The papers of art dealer R. Kirk Askew, director of the New York branch of the Durlacher Bros. art firm, measure 0.6 linear feet and date from 1942 to 1958. The collection includes correspondence with artists Cady Wells, Walter Stuempfig, Walter Quirt, Edward Melcarth, Kurt Seligmann, Leonid Berman, Hyman Bloom, Peter Blume, Carlyle Brown, James W. Fosburgh, Stephen Greene, and Walter Stein.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of art dealer R. Kirk Askew, director of the New York branch of the Durlacher Bros. art firm, measure 0.6 linear feet and date from 1942 to 1958. The collection includes correspondence with artists Cady Wells, Walter Stuempfig, Walter Quirt, Edward Melcarth, Kurt Seligmann, Leonid Berman, Hyman Bloom, Peter Blume, Carlyle Brown, James W. Fosburgh, Stephen Greene, and Walter Stein.
Arrangement:
Due to the small size of this collection the papers are arranged as one series.
Biographical / Historical:
R. Kirk Askew (1903-1974) was an art dealer and manager of the Durlacher Bros. New York location from from 1927 to circa 1969.
Separated Materials:
Exhibition catalogs, 1928-1967, also donated by R. Kirk Askew, were tranferred to Smithsonian Institution Libraries in 1975. Catalogs are available on microfilm reel 148 at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Provenance:
Donated 1969-1971 by R. Kirk Askew.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Microfilmed materials must be consulted on microfilm. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Occupation:
Art dealers -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Gallery directors -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Citation:
R. Kirk Askew papers, 1942-1958. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Edward Melcarth. A woman and sleeping child at Coney Island, ca. 1950. Edward Melcarth papers, [ca. 1930-1974]. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Edward Melcarth. A man sleeping on the beach at Coney Island, ca. 1950. Edward Melcarth papers, [ca. 1930-1974]. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Edward Melcarth and WOR (Radio station: New York, N.Y.). Interview with Edward Melcarth on WOR radio, circa 1967. Edward Melcarth papers, [ca. 1930-1974]. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Edward Melcarth. Edward Melcarth speech "The Archetype, the Hero: An Epich Style in Art Today" at Maryland Art Institute, 1970 April 10. Edward Melcarth papers, [ca. 1930-1974]. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Edward Melcarth. Interview with Edward Melcarth for Boston University, 1969 December. Edward Melcarth papers, [ca. 1930-1974]. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Andy Warhol and Edward Melcarth. Andy Warhol and Edward Melcarth on Radio New York with John Wingate, circa 1967. Edward Melcarth papers, [ca. 1930-1974]. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Edward Melcarth. Excerpts from Followers of Camus: a book against the Modern, circa 1969. Edward Melcarth papers, [ca. 1930-1974]. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Edward Melcarth. Photographic prints of men in various forms of dress and posing., ca. 1970. Edward Melcarth papers, [ca. 1930-1974]. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Biographical information, photographs, correspondence, writings, works of art, printed material, sound recordings and miscellany regarding Edward Melcarth. Photographs are of Melcarth, family, friends, and his work, as well as photographs taken by Melcarth, mostly in the 1940's and 1950's, of Coney Island, New York City, Venice, Germany, and subjects Peggy Guggenheim, Sam Wagstaff, Eugene Berman, John La Touche, Anabelle Gamson and Walter Steumpfig. Correspondence between Melcarth and his mother regard his acquaintences Peggy and Hazel Guggenheim, and Norman Parkinson. Other correspondents include Gore Vidal and Gael Greene, New York magazine food critic, and artist Richard Taddei. Also included are letters from artists Lief Anderson, Peter Carello, Pablo Pristeno, Ernst Teves, from playwright William Inge, from actors George Maharis, Ronald Staba and Joseph Newlin, Henry Allen Moe, R. Kirk Askew, agent John Schafner, and Charles B. Moses. Writings include 146 manuscripts of Melcarth's short stories, novels, poems, song lyrics, essays, books and travel articles for the New York Sun. Works of art include sketchbooks and loose sketches. Printed material consists of scrapbooks, clippings, exhibition catalogs and announcements. Sound recordings consist of interviews and speeches by Melcarth on 4 sound tape reels and 2 cassettes. Also included are a list of Melcarth's works sold by Durlacher Bros., 1948-1962, with price and purchaser, Melcarth's will, and a surrogate court statement on his personal property.
Biographical / Historical:
Painter, photographer, educator, writer; New York, N.Y. Born Edward Epstein, 1914, in Louisville, Kentucky. Studied in London, Paris and at Harvard. Taught at Parsons School of Design, Columbia University, University of Washington (Seattle), University of Louisville and the Educational Alliance Art School. Melcarth died in 1973.
Provenance:
Donated 1971 by Edward Melcarth, in 1977 and 1978 by a friend, Robert Morgan, in 2000 by Albert La Tucha, a friend of Melcarth's and in 2007 by Richard Taddei, Melcarth's fromer student.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
