MM On-Demand: History in Your Hands

History in Your Hands: A Passion for Collecting

It’s a letter written by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon Bonaparte, or perhaps Mary Cassatt.  You’ve read about them or seen their art, but now you read their words written in their hand. You are holding it in yours. This is the passion of collecting!

Join us for a personal tour of the incredible autograph collection of Dr. Stuart Embury: History in Your Hands.

Dr. Embury will share amazing letters and manuscripts from some of the world’s most well-known artists, world leaders and historical celebrities: Renoir, Manet, Whistler, Degas, Albert Schweitzer, Napoleon, Gilbert Stuart, Mary Cassatt, Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and many others. PLUS, he will reveal some inside tips on finding special additions to your collection.

Presenter

Dr. Stuart Embury

Dr. Stuart Embury is a retired family physician from Holdrege, Nebraska. He was involved in medicine for more than fifty years.  He became interested in art when starting his practice in 1970, when he began collecting original prints and American art books. This evolved into a 12,500-volume library of all aspects of American art. A few years later his interest turned to painting, watercolor, and sculpture. He became friends with Luigi Lucioni, an Italian-American artist, and published three books about him. (paintings, prints, and his relationship with singer Ethel Waters). During the last several decades he has focused on autographs, letters, documents, and manuscripts on American artists.

The collection stands at 1,500 pieces with a Gilbert Stuart letter being the rarest. He intends to donate the collection to the Archives of American Art.

Dr. Embury is a long-time member and supporter of the Manuscript Society.

Host: Brian Kathenes
Guest: Dr. Stuart Embury
Original Date: June 5, 2023 – 8:00 PM EST