.
By Jen Vos
Collection Overview
Abstract
The Willem Van de Wall and Blanca Crooswijk Van de Wall Collection consists of a series of letters and photographs from members of the Van de Wall family from 1856-1939. Subjects of the letters include Willem Van de Wall, a harpist who contributed to the field of music therapy.
Scope and Contents of the Materials
The Willem Van de Wall and Blanca Crooswijk Van de Wall collection consists of personal letters and photographs spanning 9 decades and 83 years. This collection is significant in part because Willem Van de Wall’s significant contribution to the field of music therapy. It is also significant due to the insights into daily life in both the Netherlands and the United States at that time.
The photograph collection provides snapshots of daily life, fashion, and material culture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Collection Historical Note
Biography
Blanca Crooswijk Beijerman van de Wall
Born October 22, 1882 in Rotterdam, Netherlands
Died January 30, 1940 in ‘sGravenhage (the Hague), Netherlands
Background:
Peter Landberg and Johanna Elisabeth Schellhas had a daughter, Carolina Christina Magdalena Landberg.
In 1843, she married Jan Pieter Bezoet de Bie.
In 1877, their daughter, Carolina Christina Bezoet de Bie married Jozua Johannes Marinus Crosswijk.
They had three daughters:
-Carolina Christina Magdalena (1879-1914) who married Johannes Jacobus Beijerman (1873-1957) (“Jan le Soldat,” second cousin of Johan Beijerman) in 1905. (Tante Crissje) After Carolina died, he married Tante Mees.
-Blanca Flora (1882-1940) who married Johan Beijerman (1879-1959) in 1904, had a son, Jaap, in 1905 and a daughter, Lien, in 1908. They later divorced, then Blanca married Willem van de Wall, who had two sons with Helena Adolfona Fruman, Wasili in 1913 and Roel in 1915.
-Frieda (1888-1960) who married Anthonius Reijnier Roosegaarde in 1910 and married Willem Johannes Duysberg in 1920. (Tante Nookie)
Johan Beijerman had a sister whom Blanca’s children called “Tante Zus.”
1915-1917
Blanca Flora Beijerman Crooswijk went to America with Willem van de Wall in October 1915. They married January 14, 1917 in New York City. They had two daughters, Blanca (January 17, 1917) and Wilhelmina (March 30, 1919) (whose actual name was Frieda Crooswijk Wilhelmina Ruth).
The family lived in New York City and then Washington DC when Willem was harpist for the US Marine Band at the Wilson White House and later when he toured the US with the orchestra.
Blanca and the children traveled back to Holland and stayed to help with her father’s illness and death.
1921-1923
When they returned, they lived in a large house (“Blanca’s House”) with a barn found for them by friend Ruth Moffett, at Patchoque, Long Island, c. 1921-1924. In 1921, Blanca and Willem reenacted their wedding, complete with costumes, for the children at daughter Blanca’s request.
At some point, they were reunited with Willem’s two sons, Wasili and Roel. During visits to family in Holland, Blanca and her children were reunited with her son and daughter, Jaap and Lien. Apparently, the family preferred travelling on ships of the Holland American Line.
1923-1929
They moved to Allentown PA when Willem became involved with music therapy for the Pennsylvania State government social services. Blanca became involved in the YMCA, the Lutheran Church and the Order of the Eastern Star. They lived first on 4th Street, then on East Washington Street. In 1923 they were living on South St. Cloud Street (Arbicoste House). Blanca managed many children’s holiday and other special occasion plays and productions including costumes for immigrant children to display their native dress. The Allentown fairgrounds had a platform for these productions. Blanca also cared for troubled or neglected children, apparently as foster children, including several relatives’ children. Blanca’s friend “Tante” Ruth Moffett was Wilhelmina’s (Minny’s) godmother.
1929
After she and the children visited Holland in 1929, Blanca and Willem separated and the children stayed with mother (Moeder) Blanca. Willem married his academic assistant, Clara Maria Liepmann. Blanca and the children were on public assistance for a time, though the divorce settlement required Willem to pay a small alimony and support. Blanca continued her YMCA activities and caring for foster children.
1930s
A few years later she and the children spent some weeks during the summers at Lake Wallenpaupack and Peck’s Pond in Pennsylvania. They travelled to Holland to visit family, also. Willem’s son, Wasili, attended boy scout camp; Willem’s son, Roel, spent some time in a state school for disabled children but Blanca had him released. He later joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC).
