Soby, James Thrall, 1906-1979

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Writer, critic; New Canaan, Connecticut. Died 1979.

From the description of James Thrall Soby interview, 1970 July 7. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220190225

Author, art critic, editor, collector, patron, connoisseur, and MoMA director and trustee.

From the description of James Thrall Soby papers, 1930-1979. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122484551

James Thrall Soby (1906-1979) was a writer and critic from New Canaan, Conn.

From the description of Oral history interview with James Thrall Soby, 1970 July 7 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 495596726

American art critic, curator, collector, director and trustee of the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

From the description of James Thrall Soby papers, 1928-1975 (bulk 1935-1955). (Getty Research Institute). WorldCat record id: 83538474

Biographical/Historical Note

  • 1906: Born December 14 in Hartford, Conn. Son of Charles (in tobacco business) and Anna (Hazlewood) Soby
  • 1923: Educated at Kingswood School
  • 1924: Taft School
  • 1924 - 26 : Attended Williams College
  • 1925: Buys a reproduction of a Maxfield Parrish print
  • 1929: Bought a third interest in Edwin Valentine Mitchell's bookshop in Hartford, Conn.
  • 1931: Worked at Wadsworth Athenaeum
  • 1942: Director of painting and sculpture and member of board of trustees, Museum of Modern Art, New York
  • 1943 - 45 : Assistant director, MoMA
  • 1946 - 68 : Chairman of department of painting, MoMA
  • 1946 - 57 : Author of monthly column of art criticism in Saturday Review of Literature
  • 1950 - 51 : Editor of Magazine of Art, chairman of editorial board, 1951-52.
  • 1952: Married third wife Melissa Wadley (Soby had two previous wives, Mimi and Mary Eleanor [aka Nelly]); children: Peter Allyn
  • 1962: Awarded honorary L.H.D. from Williams College
  • 1968: Vice-president of MoMA
  • 1979: Died January 29 in Norwalk, Conn.

From the guide to the James Thrall Soby papers, 1928-1975, 1935-1955, (Getty Research Institute)

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Birth 1906-12-14

Death 1979-01-29

Male

Americans

English

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