The collection is arranged as 7 series: Series 1: Biographical Information, circa 1967-1968 (Box 1; 2 folders) Series 2: Personal Business Records, 1967 (Box 1; 1 folder) Series 3: Correspondence, 1924-1969, bulk 1950-1969 (Boxes 1-3; 0.8 linear feet) Series 4: Writings and Notes, circa 1930s-1959 (Boxes 3-4; 0.3 linear feet) Series 5: Printed Material, 1910-1973 (Boxes 4-6; 0.3 linear feet) Series 6: Scrapbook, 1910-1931 (Box 6; 1 folder) Series 7: Photographs, circa 1910-1970s (Box 5-6, OV7-8; 0.3 linear feet)
Access Note / Rights:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
Summary:
The papers of painter Romaine Brooks measure 3 linear feet and date from 1910 to 1973. Found are biographical sketches, correspondence, seven journals, writings and notes, printed materials, a scrapbook, and photographs. Most of the materials focus on Brooks' later life while living in Paris and Nice, France and Fiesole, Italy and make little reference to her paintings and portraits.
Citation:
Romaine Brooks papers, 1910-1973. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Additional Forms:
The bulk of the collection was digitized in 2012 and is available via the Archives of American Art's website. Duplicates and photographs of works of art have not been scanned. Only the covers, title pages, and relevant pages have been scanned for some printed materials.
Funding:
Funding for the processing and digitization of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art
Use Note:
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Biography Note:
Romaine Brooks (1874-1970) was a wealthy portrait painter who lived abroad for most of her life in Paris, and Nice, France, and Fiesole, Italy.
Language Note:
Most of the collection is in English and French; some materials are in Italian.
Provenance:
The Romaine Brooks papers were donated by Meryle Secrest, Brooks's biographer, in 1999. Secrest received the letters and notebooks directly from Brooks's estate and compiled the remainder. Additional papers were transfered from the Smithsonian's National Museum of American Art via the Smithsonian Institution Archives in 1986.
Digitization Note:
This site provides access to the papers of Romaine Brooks in the Archives of American Art that were digitized in 2013. The papers have been scanned in their entirety, and total 2,144 images.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001