1938-1940
In 1938 Mother Blanca became ill with breast cancer and had surgery. Wilhelmina (Minny) graduated early from high school and began college at Columbia University’s New College with her sister Blanca in 1935. During Easter vacation of 1938, the family asked her to leave college to take care of their mother Blanca. When her mother recovered from her surgery, she sailed back to Holland to be with her family there. Family friend Roel Houwink bought boat tickets for her and her daughter Minny.
Minny stayed with her mother until her death in January 1940. She arranged burial as her mother wished, settled her affairs, left Holland just before the Nazi invasion to return to America and re-enroll in New York at Columbia’s school of nursing.
Biographical Note
Blanca Flora Crooswijk was born October 22, 1882 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands to Carolina and Jozua Crooswijk. Blanca was one of three daughters. She married Johan Beijerman (1879-1959) in 1904 and the following year they had a son, Jaap, in 1905. Their daughter, Lien, was born in 1908. They later divorced, then Blanca married Willem van de Wall, who had two sons with Helena Adolfona Fruman, Wasili in 1913 and Roel in 1915. Blanca Crooswijk Beijerman and Van de Wall emigrated to America (October 1915) and were married January 14, 1917. Blanca travelled back to the Netherlands to care for her aging father (1921-1923). She would subsequently make regular trips back to Holland and maintained close correspondence with her Dutch family. Together the Van de Walls had two daughters, Blanca (born 1/17/17) and Wilhemini (born 3/30/1919). During their marriage they lived in Patchoque, Long Island, New York, and Allentown, Pennsylvania. In Allentown she was affiliated with the YMCA, the Lutheran Church, and Order of the Eastern Star. Willem and Blanca divorced in 1929. In 1938 she was diagnosed with breast cancer from which she died in the Hague, Netherlands, January 30, 1940.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Heritage Hall, Hekman Library
Alternate Extent Statement:
19 boxes
Access Restrictions:
<span style="color: rgb(16, 55, 93); font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;">This collection is open for research use within Heritage Hall.</span>
Acquisition Method:
Donation
Preferred Citation:
<span style="color: rgb(16, 55, 93); font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14.4px;">[item], folder, box, Willem Van de Wall and Blanca Crooswijk Van de Wall Collection, Heritage Hall (Hekman Library), Calvin University</span>
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Box:
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Box 1],
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Box 2],
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Box 3],
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Box 4],
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Box 5],
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Box 6],
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Box 7],
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Box 8],
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Box 9],
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Box 10],
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Box 11],
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Box 12: Various Correspondence with Willem and Blanca, 1916-1922],
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Box 13: Various Correspondence with Willem and Blanca, 1918-1931],
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Box 14],
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Box 15],
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Box 16],
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Box 17],
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Box 18: Unsorted photographs],
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Box 19: Photo albums, slides, and ephemera],
[All]
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Biographical and Summary Information
- Folder 2: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Bezoet de Bie, Beijerman) --- 1856-1909
- Folder 3: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Bezoet de Bie, Beijerman) --- 1856-1909
- Folder 4: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Bezoet de Bie, Beijerman) --- 1856-1909
- Folder 5: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Bezoet de Bie, Beijerman) --- 1856-1909
- Folder 6: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Bezoet de Bie, Beijerman) --- 1856-1909
- Folder 7: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Bezoet de Bie, Beijerman) --- 1856-1909
- Folder 8: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Bezoet de Bie, Beijerman) --- 1856-1909
