Letters and miscellaneous papers

These files relate to all aspects of the National Gallery's activities and the management of its Collection. The series includes correspondence, reports and memoranda addressed to the Director, Keeper and Trustees of the Gallery. All of the letters in this series were not read at meetings of the Board of Trustees, as many of them relate to administrative or operational matters. Many of the letters and reports in this series are in draft form.

Letters relating to specific pictures within the Gallery's permanent collection were initially kept in the relevant research dossier within the library but have now been included in this series of letters, with copies of the letters in question being placed within the dossiers. Letters from the dossiers will continue to be added to this series as they are found.

Letters were originally sent to various departments within the Gallery, earlier letters were largely addressed to the Director or Keeper as specific Gallery departments were not developed until later in the Gallery's existence. After having been kept on file in Gallery departments the letters were eventually transferred to the archive.