Delphi, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00059
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Glyptothek, Munich, Germany, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00058
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Arch of Hadrian with the Temple of Olympian Zeus in the distance, Athens, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00057
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Theatre of Dionysus, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00056
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00055
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Beehive tomb at Orchomenos, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00054
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Thespiae, Greece, 1990
- Unit ID
- 06-00053
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Horse riders, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00052
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Street scene, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00051
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00050
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00049
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00048
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00047
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00046
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Hagios Nikolaos, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00045
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Appears to be the temple of Athena Acropolis, with Mount Lycativos in the distance, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00044
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00043
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Kaesariane, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00010
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Orchomenos, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00042
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00041
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Repairs in the north wall of the Acropolis, 1900? (06-00040), 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00040
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Supporting wall of the Dionysiac theatre, 1902
- Unit ID
- 06-00039
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Stoa of the Athenians at Delphi, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00038
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Stadium at Delphi, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00037
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Delphi, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00036
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Cave at Vari, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00034
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Eleusis, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00033
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Plato's olive tree, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00032
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Monastery Church of Daphne, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00031
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Temple of Apollo at Corinth, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00030
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00029
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Greek archaeological site, unidentified, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00028
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00027
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Temple of Athena Nike, Acropolis, Athens, Greece [identified by Andrew Meadows], 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00026
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Hieron of Epidaurus, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00025
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00023
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Stadium at Epidaurus, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00022
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Eleutherae, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00021
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Tower of Winds, Athens, Greece [identified by Andrew Meadows], 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00020
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00019
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00018
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00017
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00016
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Lion's Gate of Mycenae, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00015
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00014
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Wall of Themistocles near Piraeus, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00013
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00012
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Coast of Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00011
Images
Controlled Access Headings - View in Greece near Liopese with Mount Pentelicus in background, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00009
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Delphi looking East from Castalia, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00008
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Votive niches above sanctuary of Aphrodite near Delphi, Greece, 1901
- Unit ID
- 06-00007
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Chaeronea, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00005
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00004
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00003
Images
Controlled Access Headings - Unidentified archaeological site, Greece, 1900
- Unit ID
- 06-00002
Images
Controlled Access Headings
- Hotel Des Etrangers, Greece