- Folder 9: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Bezoet de Bie, Beijerman) --- 1856-1909
- Folder 10: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Bezoet de Bie, Beijerman) --- 1856-1909
- Folder 11: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Bezoet de Bie, Beijerman) --- 1856-1909
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Beijerman) --- 1910-1915
- Folder 2: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Beijerman) --- 1910-1915
- Folder 3: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Beijerman) --- 1910-1915
- Folder 4: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Beijerman) --- 1910-1915
- Folder 5: Van de Wall Letters (also Crooswijk, Beijerman) --- 1910-1915
- Folder 6: Letters - Blanca and Marcel Lockeman (Java) --- 1913-1914
- Folder 7: Letters - Willem to Blanca --- 1914-1915
- Folder 8: Letters - Willem to Blanca --- 1914-1915
- Folder 9: Letters - Blanca to Willem (orchestra tour) --- 1916
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Letters - Willem to Blanca (orchestra tour) --- 1916-1917
- Folder 2: Letters - Willem to Blanca (orchestra tour) --- 1916-1917
- Folder 3: Letters - Willem to Blanca (orchestra tour) --- 1916-1917
- Folder 4: Letters - Willem to Blanca (orchestra tour) --- 1916-1917
- Folder 5: Letters - Blanca to Willem (orchestra tour) --- 1916-1917
- Folder 6: Letters - Willem to Blanca (orchestra tour) --- 1917
- Folder 7: Letters - Willem to Blanca (orchestra tour) --- 1917
- Folder 8: Letters - Willem to Blanca (orchestra tour) --- 1917
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Van de Wall Letters - To/from Willem and Blanca --- 1919-1939
- Folder 2: Van de Wall Letters - To/from Willem and Blanca --- 1919-1939
- Folder 3: Van de Wall Letters - To/from Willem and Blanca --- 1919-1939
- Folder 4: Van de Wall Letters - To/from Willem and Blanca --- 1919-1939
- Folder 5: Van de Wall Letters - To/from Willem and Blanca --- 1919-1939
- Folder 6: Van de Wall Letters - To/from Willem and Blanca --- 1919-1939
- Folder 7: Van de Wall Letters - To/from Willem and Blanca --- 1919-1939
- Folder 8: Letters - To/from Mrs. C.C.M. Crooswijk Bezoet de Bie (Blanca's mother) --- 1915-1916
- Folder 9: Letters - To/from Mrs. C.C.M. Crooswijk Bezoet de Bie (Blanca's mother) --- 1915-1916
- Folder 10: Letters - To/from Mrs. C.C.M. Crooswijk Bezoet de Bie (Blanca's mother) --- 1915-1916
- Box 5
- Folder 1: Letters - To/from Mrs. C.C.M. Crooswijk Bezoet de Bie (Blanca's mother) --- 1917-1921
- Folder 2: Letters - To/from Mrs. C.C.M. Crooswijk Bezoet de Bie (Blanca's mother) --- 1917-1921
- Folder 3: Letters - To/from Mrs. C.C.M. Crooswijk Bezoet de Bie (Blanca's mother) --- 1917-1921
- Folder 4: Letters - To/from Mrs. C.C.M. Crooswijk Bezoet de Bie (Blanca's mother) --- 1917-1921
- Folder 5: Letters - To/from Mrs. C.C.M. Crooswijk Bezoet de Bie (Blanca's mother) --- 1917-1921
- Folder 6: Letters - To/from Mrs. C.C.M. Crooswijk Bezoet de Bie (Blanca's mother) --- 1917-1921
- Folder 7: Letters - To/from Mrs. C.C.M. Crooswijk Bezoet de Bie (Blanca's mother) --- 1917-1921
- Folder 8: Letters - To/from Mrs. C.C.M. Crooswijk Bezoet de Bie (Blanca's mother) --- 1917-1921
- Box 6
- Folder 1: Letters - To/from Mrs. C.C.M. Crooswijk Bezoet de Bie (Blanca's mother) --- 1922
- Folder 2: Letters - To/from Mrs. C.C.M. Crooswijk Bezoet de Bie (Blanca's mother) --- 1922
- Folder 3: Correspondence with Mrs. Freida van Duysberg Crooswijk (Blanca's sister) --- 1914-1928
- Folder 4: Correspondence with Mrs. Freida van Duysberg Crooswijk (Blanca's sister) --- 1914-1928
- Folder 5: Correspondence with Mrs. Freida van Duysberg Crooswijk (Blanca's sister) --- 1914-1928
- Folder 6: Correspondence with Mrs. Freida van Duysberg Crooswijk (Blanca's sister) --- 1914-1928
- Folder 7: Correspondence with Mrs. Freida van Duysberg Crooswijk (Blanca's sister) --- 1914-1928
- Folder 8: Correspondence with Mrs. Freida van Duysberg Crooswijk (Blanca's sister) --- 1914-1928
- Folder 9: Correspondence with Mrs. Freida van Duysberg Crooswijk (Blanca's sister) --- 1914-1928
- Box 7
- Folder 1: Correspondence with Mrs. Freida van Duysberg Crooswijk (Blanca's sister) --- 1929-1938
- Folder 2: Correspondence with Mrs. Freida van Duysberg Crooswijk (Blanca's sister) --- 1929-1938
- Folder 3: Correspondence with Mrs. Freida van Duysberg Crooswijk (Blanca's sister) --- 1929-1938
- Folder 4: Correspondence with Mrs. Freida van Duysberg Crooswijk (Blanca's sister) --- 1929-1938
- Folder 5: Letters - Between Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk and Dr. Hank De Vries (Amsterdam) --- 1928-1932
- Folder 6: Letters - Between Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk and Dr. Hank De Vries (Amsterdam) --- 1928-1932
