Finding Aid for the David Finley Papers, 1910-1977 Summary Information Repository National Gallery of Art, Gallery Archives Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20565
[email protected] Title David Finley Papers Identifier 28A Creator Finley, David E. (David Edward), 1890-1977 Date 1910-1977 Extent 40 cubic feet (73 boxes, 27 film canisters); approximately 50 digital files Abstract This collection documents the personal activities of David E. Finley, founding director of the National Gallery of Art from 1938-1956, and close associate of Andrew W. Mellon. These papers complement the collection of Finley’s papers at the Library of Congress. Papers include architectural drawings, audiovisual recordings, correspondence, diaries, manuscripts, maps, newspaper clippings, notebooks, photographs, publications, scrapbooks, and speeches. Biographical Note September 13, 1890 Born, York, South Carolina to David Edward Finley (member of the U.S. Congress, South Carolina, 1898-1817) and Elizabeth Lewis Gist 1910 A.B., University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina 1913 LL.B., George Washington University Law School, Washington, DC 1915-1917 Practiced law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 1917-1918 Served in the U.S. Army 1921-1922 Assistant Counsel, War Finance Corporation 1922-1927 Member, War Loan Staff, U.S. Treasury Updated June 2020 National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, Gallery Archives Page 1 of 77 1927-1932 Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Treasury Andrew W. Mellon June 10, 1931 Married Margaret (Margey) Morton Eustis 1932-1933 Honorary Counselor, American Embassy in London, England 1933-1937 Assisted Andrew W. Mellon with the planning of the National Gallery of Art 1935 Became legal guardian of Joan and Renee Beauregard, daughters of late friends 1938-1956 Director, National Gallery of Art 1950-1962 Chairman, National Trust for Historic Preservation 1950-1963 Chairman, U.S.