Laurence Claiborne Witten II
Encyclopedia
Laurence C. Witten II was an American rare book dealer and collector of antiquities.
Laurence Witten was born into a wealthy Virginia
family with interests in the tobacco and furniture manufacturing businesses, but was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio
, the son of life insurance agent Laurence Claiborne Witten I (1886-1937) & Julia (née McLaren), Laurence studied music after the Second World War (having enlisted as a private at Fort Hayes
on 10 August 1944). He graduated from Williams College
in 1948 and went on to gain a Bachelor of Music
degree (BMus) at Yale
(1951). He then opened Laurence Witten Rare Books close to Yale's Sterling Library in New Haven, Connecticut
, taking advantage of the dollar's strength to buy large quantities of early books and manuscripts in Europe. He married Cora Williams, a Yale student from Georgia, in 1954, the year she gained her BMus, and the first of their three daughters was born in 1955.
In many cases, European dealers were unable to give him much information about the items Laurence was buying, but he took pride in the historical research necessary to overcome these problems, as can be seen in the twenty catalogues he produced between the 1950s and the 1980s. This dedication was most evident in his acquisition and sale of the Vinland Map
, and its associated manuscripts, between 1957 and 1959. Even after he had sold them to fellow Yale alumnus Paul Mellon
, he was able to give a great deal of assistance to the international team (led by his friend and frequent customer, Yale librarian Thomas Marston) assigned the job of authenticating the Map, both answering their questions and volunteering suggestions over a period of years.
Laurence and Cora were keen collectors. Among their interests were early stringed musical instruments and associated items, sound recordings capturing 19th century singing styles, pre-Columbian American art, and antique automobiles. After acquiring the very large vocal recording collection of George T. Keating (co-founder of the Memorial Library of Music at Stanford University
) in 1960, the Wittens made their sound archive available to scholars by depositing it at Yale University Library in 1961, forming the nucleus of the Yale Collection of Historical Sound Recordings, since greatly augmented by them and others. Particularly in acquiring musical instruments, they were able to take advantage of sales by a number of European families during the 1960s, to assemble a world-ranked collection, focusing on instruments which had received the minimum of restoration (the collection once included a Stradivarius
violin, but Larry decided it was too heavily restored).
In 1974, when scientific evidence emerged that the Vinland Map was a fake, Laurence confessed that he had lied about key aspects of its provenance and acquisition. There were no serious repercussions, however, and he continued in his rare books business, though relocated shortly afterwards to Southport, CT. He also wrote a number of scholarly papers related to his collecting interests, published in academic journals, and was co-author of a catalogue of manuscripts donated to the Beinecke Library by Paul and Mary Mellon, published in 1977.
In 1983, Laurence suffered a minor heart attack, which prompted him to offer the stringed instruments collection for sale in November of that year, at an asking price of $3 million. The Shrine to Music Museum
at the University of South Dakota
was keen to buy the collection, but before a funding appeal could be properly launched, the Berlin Musikinstrumentenmuseum
made a preliminary offer of $2 million. Witten rejected this, and long-time Shrine sponsors Robert and Marjorie Rawlins
, who had already agreed to contribute $1 million, provided the full $3 million to forestall any further foreign bids. The museum (later rechristened the National Music Museum) took possession of the collection on February 5, 1984, and named it the Witten-Rawlins Collection.
Becoming increasingly ill from about 1989, Laurence retired from business in 1991. He and Cora moved to Florida, and gave away many items from their collections, including pre-Columbian art to the Michael C. Carlos Museum
at Emory University
in Cora's home-town, Atlanta, and manuscripts to the Beinecke Library. After Laurence died in 1995, Cora gave a Nicola Bergonzi
viola to the National Music Museum in his memory. The bulk of the pre-Columbian American art collection was auctioned by Sotheby's in 1996-7. Cora has continued to support the development of the Historical Sound Recordings collection at Yale.
Laurence Witten was born into a wealthy Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
family with interests in the tobacco and furniture manufacturing businesses, but was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, the son of life insurance agent Laurence Claiborne Witten I (1886-1937) & Julia (née McLaren), Laurence studied music after the Second World War (having enlisted as a private at Fort Hayes
Fort Hayes
Fort Hayes, a military post in Columbus, Ohio, United States, was created by an act of the United States Congress in 1877. As of 2007, the property is primarily used for the Columbus School District's Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center and bus depot. Currently, the 391st Military Police...
on 10 August 1944). He graduated from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in 1948 and went on to gain a Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
degree (BMus) at Yale
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
(1951). He then opened Laurence Witten Rare Books close to Yale's Sterling Library in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
, taking advantage of the dollar's strength to buy large quantities of early books and manuscripts in Europe. He married Cora Williams, a Yale student from Georgia, in 1954, the year she gained her BMus, and the first of their three daughters was born in 1955.
