(c) 2017 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

Josiah Byram Millet

American, 1853 - 1938

Biographycorresponded with ISG in 1904; not found in LCNAF, ULAN, Google; I.S. 12/29/2017
This record was catalogued as Joseph B. Millet but unclear where Joseph came from as the letters associated with this constituent are signed J.B. Millet. I think this is Josiah Byram Millet (1853-1938).
Harvard graduate Josiah Byram Millet (1853-1938) founded his publishing company [J.B. Millet Co.] in 1890, and like many in the Boston area, he became interested in Japan, learning to speak the language and developing close connections to many Japanese statesmen, scholars, and businessmen. He conceived the idea for Japan: Described and Illustrated by the Japanese and used his connections to secure financial backing for the project from the Japanese government.
https://curiosity.lib.harvard.edu/early-photography-of-japan/feature/japan-described-and-illustrated-by-the-japanese-bde3fa79-bdb4-4515-a3da-7347d1b6969a; E. Reluga accessed 7/18/2023;
In Guest Book Vol II, he signed page 57, May 21, 1896 "J.B. Millet" although the index lists him as Joseph. Emily Millet also signed the previous page and Josiah Byram Millet was married to Emily Adams (Millet). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/182577317/josiah-byram-millet
The Archivist, Shana McKenna, checked the bio subject file which has an article about the JB Millet publishing Co., nothing in Carter or Tharp.
She confirmed his handwriting by looking up some of his correspondence in the papers of Elihu Vedder and it is the same handwriting as in letters to ISG.
Decision to recatalogue this constituent record based on this evidence.
https://centuryarchives.org/caba/bio.php?PersonID=2002
https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1938/01/28/96787042.html?pageNumber=21

Person TypeIndividual

Last Updated8/7/24

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