Correspondence from James McBey to Marguerite McBey

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Correspondence from James McBey to Marguerite McBey

SenderSent by James McBey (Newburgh, Scotland, 1883 - 1959)

RecipientAwarded to Marguerite McBey (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 1905 - 1999)

Date1948

Object NameLetter

Mediumpaper

ClassificationsMcBey

Dimensions26.6 x 21cm

AcquisitionPresented in 1988 by Mrs Marguerite McBey.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG008318.12

Keywords

Letter

About MeCorrespondence from James McBey to Marguerite McBey, dated 7 July 1948, and sent from Tangier. McBey writes that he received Marguerite's two postcards, but that he only got news of Marguerite's safe arrival in the US via a letter from a "Eugene. He notes that Margerite did not tell him when her plane was meant to leave - he said he was hoping to take a photograph of it in the sky. He also says how he had to write to the North of Scotland Bank, but with a typewriter, of which he was not used to (had not typed a letter to the bank for 46 years). He also writes how he is hosting a tea picnic the following evening. He also notes how papers relating to the car were missing, and so with the help of a friend ("Joan"), "no place was too queer for [them] to search".

He hesitates to ask Marguerite to do anything for him in New York, though based on a previous conversation where Marguerite offered to help on a "50-50 basis", James wonders if she would "put 4/5 days in for [him]" without feeling too aggrieved.

He wonders if Marguerite has any news of her own, "if only to interest those friends of [hers in Tangier]".

The post-script makes reference to the "Palmer" portrait.

This object is part of an archive that belonged to Marguerite McBey. As a result of her generosity, Aberdeen Art Gallery holds the largest archive of James McBey's work, including prints, drawings, sketchbooks, oil paintings and memorabilia such as this letter.