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  • Material relating to Kurt Schwitters compiled by his English companion, Mrs Edith ‘Wantee’ Thomas mostly after the artist’s death in 1948
  • Correspondence and documents relating to the Ernst Schwitters v Edith Thomas court case, 1963
  • Correspondence and documents, numbered sequentially, from various correspondents relating to Kurt Schwitters and his works

Material relating to Kurt Schwitters compiled by his English companion, Mrs Edith ‘Wantee’ Thomas mostly after the artist’s death in 1948

1948–91

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Available online are various items selected from the Kurt Schwitters collection featuring writings, correspondence and photographs, particularly relating to Schwitters' relationship with Edith Thomas, and the court case between Edith and Kurt Schwitters' son, Ernst, regarding the division of Schwitters' works following his death. Items from this collection also available online are: private view cards and exhibition catalogues relating to exhibitions featuring Schwitters' work; photographs of Schwitters, and his family and friends; and photographs of his works and locations he visited.

Further details on this collection are available on the archive catalogue.

Collection Owner
Kurt Schwitters 1887–1948
Collection
Tate Archive
Acquisition
Presented by Edith Thomas's son, Geoff Thomas, in 1995.
Reference
TGA 9510

139 objects in this collection

  • Material relating to Kurt Schwitters compiled by his English companion, Mrs Edith ‘Wantee’ Thomas mostly after the artist’s death in 1948

    139 Objects

    • Writings about Schwitters by Edith Thomas

      2 Objects

    • Correspondence and documents relating to the Ernst Schwitters v Edith Thomas court case, 1963

      100 Objects

      • Correspondence and documents, numbered sequentially, from various correspondents relating to Kurt Schwitters and his works

        68 Objects

      • Correspondence and documents relating to the Schwitters v Thomas court case

        32 Objects

    • Printed ephemera relating to Kurt Schwitters

      20 Objects

    • Photographs relating to Kurt Schwitters

      17 Objects

Title
Correspondence and documents, numbered sequentially, from various correspondents relating to Kurt Schwitters and his works
Date
1947–60
Description
Compiled by Edith Thomas' solicitors. Some of the numbered documents are missing. Includes a copy of Schwitters hand-written will, letters from Ernst Schwitters, letters from galleries, agreements, lists of works and press cuttings.
Reference
TGA 9510/3/1

Showing 1–20 of 68 objects

Schwitters’ last will and testament with related legal document

Kurt Schwitters, Crawley and de Reya Solicitors (London, UK)
15 November 1947–17 October 1958

Lease between Harry Pierce and Kurt Schwitters

Unknown person(s)
date not known

English translation of a letter from Kurt Schwitters to his son, Ernst

Kurt Schwitters, recipient: Ernst Schwitters
22 November 1948

Letter from Ernst Schwitters to Edith Thomas (‘Wanty’)

Ernst Schwitters, recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas
9 December 1947

Letter from Ernst Schwitters to his father, Kurt Schwitters

Ernst Schwitters, recipient: Kurt Schwitters
10 December 1947

Letter from Ernst Schwitters to his father, Kurt Schwitters and Edith Thomas (Wanty)

Ernst Schwitters, recipients: Kurt Schwitters, Edith “Wanty” Thomas
19 December 1947

Handwritten letter from Edith Thomas (‘Wantee’) to the Museum of Modern Art, New York, discussing Kurt Schwitters death

Unknown person(s)
date not known

Receipt and letters between Midland Bank, Geo. Gatey & Son and Edith Thomas

Collection owner: Kurt Schwitters
21–23 January 1948

Letter sent from Geo. Gatey & Son to the Museum of Modern Art

George Gatey & Son Solicitors (Windermere, UK), recipient: Museum of Modern Art (New York, USA)
27 January 1948

Letter from Margaret Miller at the Museum of Modern Art to Edith Thomas about Schwitters’ funeral expenses

Margaret Miller, recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas
28 January 1948

Letter to Edith Thomas (‘Wantee’) from Kate [Steinitz]

Kate Steinitz, recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas
29 January 1948

Letter from Edith Thomas (‘Wantee’) to Margaret Miller, concerning Kurt Schwitters’ funeral and costs

Unknown person(s)
date not known

Letter to Ernst Schwitters from Edith Thomas

Edith “Wanty” Thomas, recipient: Ernst Schwitters
1 February 1948

Letter to Edith Thomas (‘Wanty’) from Ernst Schwitters

Ernst Schwitters, recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas
7 February 1948

Letter to Geo. Gatey & Son solicitors from Margaret Miller at the Museum of Modern Art

Margaret Miller, Museum of Modern Art (New York, USA), recipient: George Gatey & Son Solicitors (Windermere, UK)
25 February 1948

Letter to George Gatey at Geo. Gatey & Son solicitors from Ione Ulrich at the Museum of Modern Art

Ione Ulrich, Museum of Modern Art (New York, USA), recipient: George Gatey & Son Solicitors (Windermere, UK)
25 February 1948

Letter from Geo. Gatey & Son solicitors to Margaret Miller

George Gatey & Son Solicitors (Windermere, UK), recipient: Museum of Modern Art (New York, USA)
3 March 1948

Letters from Geo. Gatey & Son solicitors to the Museum of Modern Art and Edith Thomas about the payment of a banker’s draft

George Gatey & Son Solicitors (Windermere, UK)
3 March 1948

Letters from Geo. Gatey & Son to the Museum of Modern Art and Edith Thomas about the sale of Schwitters’ work

George Gatey & Son Solicitors (Windermere, UK)
16 March 1948

Letter from Harold Handley at Geo. Gatey & Son to Edith Thomas about Kurt Schwitters’ last will and testament

George Gatey & Son Solicitors (Windermere, UK), Harold Handley, recipient: Edith “Wanty” Thomas
24 March 1948
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