The Barber Institute of Fine Arts

Scope and Content

This sub-collection comprises records created and received by Simpson during his period of employment at The Barber Institute of Fine Art and includes:

-correspondence

-notes

-black and white photographs

-picture postcards

Administrative / Biographical History

The Barber Institute of Fine Arts was founded on 13 December 1932 and bequeathed to the University of Birmingham by Martha Barber in honour of the memory of her husband, Henry Barber. Following her death in 1933 where she left all of her assets to the trustees of the Institute, a new building was constructed and works of art were acquired for the collection. The Institute's founding trust deed stipulated that all purchases should be 'of that standard of quality as required by the National Gallery and the Wallace Collection'.

Frank Simpson worked as Librarian at The Barber Institute of Fine Arts from 1945-1958, and Ellis Waterhouse was Director from 1952-1970.

This material was acquired by the Centre from the Institute in 2013.

Access Information

Open

Open for research. Readers must fill in an 'Reader Agreement Form' which outlines the reading room rules and conditions concerning privacy and Data Protection