Mary "May" R. Sickman Papers, 1926-1950
Scope and Contents Note
This series consists of items that appear to have belonged to May R. Sickman, Laurence Sickman’s mother, although it was not received as a distinct set of material but was scattered throughout Mr. Sickman's papers. Items were identified by address (to Mrs. Sickman) or by her handwriting.
Dates
- Creation: 1926-1950
Creator
- From the Collection: Sickman, L. C. S. (Laurence C. S.) (Person)
- From the Collection: Handforth, Thomas, 1897-1948 (Person)
Restrictions on Access
Open to researchers. Appointments are necessary for the use of manuscript and archival collections.
Biographical Sketch
Mary R. “May” Sickman was the mother of Laurence Sickman.
Born in Central City, Colorado, in 1872, she graduated from the University of Colorado and spent her early married life in Denver. In 1931, she ventured to China with her son as he fulfilled his studies through a Harvard-Yenching fellowship and worked as one of the museum’s contracted advisors for Asian art. While there, she taught English at the American School in Peiping (now Beijing) and accompanied him to various sites, consultations, and social engagements with friends, associates and art dealers. Laurence Sickman left China in 1935 to take up his position as curator at the Nelson-Atkins, but May remained until 1939 when the Second Sino-Japanese War compelled her to leave. She settled in Kansas City in 1940 and died in 1954, almost a year after seeing her son named director of the museum.
Extent
11 Folders (In boxes 38-40.)
Language of Materials
English
Repository Details
Part of the The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Archives Repository