The art historian Frederick Hartt was an art historian, who received his B.A. from Columbia College and his Ph.D. from New York University's Institute of Fine Arts. He taught at Washington University in St. Louis (1949-1960). During this period, he was instrumental in forming the university's collection of American abstract expressionist art. He later taught at the University of Pennsylvania (1960-1967), and finally at the University of Virginia (1967-1984).During World War II, he served in the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives Division of the U.S. Army and was responsible for a program dedicated to the rescue and restoration of monuments and works of art damaged by war. During his stay in Tuscany he met Bernard and Mary Berenson. Hartt's writings include books on Botticelli, Giulio Romano, Michelangelo, and Donatello.
The collection (4 boxes) consists of manuscripts and typescripts of Frederick Hartt's writings, notes, correspondence, and clippings. Series I (Frederick Hartt) has three subseries: 1. Biographical 2. Notes and writings. 3. Correspondence with the publisher H.N.Abrams.The notes and writing subseries includes manuscripts, notes and proofs for Frederick Hartt's books and articles, and a report about Villa I Tatti and Bernard Berenson during World War II. Series II (Bernard Berenson material) consists of obituaries regarding Berenson's death, and a copy of reminiscences presumably by Alda Anrep, the sister of Berenson's longtime secretary Nicky Mariano.