Correspondence in McGill Special Collections

C.T. Currely to FCM,
June 27th, 1923

Dear Morgan,
We are writing to Signor Petroncini, and if we can get an idea that the Etruscan vase collection is as good as shown in the photographs, That is, not mended or shattered on the other side not shown in the photographs, we shall be I inclined to purchase, as it contains many pieces about which we are quite anxious. Many thanks for sending us notes of the African things. Your flowers are out in bloom in the most wonderful way, and the garden is a tremendous joy, as everything has done wonderfully. I may say Crofts has just obtained for us another tremendous series of Chinese sculptures.
Yours very sincerely,

C.T. Currely

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Anthony Blunt:
University Club Monday, September 18 [1950?]

Dear Mr. Morgan,
It was extraordinarily kind of you to invite me out to Senneville on Sunday. I greatly enjoyed a restful weekend, and the chance of seeing your lovely house and garden. I should have been sorry to leave Montreal with only an idea of the town, and I could not have seen the country in more agreeable circumstances. I gave my first lecture here last night, and leave this evening for Quebec. As you know, geography is not my strong point, and I have a fear that I may by mistake end up in Toronto instead. If so my French lecture will no doubt fall even flatter than it would in Quebec. I very much hope to have a chance of seeing you if you come through London on your next visit to Europe, though if you are really going to Spain, Egypt & India I wonder if England will be on your direct route.

Anthony Blunt

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National Gallery of Canada
Ottawa September 8, 1959

My dear Mr. Morgan:
I am very sorry that I have not been able – for a mixture of reasons both personal and political – to write to you before now and I hasten to do so hoping that the news contained in this letter will reach you before you read it in the press. On Thursday, September 10th, Mrs. Fairclough – in the absence of a Chairman – will announce that I have resigned as Director of the national gallery and I am confident that the press release will satisfy the Canadian public. My private hope is that whatever publicity arises, the gallery itself (and more particularly its present loyal and efficient staff) will not suffer. I am sorry that we will not meet again at a Trustees’ meeting so I am taking opportunity to say how much I have appreciated your support during the past four years; that togther we have accomplished a lot, and that I sincerely hope there will e opportunities in other areas of the field of Canadian art where we may find a happy collabporation. Betty wishes to join me in saying how very much we have enjoyed or cordial personal relations.

Yours,
Alan Jarvis Director.

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Second October 1959
The Right Honourable John G. Diefenbaker, P.C.,
M.P. Prime Minister of Canada Ottawa, Ontario

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
As I received from your predecessor the appointment as a Trustee of the National Gallery of Canada, it would appear proper to report to you my decision to resign as a Trustee. My reason for doing so results from the studies discourtesy which the Government has shown towards the Trustees. Our Chairman Mr. Fell, as you know, resigned some months ago and I would have done so sooner had I not hoped that relations with the Minister would improve. It is useless to speculate on the reasons which caused Mr. Fell to resign – they are undoubtedly well known to the Minister and to you. The trustees, though they felt the whole matter of the repudiation of purchases authorized by them in good faith, to have been badly handled, both by the Government and the Director, did understand the Government’s reluctance to spend money during a time of National retrenchment. We looked for better times and a changed atmosphere. On the contrary, they have become steadily worse. The trustee’s, however, have never been consulted on any subject, let alone the dismissal, thinly veiled as a resignation of Mr. Jarvis. We were in the position of having no Chairman and no Director – and this in the midst of a move to the new Gallery. Without consulting the wishes of the Trustees, a new Chairman has been appointed and two new Trustees – surely a most unusual piece of discourtesy. It is evident that the Minister is determined to play a lone hand and to treat the trustees as si many ciphers. Under the circumstances, I have no alternative but to tender my resignation. I am, drear Mr. Prime Minister,

Yours sincerely,
F. Cleveland Morgan

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Lawren Harris
4760 Belmont Avenue Vancouver, B.C. Oct. 5 / 59

Dear Cleve,
I regret very much that you felt your resignation as a trustee of the National Gallery became necessary. You will be sorely missed as it was ever a pleasure to know that you were a good, dependable member of the board and were present. It was a real pleasure for me to have been associated with you and I have the nicest memories of that association,

Yours sincerely,
Lawren Harris.

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1959, October 27
Canadian Art Box 384 Ottawa Canada
541 Manor Road Rockcliffe Ottawa 27 October, 1959

My Dear Mr. Morgan,
Good! I am so glad that someone has protested the high-handedness of the government. Their treatment of me has been just indescribable, but it is now enough in the past that I can laugh, and enjoy a sensation of great relief. How ever, I don’t like them going ahead with advertising for a new Director without consulting the trustees as to qualifications and standards and they diluted the competition poster to such an extent that any fool could qualify. As the press gallery wags are saying, it will probably be a house-painter from Prince Albert. I shall always remember with great gratitude the warmth of your support and your insistence on standards.

Yours sincerely,
Alan Jarvis.