In many cases, European dealers were unable to give him much information about the items Laurence was buying, but he took pride in the historical research necessary to overcome these problems, as can be seen in the twenty catalogues he produced between the 1950s and the 1980s. This dedication was most evident in his acquisition and sale of the Vinland Map
Vinland map
The Vinland map is claimed to be a 15th century mappa mundi with unique information about Norse exploration of America. It is very well known because of the publicity campaign which accompanied its revelation to the public as a "genuine" pre-Columbian map in 1965...
, and its associated manuscripts, between 1957 and 1959. Even after he had sold them to fellow Yale alumnus Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon
Paul Mellon KBE was an American philanthropist, thoroughbred racehorse owner/breeder. He is one of only five people ever designated an "Exemplar of Racing" by the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame...
, he was able to give a great deal of assistance to the international team (led by his friend and frequent customer, Yale librarian Thomas Marston) assigned the job of authenticating the Map, both answering their questions and volunteering suggestions over a period of years.
Laurence and Cora were keen collectors. Among their interests were early stringed musical instruments and associated items, sound recordings capturing 19th century singing styles, pre-Columbian American art, and antique automobiles. After acquiring the very large vocal recording collection of George T. Keating (co-founder of the Memorial Library of Music at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
) in 1960, the Wittens made their sound archive available to scholars by depositing it at Yale University Library in 1961, forming the nucleus of the Yale Collection of Historical Sound Recordings, since greatly augmented by them and others. Particularly in acquiring musical instruments, they were able to take advantage of sales by a number of European families during the 1960s, to assemble a world-ranked collection, focusing on instruments which had received the minimum of restoration (the collection once included a Stradivarius
Stradivarius
The name Stradivarius is associated with violins built by members of the Stradivari family, particularly Antonio Stradivari. According to their reputation, the quality of their sound has defied attempts to explain or reproduce, though this belief is controversial...
violin, but Larry decided it was too heavily restored).
In 1974, when scientific evidence emerged that the Vinland Map was a fake, Laurence confessed that he had lied about key aspects of its provenance and acquisition. There were no serious repercussions, however, and he continued in his rare books business, though relocated shortly afterwards to Southport, CT. He also wrote a number of scholarly papers related to his collecting interests, published in academic journals, and was co-author of a catalogue of manuscripts donated to the Beinecke Library by Paul and Mary Mellon, published in 1977.
In 1983, Laurence suffered a minor heart attack, which prompted him to offer the stringed instruments collection for sale in November of that year, at an asking price of $3 million. The Shrine to Music Museum
National Music Museum
The National Music Museum: America's Shrine to Music & Center for Study of the History of Musical Instruments is a musical instrument museum in Vermillion, South Dakota, USA. It was founded in 1973 on the campus of the University of South Dakota...
at the University of South Dakota
University of South Dakota
The University of South Dakota ', the state’s oldest university, was founded in 1862 and classes began in 1882. Located in Vermillion, South Dakota, United States, USD is home to South Dakota's only medical school and law school. USD is governed by the South Dakota Board of Regents, and its current...
was keen to buy the collection, but before a funding appeal could be properly launched, the Berlin Musikinstrumentenmuseum
Berlin Musical Instrument Museum
The Berlin Musical Instrument Museum is located at the Kulturforum on Tiergartenstraße. The museum contains a collection of over 3,500 musical instruments from the 16th century onward and is one of the largest and most representative musical instrument collections in Germany.The museum was...
made a preliminary offer of $2 million. Witten rejected this, and long-time Shrine sponsors Robert and Marjorie Rawlins
Robert and Marjorie Rawlins
Robert Ernest Rawlins and Marjorie Townsley Rawlins were American philanthropists and patrons of the arts, particularly music....
, who had already agreed to contribute $1 million, provided the full $3 million to forestall any further foreign bids. The museum (later rechristened the National Music Museum) took possession of the collection on February 5, 1984, and named it the Witten-Rawlins Collection.
Becoming increasingly ill from about 1989, Laurence retired from business in 1991. He and Cora moved to Florida, and gave away many items from their collections, including pre-Columbian art to the Michael C. Carlos Museum
Michael C. Carlos Museum
The Michael C. Carlos Museum is an art museum located in Atlanta on the historic quadrangle of Emory University's main campus. The Carlos Museum has the largest ancient art collections in the Southeast, including objects from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, the Near East, and the ancient Americas...
at Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
in Cora's home-town, Atlanta, and manuscripts to the Beinecke Library. After Laurence died in 1995, Cora gave a Nicola Bergonzi
Bergonzi
Carlo Bergonzi was an Italian luthier who apprenticed with Hieronymus Amati, collaborated with Joseph Guarneri, and is considered the greatest pupil of Antonio Stradivari....
viola to the National Music Museum in his memory. The bulk of the pre-Columbian American art collection was auctioned by Sotheby's in 1996-7. Cora has continued to support the development of the Historical Sound Recordings collection at Yale.