John Prentiss Benson Collection, 1889-1976 - MS091

Provenance: Given to the Portsmouth Athenaeum by Nicholas J. Baker in 2009.

Citation: John Prentiss Benson Collection (MS091), Manuscript Collections, Portsmouth Athenaeum

Size: 1 linear foot

Access: No restrictions

Scope and Content

Sketches, photographs, correspondence, records, newspaper clippings and memorabilia showing the life and work of architect and artist John Prentiss Benson (1865-1947), brother of artist Frank Benson. After a career as an architect in New York, Benson moved to Kittery Point and became a successful marine artist.

Folder List

Box 1

Box 1 FF01: Military service, 1918-1919
Box 1 FF02: Correspondence, business -- 1929-1930
Box 1 FF03: Correspondence, business -- 1934
Box 1 FF04: Correspondence, business -- 1936
Box 1 FF05: Correspondence, business -- 1937
Box 1 FF06: Correspondence, business -- 1938
Box 1 FF07: Correspondence, business -- 1940-1941
Box 1 FF08: Correspondence, business -- 1943-1945
Box 1 FF09: Correspondence, business -- 1946
Box 1 FF10: Correspondence, business -- 1947
Box 1 FF11: Correspondence, business -- 1968
Box 1 FF12: Correspondence, business -- undated
Box 1 FF13: Correspondence, social -- 1886
Box 1 FF14: Cartoon letters to Kitty -- 1913-1915
Box 1 FF15: Correspondence, social -- 1902-1929
Box 1 FF16: Correspondence, social -- 1930-1939
Box 1 FF17: Correspondence, social -- 1940-1950
Box 1 FF18: Correspondence, social -- 1976
Box 1 FF19: Correspondence, social -- undated
Box 1 FF20: Poem: Barnacle Bill -- 1905-1910
Box 1 FF21: Program Cover: Salem Pageant -- 1913
Box 1 FF22: Sketch and cards from France -- 1918
Box 1 FF23: Yearbook of Dutch Treat Club -- 1921
Box 1 FF24: Trip to England with Bessie -- 1922
Box 1 FF25: Program cover: Pirates of Penzance, Plattsburg, NY 1929
Box 1 FF26: List of paintings for Providence Bank & Savings -- 1929
Box 1 FF27: Kittery pamphlet and description of Willowbank -- 1931
Box 1 FF28: J.P. Benson’s diary -- 1938-1941
Box 1 FF29: Digressionist booklet -- 1940-1941
Box 1 FF30: Pamphlet: J.P. Benson, American Artist -- 1947
Box 1 FF31: Pamphlet: Kittery 300th Anniversary -- 1947
Box 1 FF32: The Woozlebeasts
Box 1 FF33: The Woozlebeasts

Box 2

Box 2 FF01: Collection of Photographs by J.P. Benson -- 1880s
Box 2 FF02: Sketchbook: Travels in Europe with Josselyn -- 1889
Box 2 FF03: Benson’s Watercolor Class -- 1889
Box 2 FF04: Sketches -- ca. 1910
Box 2 FF05: Photographs of Benson’s paintings -- ca. 1930
Box 2 FF06: Cartoons, place cards (nd) and beer label (ca. 1933)
Box 2 FF07: Pen and ink drawings, n.d.
Box 2 FF08: Large scrapbook
Box 2 FF09: Small scrapbook
Box 2 FF10: Other models for artwork
Box 2 FF11: Benson’s paintings for Am. Museum of Natural History
Box 2 FF12: J.P. Benson’s logbook #1 (photocopy)
Box 2 FF13: J.P. Benson’s logbook #2 (photocopy)
Box 2 FF14: J.P. Benson’s logbook #3 (photocopy)
Box 2 FF15: J.P. Benson’s logbook #4 (photocopy)
Box 2 FF16: J.P. Benson’s logbook #5 (photocopy)
Box 2 FF17: J.P. Benson’s logbook #6 Part I (photocopy)
Box 2 FF18: J.P. Benson’s logbook #6 Part II (photocopy)
Box 2 FF19: Miscellaneous