Charles F. Olney Papers, 1894-1898
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Administrative/Biographical History
Charles Fayette Olney, born August 27, 1831 in Hartford, Connecticut, was the son of Jesse Olney, editor and publisher of Olney’s Geography and Atlas, The National Preceptor, and school textbooks.
While preparing to attend Yale in 1848, he was offered and accepted the principalship of a grade school in Hartford. Although Olney had no other formal training, he established himself as a prominent figure in American education. Olney established a high school in Hartford, and later one in New York City. Olney was also active in the cause of “Popular Education” for nearly 30 years in New York and Connecticut. During this time, Olney aided in the founding of the New York Teacher’s Association. He served as its president for 15 years.
In 1861, Olney married Louisa Brown. This union produced no children. She died in 1878. His second marriage to Abbie Bradley Lamson of Cleveland, Ohio, occurred in 1887. She died in January of 1904.
Olney was a person who gave to his community. He was actively involved in a number of clubs, institutions, and societies in Cleveland. In many of his civic-minded pursuits he held a leadership role. Chief among them: Vice President and Trustee of the Cleveland School of Art, President of the Cleveland Brush and Palette Club, and charter member and early president of the Cleveland Council of Sociology. Although he lived his early life in the Episcopalian faith, he converted to the Congregational denomination and became Deacon of Pilgrim Church on the west side of Cleveland. In this capacity, he delivered sermons and lectured as President of the Pilgrim Church Institute from its inception in 1894 to his death.
In Cleveland, Olney and his wife lived on Jennings Avenue (now West 25th St.). It was here that Olney initially displayed his art collection gathered from his trips abroad. As the collection grew, so too did his house. To the existing house, the Olneys added a structure resembling a Greek temple. This became the Olney Art Gallery which opened to the public in 1893. The gallery was open until 1907.
Olney’s love of music, education and Christian ideals apparently drew him to Oberlin. An accomplished musician in his own rights -- he played the organ at Pilgrim Church, the Olneys would often travel to Oberlin to enjoy a concert.
Upon his death on July 18, 1903, in Hartford, Connecticut, he left the bulk of his art collection to Oberlin College. At that time, his collection was valued at approximately $250,000. In addition, Olney bequeathed $10,000 to Oberlin College with the stipulation that it would be “invested in good securities…[to be applied] to the care, maintenance, repair, and improvement of the Olney Collection in its new home.”
Subjects (links to similar collections) Administrative Information
The Charles Fayette Olney items reflect his life as an art collector, gallery operator and lecturer on the subject. As Deacon of Pilgrim Church in Cleveland, Ohio, Olney delivered speeches on special topics and issues related to art and religion.
This collection is organized around three series: I. The Olney Art Gallery Visitor Register; II. Speeches; and III. Information regarding Olney Bequest.
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series I. The Olney Art Gallery Register (Oversize), 1894-1904
This series consists of one leather-bound register containing the names, residences, and remarks of the visitor and the date on which he/she attended the gallery.
Series II. Speeches, 1894-1898
This series contains lectures given by Olney to the parish, the Pilgrim Church Institute Fine Arts Class, and addresses delivered before other audiences. The typed speeches reflect an interpretation of art from a religious viewpoint.
Series III. Information Regarding Olney Bequest, 1903-16, n.d.
This series contains an extract from the Olneys' will specifying the bequest to Oberlin College of the Art Gallery, a statement describing Olney's high regard for Oberlin, and newspaper clippings about Charles F. and Abigail Bradley Olney and their bequest to Oberlin College.
INVENTORY
Series I. The Olney Art Gallery Register
Box 1 (oversize)
Visitors from September 1894 to December 1904
Envelope containing names and dates of four
specific visitors
Series II. Speeches
Box 1
The Divine In Expression, June 12, 1894
A General Survey of Historic Sequences in the Art of
Painting, December 20, 1894
[Religious Architecture and Frescoes], Pilgrim Church,
January 3, 1895
[Raphael Sanzio], Pilgrim Church, January 10, 1895
How to Read a Picture: Second Address, Pilgrim
Church, February 28, 1895
How to Read a Picture: Third Address, Pilgrim Church,
March 7, 1895
History of Glass: Pilgrim Church, January 2, 1896
Glass: Pilgrim Church, January 30, 1896
Brass and Bronze: Pilgrim Church, February 25, 1896
Architecture: Pilgrim Church, 1896-97
The Madonnas in Art and their Influence in Religious
Life: Pilgrim Church, December 10, 1896
Westminster Abbey: Its Uplifting Influence Upon the
Living: Pilgrim Church, January 21, 1897
Perspective and Atmosphere, November 18, 1897
Composition, December 1, 1897
[The Province of True Art], n.d.
[Aesthetics and Different Media], December 8, 1897
The Close Relations Existing Between the Fire Arts and
Religion, December 16, 1897
The Decorative Arts--Some of the Decorative Arts of Italy,
November 17, 1898
The Decorative Arts--Some of the Decorative Arts of
Germany, December 1, 1898
The Decorative Arts--Some of the Decorative Arts of
Russia, December 8, 1898
The Decorative Arts--Some of the Decorative Arts of
France, December 10, 1898
Series III. Information Regarding Olney Bequest [acc. 2002/4]
Box 1 (cont.)
Extract from will, c. 1904
Statement regarding Oberlin College, n.d.
Newspaper Clippings, 1903-16, n.d.