Frank Millet painted a series of Men in Uniform, which included his old friend Archibald Willingham Butt, aide to both Taft and Roosevelt. Frank Millet often stayed at Archie’s Washington home on G Street and the two travelled together to Italy before returning home on the Titanic.
Frank was concerned about Archie’s state of mind after the loss of his mother, and the marriage of Archie’s great love, Mathilde Townsend to another man. Butt was also distressed about political issues in Washington between Taft and Roosevelt. The trip to Italy to open a new school of art was to be a vacation for Archie Butt. The rest of their story is well-known, and the tragic outcome of the loss of both men.
The painting of Archie Butt was inherited by the grand -niece of Archie Butt, the former Margaret Morgan, daughter of Shirley Morgan and Arrington Butt (Archie’s brother’s one child). The feet have been cut off the portrait so the painting could hang over a mantle. Ultimately the portrait will find its way to Augusta, Georgia, to the art museum there.
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Now that we are in 2012, might we acknowledge that Archibald Butt and Frank Millet were life partners? I hope they were together at the end.
I have studied the lives of Frank and Archie extensively for many years. Yes, one can make a case for what you say. There is no doubt that Frank had a relationship with a younger man, a writer, in Italy and was grief-stricken when he was abandoned- he returned to Massachusetts and built the studio on Plymouth Rd. next door to his father, Dr. Asa Millet.. Frank married and had children, and was truly devoted to his wife, Lily, who was a great beauty, but there is evidence to support that he prefered the romantic company of his own sex.
Archie Butt’s great love was the debutante Mathilde Townsend, a Washington beauty whom he worshipped and courted without success. Before he sailed to Rome with Frank to open a new art institute, he met her in New York for a Bon Voyage luncheon. Mathilde had married into the Gerry family of Rhode Island- he would become a senator. Archie’s letter describing his loss of Mathilde is painful to read. Archie remained single in his years as aide to Taft and Roosevelt because the job description demanded it. He often shared quarters with other military men. His beautiful G Street townhouse was often visited by Frank, who, in letters, praised the charms of Archie’s handsome male house servant.
When Archie’s mother passed away, and Mathilde married, Archie was beyond despondent. Frank convinced Taft that Archie needed a long vacation filled with beauty and diversion. Archie visited his brother and niece in England and enjoyed a happy time in Italy. Both men were slaves to art and beauty, had exquisite taste, and everything they involved themselves in was of the highest calibre. Were they a lifelong romantic couple? Their demanding careers kept them apart much of the time. But, in the end, it is very possible that they may have been. This thought is not a new one and has been examined by many who have studied their remarkable lives closely. They were indeed, exemplary lives we as a nation could ill afford to lose. I recommend the Behe trilogy of volumes on Butt as well as the recent Millet bio by Peter Engstom./Shelley
Yes, the Sargent painting is wonderful from Frank’s Broadway art colony garden in England. Sargent’s painting of Mrs. Millet is also glorious. I spent two intensive years researching Archie, traveling to Georgia and interviewing family. I hope to publish more soon. The family treasures its privacy of course, and so I have not revealed the location or names of the surviving family. They own many of Archie’s personal possessions from the Washington D.C. house which were left to his brother Lewis. The books of Archie’s letters are often on Ebay as well as his publication Both Sides of the Shield. Many of his other personal unpublished papers are in the possession of the State of Georgia archives. Fascinating men- both Millet and Butt. /Shelley
What a find! Congratulations! I’ve done some research about Frank Millet and have written a book for young readers entitled ‘Carnation,Lily,Lily, Rose: The Story of a Painting’ about John Singer Sargent’s famous paintings of two little girls lighting paper lanterns in a garden. The garden was Frank Millet’s and the first model for the painting was Kate Millet, Frank’s daughter. I’ve also read Archie Butts’ letters and would love to research him more. Does the family have Archie’s papers? When will the painting be available for public viewing?
Thanks,
Hugh Brewster