Correspondence, biographical notes and printed leaflets collected by Alfred Yockney

Alfred Yockney was an art writer and curator primarily associated with West End galleries and art publishers. This collection consists mainly of his correspondence with artists and members of the art world as part of his work as the editor of Art Journal and as secretary to the British War Memorials Committee. It also contains numerous sets of notes about artists as preparation for articles. The collection includes printed leaflets and extracts from exhibition catalogues and newspapers.

Alfred Yockney (1878-1963) aka A.Y. was primarily associated with West End picture galleries and art publishers throughout his career. However, in July 1916, he joined Wellington House and moved to the British War Memorials Committee as Secretary in February 1918. When the BMC was dissolved he was transferred to the Imperial War Museum on 1 January 1919 'to carry the erstwhile Museum of Information art memorial scheme to its conclusion'; his work being the supervision of the official artists and the organisation of the collection of works of art. He was appointed to the Museum's Art Sub-committee on 31 December 1919. However, Yockney soon tired of the endless battles with the Services committees at the Museum, and after successfully organising the National War Art Exhibition at the Royal Academy in December 1920, he resigned. Following his stint at the Museum, he returned to the commercial world first to Colnaghi's and then to Dunthorne's of Vigo Street; the print and etching gallery. As well as curating, writing articles for art periodicals and editing 'Art Journal', Yockney was also one of the directors of the Art Exhibitions Bureau; a precursor to CEMA and the Arts Council.

The collection is mainly arranged in [the original] alphabetical order, except TGA 724/1-44 which contains letters and papers relating to particular topics including the Moore family, war artists and the sale of Yockney's library to the Tate. TGA 724/45-208, TGA 724/209-271 and TGA 724/272 form three separate sections of notes and letters arranged alphabetically by artist.

OPEN

Paper list available

Presented by Alfred Yockney, 1960.

Eight Yockney notebooks of artists biographies and lists of exhibitions and galleries (TGA 7316); unsigned postcard to Yockney, 1941 (TGA 961/21); references to Yockney in the correspondence of Walter Greaves, 1919-1922 (TGA 8314/3/1/4) and the Goupil Gallery, 1936-1937 (TGA 8314/1/3); and a biography of Ernest Crofts RA by Yockney, 1916 (TGA 931/18).