University of Minnesota

                                                                                  Institute of Agriculture

                                                                                                                     St. Paul 1, Minnesota

                                                                                                                                                                      Sept. 15, 1960

Dear Mr. Tinckum-Fernandez:

           I am so appreciative that you took the time to answer all of my questions put to you in regards

to your friend, John B. Flannagan. The warm & helpful response which I have had from everyone of his

friends has been identical to yours. This has been one of the innumerable pleasures which I have received while doing research on this man.

          You had asked me how I happened to know of you and your address? It appears that

Though vague, you good deed to Flannagan was told by him to several of his friends & certainly to his second wife whom I interviewed this summer, It was she who knew of you and said that she had heard that you were now in Middletown, New York. From there I simply took a chance and sent my letter off to  you. You can imagine, then, my delight when your answer came back.

You ask about Flannagan after you knew him in the 1920’s,

He continued to paint for a while, but then suddenly went over to sculpture – he had been doing wood sculpture for some time. With the decision that he wanted to be a sculptor, he there upon destroyed

all of his paintings and began work in stone. This about the year 1926 – 27. By 1927,  he was accepted by the art & book Dealer, E. Weyhe in New York for a one – man show.

From 1927 – 1934 he had a yearly show (usually about 30 pieces) at the Weyhe Gallery so you can see how prodigious output was. He became known as an outstanding direct carver in stone & often used the rocks of the fields, which he gathered at Woodstock or granites from Connecticut. In 1930 he persuaded Mr. Weyhe to offer him a stipend which sent him to Ireland. He worked in Ireland from 1930 to 1933 –

In 1932 he received a Guggenheim fellowship. It was at this time that some of his most famous & beautiful pieces were done. Back in the states in 1933 he had difficulties (He was now married & had a daughter who was born in Ireland). As perhaps when you knew him – he drank & this caused all kinds of trouble. In 1934 – 1935 he was under psychiatric care in  White Plains, NY. Emerging from this, he left his first wife & married a second time. He continued to live on practically nothing although his sculpture was already being sold to discerning museums & private collectors. And this next to starvation condition continued the rest of his life. He also in self-defense began to drink even more heavily. In 1939 while in one of these drunken stupors, he was hit by a auto & his brain was seriously injured. Now began a series of exhausting & expensive brain operations. The result was that he lived, but had terrible headaches & was cautioned not to work in stone because of the vibration. Now he began to work in metal – though he still tried some stone. In 1941 he began to prepare for a retrospective show of his work to be given in March of 1942. Unfortunately he did not live to see this. Shortly after the Xmas & New Years holidays & obviously depressed he took his own life. He was given his retrospective show –

This time at the Museum Of Modern Art in the fall of 1942. Since then his name has grown with fame & today he has pieces of work in over 30 of our leading Museums. Like all artists who have known hardship & struggle, his fame comes to late!

     And now I am doing research on this man, trying to recapture & reconstruct his life before it is to late & these facts are lost forever. I never met Flannagan but I feel as if I known him very well after talking with persons who did. His daughter is now a charning and beautiful young woman with her father’s dark & piercing eyes. A letter which came from her on the same day that I received yours tells us of her marriage to a young electrical engineer in New York.

       You asked how we know of Flannagan in the midwest. I don’t know whether he mentioned it to you but he was born in Fargo, N. Dakota & then went to the Art School here in Minneapolis. It is in this connection that we are vitally interested in the man. Our Art Museum has now a formed a small memorial collection of his works – some seven are here.

      You speak about a screen which Flannagan painted for you shortly after you had met him. Do you know what has happened to this? Was it sold or do you still have it? As you might suppose it would have a great deal of historical importance & considerable monitary value. I am intersted in it as a painted document of Flannagan’s art since he destroyed most of his paintings. Perhaps if the screen has left

Your hands you will remember to whom it went?

I have reconstructed your dates and facts on Flannagan, I got something like this

Summer 1922 – Met Flannagan in N.Y.

Summer & Fall 1922 – takes Flannagan to farm of Dr. Davies as hired hand

January 1923 –Feb. 10, 1923 – Flannagan exhibits painting with Arthur B. Davies at Montross Gallery in N.Y.

Did you see Flannagan doing these paintings when you were at the farm that summner or fall?

Did Flannagan ever speak about Arthur Davies talking to him or giving him criticism?

1924 – Paints 3 panel screen for you

was he living back in N.Y. when you gave him this commission? Where did you contact him to do this for you? What was the subject? Where was the screen delivered?

Summer either 1923 or 1924 – upon your suggestion, Flannagan takes job as seaman on American Lines. (you mentioned your friend at American Lines. Do you remember his name?)

1924 – 1925 – Sent Flannagan to wife of Blendon Campbell who managed New Whitney Gallery

Dec. 1925 – Flannagan exhibited with 4 other artists at the Whitney Studio Club on W. 8th St.

Could you review the above & note my questions in the boxes in each instance & attempt to answer as best you can. Believe me, I know how difficult this is when someone asks you to remember as far or dates.  But perhaps if you can relate Flannagan to other inportant dates in your life like your marriate, or your various newpaper assignments it will help. I certainly don’t mean to be giving you advise as perhaps the above sounds. And I do no mean to be pressing you. Whatever information or perhaps none, you can give me will be appreciated.

     I do hope that my letter explains to some degree how I cam to be involved in the problems of Flannagan & what I am striving to do. Again my warmest Thanks for your information & gracious letter.  I hope that I will hear further from you.

Sincerely

Robert J. Forsyth

SCH. Of Home Economics

Univ. of Minnesota

Saint Paul (1) Minn.