Foote, Helen S. (1892-1969)

Person

Staff Only

Dates

Existence: 1892 - 1969

Biography

Cleveland native Helen Foote attended Flora Stone Mather College at Case Western Reserve University and worked at the Cleveland Museum of Art for 36 years.

After serving as editorial assistant Foote began her contributions to the Decorative Arts Department as assistant to curator William Milliken in 1930 before rising to the position of associate curator in 1950. She worked closely with Hollis French, a Boston architect who was a connoisseur of American silver. Describing Foote’s handlings of his collection as “intelligent” and “affectionate,” French made the decision to present his collection, which contained important pieces such as a Nathaniel Hurd teapot, to the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1940.

Foote also studied soft-paste porcelain and glass, was in charge of the museum’s annual May Show for many years, and contributed to the acquisition of the Guelph Treasure collection.

Occupations

Places

Ohio--Cleveland (Place of Birth)

Topics

Women museum curators

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Decorative Arts - Helen S. Foote, 1958

File — Box: 85, Folder: 2

Scope and Contents note From the Sub-Series: This subseries contains memoranda, correspondence, and notes between the director and museum departments. The records are organized alphabetically by the department's name at the time the records were created. Departmental name changes can be followed by referring to the appendix. Within each folder the records are organized chronologically. Departmental names do not represent organizational hierarchy, but rather reflect their relative importance to Sherman Lee. He was primarily interested...

Dates: 1958

Found in: Cleveland Museum of Art Archives / 1111.002, Records of the Director's Office: Sherman E. Lee, 1958-1983 / Administrative Records / Departmental Files

Foote, Helen S.

File — Box: 8, Folder: 54

Scope and Contents note From the Series: The CMA Portraits series includes two subseries: named individuals and groups/events/programs. Named individuals are arranged alphabetically, and groups/events/programs are arranged chronologically. Most photographs are of staff, trustees, donors, visiting lecturers, organists and other performers. Files for the museum directors include the director's family and group photographs. The people in the photographs in the groups subseries may or may not be directly related to the museum. Not all...

Dates: approximately 1880-2014

Found in: Cleveland Museum of Art Archives / 1111.023, Cleveland Museum of Art photograph collection / Cleveland Museum of Art Portraits / Named Individuals