Gertrude Bass Warner papers

The Gertrude Bass Warner Papers, which span the years 1879-1954, consist of papers, business records, photographs, and an unpublished manuscript all relating to her interest in Asian culture and her work promoting international understanding through art. The collection documents her family history, her involvement with organizations devoted to improving international relations with Asia, her major accomplishments, and her work at the University of Oregon. The bulk of the collection pertains to the founding of the University of Oregon Fine Art Museum and the 20 years she spent as its director. The Collection is organized into four series: personal papers, international activities, professional papers, and museum of fine art records.

The Personal Papers series is arranged into six subseries: family papers, major accomplishments, personal associations, personal correspondence, travel, and personal finances. This collection does not contain many documents relating to the years 1904-1909 when she lived in China with her second husband Murray Warner but does document her later travels to Asia for the museum. Researchers will be particularly interested in photographs and letters from Warner’s travels, written family histories, documentation of honors she received, and personal records of her financial gifts to the University of Oregon.

The International Activities series is arranged into two subseries: Asian art colleagues and activities & associations. The subseries activities & associations is arranged into four sub-subseries: associations, University of Oregon activities, professor exchanges, and collected pamphlets & newspaper clippings. Correspondence with colleagues and associations are organized alphabetically. Researchers will find correspondence with western authorities on Asian art, artists, and fellow art collectors highlighting the interest in and means of collecting Asian art in the first half of the 20th Century. Also of interest is the variety of activities that she became involved in at the University of Oregon to support students and stimulate their interest in Asian Culture.

The Professional Papers series is arranged into three subseries: speeches & presentations, writings, and professional associations. Of particular interest is a copy of her unpublished manuscript “When West Meets East” which was intended to be a social etiquette book for American travelers in Japan.

The Museum of Fine Art Records series is arranged into seven subseries: museum of fine art building, museum correspondence, museum acquisitions, museum library, library accessions, employee records, and general business records. This series contains detailed financial records for the museum from the initial fundraising until Warner’s death in 1951. Employee correspondence outlines much of the day-to-day operations at the museum and provides additional documentation for notable events and visitors.