- Folder 7: Letters - Between Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk and Dr. Hank De Vries (Amsterdam) --- 1928-1932
- Folder 8: Letters - Between Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk and Dr. Hank De Vries (Amsterdam) --- 1928-1932
- Folder 9: Letters - Between Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk and Dr. Hank De Vries (Amsterdam) --- 1928-1932
- Folder 10: Letters - Between Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk and Dr. Hank De Vries (Amsterdam) --- 1928-1932
- Folder 11: Letters - Between Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk and Dr. Hank De Vries (Amsterdam) --- 1928-1932
- Box 8
- Folder 1: Letters - From Aaltje Arp --- 1918-1925
- Folder 2: Letters - To Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk from G.L. Van Lanschot Hubrecht
- Folder 3: Correspondence - Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk with Pauline Kocher --- 1936-1937
- Folder 4: Correspondence with Abe Koueffety --- 1936-1937
- Folder 5: Letters - Between Blanca and Ruth Moffat --- 1916-1924
- Folder 6: Letters - From Ruth Moffat to Blanca --- 1925-1938
- Folder 7: Correspondence with Nancy de Silver --- 1925-1928
- Folder 8: Letters - To Blanca van de Wall Crooswijk from Katherin Wertsner --- 1928-1933
- Folder 9: Letters - To Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk from Grace Keesler --- circa 1931-1939
- Folder 10: Letters - To Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk from various children she befriended
- Folder 11: Correspondence with Lus Beijerman --- 1916-1932
- Folder 12: Correspondence with Joanna (Betsy) Durieux --- 1916
- Folder 13: Correspondence with Helen Hansell
- Box 9
- Folder 1: Letters to Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk from Frik Bello --- 1932-1933
- Folder 2: Letters to Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk from Win Slee --- 1932-1933
- Folder 3: Letters to Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk from Blanche Lucas --- 1928
- Folder 4: Letters to Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk from Niece Fried Feltman-Roosejaards --- 1929-1939
- Folder 5: Correspondence with Roelof Van de Wall (son of Willem)
- Folder 6: Correspondence with Wasili Van de Wall (son of Willem)
- Folder 7: Correspondence with Lien Beijerman (daughter of Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk) --- 1917-1939
- Folder 8: Correspondence with Lien Beijerman (daughter of Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk) --- 1917-1939
- Folder 9: Correspondence with Lien Beijerman (daughter of Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk) --- 1917-1939
- Folder 10: Letters from Dick Van Gilse (friend of Lien Beijerman) --- 1925-1929
- Folder 11: Letters from Jaap Beijerman (son of Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk) --- 1917-1933
- Folder 12: Letters from Jaap Beijerman (son of Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk) --- 1917-1933
- Box 10
- Folder 1: Postcards and Notes to Daughters of Willem and Blanca --- 1916-1917
- Folder 2: Correspondence with Minnie Van de Wall (daughter of Willem and Blanca) --- 1925-1939
- Folder 3: Letters from Minny Van de Wall to Mother Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk --- 1935
- Folder 4: Correspondence - Minny Van de Wall and Aunt Freida Van Duysberg Crooswijk --- 1933-1938
- Folder 5: Correspondence - Blanca C. Van de Wall and Aunt Freida Van Duysberg Crooswijk --- 1933
- Folder 6: Letters from Willem to Children --- 1923-1937
- Folder 7: Correspondence to Blanca C. and Minny Van de Wall --- 1934-1937
- Folder 8: Correspondence with Blanca Van de Wall (daughter and Blanca) --- 1926-1939
- Folder 9: Correspondence with Blanca Van de Wall (daughter and Blanca) --- 1926-1939
- Folder 10: Letters to Blanca C. Van de Wall from future husband Joseph Stull --- 1937
- Box 11
- Folder 1: Correspondence - Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk with daughters Minny and Blanca at Columbia University New College --- 1936
- Folder 2: Correspondence (non-parents) with Minny and Blanca at Columbia University New College --- 1936
- Folder 3: Correspondence - Willem Van de Wall with daughters Blanca and Minny at Columbia University New College --- 1936
- Folder 4: Letters from Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk to daughters Minnie and Blanca at Columbia University New College --- 1936-1937
- Folder 5: Letters from Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk to daughters Minnie and Blanca at Columbia University New College --- 1936-1937
- Folder 6: Letters from Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk to daughters Minnie and Blanca at Columbia University New College --- 1936-1937
