Frederic H. Morgan, Jr. Photo and Postcard Collection, 1943/1945

Access and use

Location of collection:
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
VMFA Archives
Virginia Museum of Fine Arts
Margaret R. and Robert M. Freeman Library
200 N. Arthur Ashe Boulevard
Richmond, VA 23220-4007
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Roxanne Winfield
Phone: (804) 340-1497
Phone: (804) 340-1495
Restrictions:

Open for research.

Terms of access:

The collection is subject to all copyright laws. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright, beyond that allowed by fair use, requires the researcher to obtain permission of copyright holders.

Preferred citation:

Frederic H. Morgan, Jr. Photo and Postcard Collection (PH-07). VMFA Photo Archives, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
1 box 1 box
Abstract:
This collection contains 23 photographs and 111 photo postcards from Frederic H. Morgan, Jr.'s personal collection that he amassed during his World War II military service on New Caledonia, an island in the South Pacific.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Frederic H. Morgan, Jr. Photo and Postcard Collection (PH-07). VMFA Photo Archives, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains 23 photographs and 111 photo postcards from Frederic H. Morgan, Jr.'s personal collection that he amassed during his World War II military service on New Caledonia, an island in the South Pacific.

Biographical / historical:

Frederic H. Morgan, Jr. (Aug 30, 1923-Nov 28, 1988) was a Richmond resident who was stationed for 2 years on the South Pacific island of New Caledonia during World War II. During his time there, he amassed an impressive collection of tools, sculptures, arms and armor, architectural elements, as well as photographs and photo postcards. The VMFA currently has 23 objects that Morgan had donated over the years. In November-December of 1946, some of Morgan's collection was featured in the VMFA's exhibition "Souvenirs from the Pacific," a showcase of objects collected by Virginians in the Pacific theatre of World War II. The photographs and photo postcards in this collection are a recent donation from Frederic H. Morgan, Jr's son.

From Director Thomas C. Colt, Jr's foreward to the exhibition catalogue: "Fred Morgan was stationed for two years on New Caledonia. As the war moved farther north and west, Fred improved his time exploring this large and interesting island. Under French rule the natives have been brought to an approximation of western civilization, and the aboriginal, cannibal culture of the island is a thing of the past. But, Fred, who has returned to Richmond to complete his studies at the Medical College of Virginia, is an inveterate and a trained collector. Starting at the age of twelve, he had cut his teeth on beetles, butterflies, stamps, coins, and arrowheads, encouraged and guided by sympathetic parents. Where ninety-nine percent of the many thousands of servicemen who saw duty on New Caledonia probably sent back grass skirts and sea shells, Fred Morgan sent back as complete, representative and selective a collection of the nearly extinct culture of that island as exists today in this country. The intelligence, energy, persistence, and resource that went into the formation of this collection was probably matched only by the pleasure he got out of it. The Museum of Natural History in New York has asked for various objects from it to improve their own collection. May we be permitted to hope that this complete performance finds its permanent home here; may we welcome Fred Morgan to the select fellowship of gifted collectors; and may we hope that he finds frequent future opportunity for the exercise of his gift."

Custodial history:

This collection was transferred from the Archives Department in Summer 2024.

Arrangement:

The collection is organized into two series, and items are generally arranged chronologically within each series.