Guide to Personal Correspondence, Ade Bethune Papers

Creator: Bethune, Ade, 1914-2002
Title: Personal Correspondence, Ade Bethune Papers
Dates : 1914-2002 (Bulk, 1935-2002)
Quantity: 6.5 Linear feet (15 boxes)

Language Note: The majority of this collection is written in English, with the exception of Series 1 and parts of Series 4, which are in French. There is also some correspondence in German, Italian, and Spanish in Series 3
Repository: Ade Bethune Collection, St. Catherine University Library

Preferred Citation: [Series], Personal Correspondence, Ade Bethune Papers. Ade Bethune Collection, St. Catherine University Library, St. Paul, MN 55105.

Ade Bethune (full name Marie Adélaïde Anne Caroline de Bethune) was born into a privileged life in the Schaerbeek district of Brussels on January 12, 1914. A few months after Bethune's birth, her father was enlisted into the Belgian army and subsequently served in WWI. The rest of the family continued to live at her maternal grandfather’s country home in Belgium, where her first languages were Flemish and French. Her mother was one of the first major influences that helped shaped her life in the way of valuing her Catholic heritage, being politically active, and often striving to help people, especially children and the elderly. Another early influence that “converted” Bethune was when she learned of the life of St. Francis and his commitment to a life of poverty. When Bethune’s father, who was a chemical engineer, decided to patent and sell his inventions in America, the family immigrated to New York City in 1928.

As a teenager in New York, Ade Bethune attended Cathedral High School in New York City and the National Academy of Design. To help save her own money, she gave occasional private French lessons to Americans. In the midst of the Great Depression, she attended the Cooper Union as an art student and it was here that she was exposed to worker’s issues and publications. Her interest in one of those publications, the Catholic Worker, led to her extensive involvement in the Catholic Worker Movement. It was her involvement with the Catholic Worker Movement that would launch her liturgical art career, which then served as a stepping stone for an abundance of other accomplishments. Her illustrations in the publication drew the attention of many including her future mentors, Arthur Graham Carey, a writer and art philosopher, and John Howard Benson, a fellow artist. John Howard Benson had given Bethune studio space at the John Stevens Shop in Newport, Rhode Island, in order to work on art commissions that she had received due to her connections through the Catholic Worker. John Howard Benson’s influence also instilled in Ade a love for calligraphy, which is apparent in much of her correspondence.

Ade Bethune died in her long time home of Newport, Rhode Island on May 1, 2002.

The collection includes personal correspondence with more than 150 individuals: handwritten and typed letters, photographs, postcards, and greeting cards, also any enclosed materials, such as print samples, informal sketches, or other items, that Bethune kept with the correspondences.

Ade Bethune was prolific in her correspondence. Especially of note is the over 30 years worth of correspondence she had with Arthur Graham Carey, as well as correspondence with Carey's wife, Nancy, and others in his family (Series 2). Bethune and Cary discussed matters such as art commissions, personal affairs, and John Stevens Shop or Catholic Art Association business, as well as more general thoughts on the theory and philosophy of art.

It appears from the breadth of this collection that Ade Bethune faithfully saved all the letters that she possibly could. Often times, correspondence was with church community figures (such as Sister Peter Claver Fahy or Rev. Frederick R. McManus) or admirers from all over the world. Topics included informal art and design advice, discussions on liturgy, religion, or other personal matters. Letters to news editors, television hosts, and political leaders are somewhat common. She also corresponded with other successful artists such as Leandro Locsin, Alfonso Ossorio, and Fernando Zobel.

The collection is divided into four series, with the last series containing a number of subseries.

Series 1: Family Correspondence
Series 2: Bethune-Carey Correspondence
Series 3: Correspondence with Individuals
Series 4: Miscellaneous Correspondence
4.1 — Correspondence by Year
4.2 — Correspondence by Initial
4.3 — Other Correspondence
4.4 — Children's Drawings and Letters

Publication Information

St. Catherine University Library May 2007
2004 Randolph Ave.
St. Paul, MN, 55105
651-690-6599
bethune@stkate.edu

Revision Description

Finding Aid revised by Deborah Kloiber Fall 2010

Acquisition

Ade Bethune donated her collection of personal and business papers, sketches, artwork, books, and artifacts to the College of St Catherine (now St. Catherine University) over the period from 1984-2002.

Processing Information

The collection was processed and the finding aid written by Ruth Paloma, February through April 2009.

Most other parts of the Ade Bethune Papers also contain Ade Bethune's correspondence. Of particular interest may be her correspondence with Dorothy Day and others in the Catholic Worker Movement, found in the Catholic Worker Materials; correspondence on projects with priests, designers and others in the Liturgical Design and Consulting Files; and correspondence with apprentices and others who worked with her in the John Stevens Shop/Apprentices Materials.

Personal Name(s)

• Carey, Arthur Graham -- Correspondence

An index to the correspondence in Series 2 is available.