- Box 12: Various Correspondence with Willem and Blanca --- 1916-1922
- 7 folders
- Box 13: Various Correspondence with Willem and Blanca --- 1918-1931
- 11 folders
- Box 14
- Folder 1: Various Correspondence --- 1932-1937
- Folder 2: Various Correspondence --- 1932-1937
- Folder 3: Dutch Stories by Blanca F. Crooswijk --- 1898-1916
- Folder 4: Dutch Stories by Blanca F. Crooswijk --- 1898-1916
- Folder 5: Dutch Stories by Blanca F. Crooswijk --- 1898-1916
- Folder 6: Budgets --- 1916-1917
- Folder 7: Miscellaneous Photographs
- Box 15
- Folder 1: Postcards --- 1900-1916
- Folder 2: Day Planners - Willem Van de Wall --- 1913-1914
- Folder 3: Diary and Letters - Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk --- 1910-1915
- Folder 4: Diary and Letters - Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk --- 1910-1915
- Folder 5: Diary and Letters - Blanca Van de Wall Crooswijk --- 1910-1915
- Folder 6: Blanca Crooswijk Beijerman - Embroidery Patterns
- Folder 7: US Marine Band Centennial Concert Program, 11 July 1998
- Folder 8: Death of Blanca Flora Crooswijk, 30 January 1940 - Obituary and Sympathy Notes
- Box 16
- Folder 1: Willem Van de Wall - Harpist NY Metropolitan Opera Orchestra - Information and Correspondence --- 1915-1917
- Folder 2: Manuskrip van "De Deserteur" - Willem Van de Wall, 12 November 1914
- Folder 3: Address - "Music as a Means of Discipline" by Willem Van de Wall --- 1920
- Folder 4: Article - "Music in Correctional Institutions" by Willem Van der Wall --- 1922
- Folder 5: Article - "Music's Mission In Correctional Personality Reconstruction" by Willem Van de Wall --- 1923
- Folder 6: Pamphlet - "Music In Correctional Institutions" by Willem Van de Wall --- 1922
- Folder 7: Pamphlet - "Music as a Means of Mental Discipline" by Willem Van de Wall --- 1923
- Folder 8: Pamphlet - "Music's Mission In Correctional Personality Reconstruction" by Willem Van de Wall --- 1923
- Folder 9: Book - The Utilization of Music in Prisons and Mental Hospitals by Willem Van de Wall --- 1924
- autographed copies for Jaap and Minny
- Folder 10: Article - "Music in the Classroom of the Problem Child" by Willem Van de Wall
- Folder 11: Address - "The Psychotherapeutic Value of Music" by Willem Van de Wall --- 1925
- Folder 12: Address - "The Important Mission of Music in the Career of the Nurse" by Willem Van de Wall --- 1928
- Folder 13: Paper - "Music for Sub-Normal Children of the Public Schools" by Willem Van de Wall --- 1929
- Folder 14: Paper - "Music in Therapy" by Dr. Willem Van de Wall --- 1944
- Folder 15: Article - "Seeing Our Job Through Predisposition of Crime in Relation to Prevention" by William Van de Wall --- 1929
- Folder 16: Book - Methodische Toepassing Der Music Bij De Behandeling van Ongeone Personen by Dr. Willem Van de Wall --- 1929
- Folder 17: Draft - "A Study of the Place of Music in Adult Life and Adult Education" by Willem Van de Wall --- 1936
- Folder 18: Sketches by Willem Van de Wall
- Box 17
- Folder 1: Book - Music In Institutions by Willem Van de Wall --- 1936
- Folder 2: Book - The Music of the People by Willem Van de Wall --- 1938
- Folder 3: Address - "Statement of Philosophy and Goals - Rural Music Project" by Willem Van de Wall --- 1939
- Folder 4: Play - "Gescheiden - Tooneslstuck in ryf Bedryven" by Willem Van de Wall
- Folder 5: Music
- Box 18: Unsorted photographs
- Box 19: Photo albums, slides, and ephemera
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Box 1],
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Box 2],
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Box 3],
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Box 4],
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Box 5],
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Box 6],
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Box 7],
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Box 8],
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Box 9],
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Box 10],
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Box 11],
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Box 12: Various Correspondence with Willem and Blanca, 1916-1922],
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Box 13: Various Correspondence with Willem and Blanca, 1918-1931],
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Box 14],
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Box 15],
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Box 16],
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Box 17],
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Box 18: Unsorted photographs],
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Box 19: Photo albums, slides, and ephemera],
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