Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Ralph Rosenthal, 1997 February 10-April 7. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Sculptors -- Massachusetts -- Boston -- Interviews Search this
Ceramicists -- Massachusetts -- Boston -- Interviews Search this
Art -- Study and teaching -- Massachusetts -- Boston Search this
The Rosenthal interview, presumably talking with Moshe Alon (off camera) discusses his training and teaching at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston School, and Boston University, and in the Boston Public Schools where he was the first Jewish art teacher. He mentions Alan Crite, Philip Hale, Bernard Chaet, Karl Zerbe.
The second and lengthier (approx. 1 1/2 hrs.) is an interview with Nat Jacobson, and his interest in becoming an artist, museum schools, painting classes, the Massachusetts College of Art, serving in the army, and attending the MFA, Boston School on the GI Bill, commissions, and his mural at Boston University.
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.
Topic:
Artists -- Massachusetts -- Interviews Search this
Sculptors -- Massachusetts -- Interviews Search this
One letter from David Aronson, 1996 and one letter of recommendation, 1996; a poem by Rosenthal, "Disillusion," written in 1936 and printed ca. 1938, in reaction to his dismissal as an art teacher at Medford Senior High, apparently because he was Jewish; a clipping from the Boston Globe ,1941, on his art classes; and five photographs of Rosenthal and family and of art classes taught by Rosenthal and others, including Alma Lebrecht, Reed Kay, Bernard Chaet, and Jack Kramer. The materials relate primarily to his teaching career at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Boston school system.
Biographical / Historical:
Sculptor, ceramist, art educator; Boston, Mass. Rosenthal attended the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston school while in high school, and later taught there. He received a Master's degree in Education from Boston University in 1936, and taught in the Boston school system from 1936-1976, rising from key teacher of high school students to supervisor of art for the entire system in 1966. Many of his students went on to become notable artists.
An interview of Ralph Rosenthal conducted 1997 February 10-April 7, by Robert F. Brown, for the Archives of American Art, at Rosenthal's home, in Brookline, Mass.
Rosenthal discusses his childhood in the South End of Boston; first art training at age of 10 under Bill Tate, Dudley Pratt, and Anthony DiBona; attending the Boston public schools' Saturday art classes at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, headed by Alma LeBrecht, Blanche Brink, and Alice Morse, 1924-29; his years at the School of the MFA (1929-35) and the dominant influence there of Philip Hale; his further training in education at Boston University (Ed.M., 1936); his early teaching career; receiving a Carnegie Fellowship in 1938 to study at the Fogg Museum, Harvard University; studying ceramics at Alfred University in 1940; and his founding with Herbert Kahn in 1941 of ROKA, a ceramics supply company.
Teaching in the Boston public schools, 1936-1976, rising from teacher of sculpture to supervisor of art for the entire system in 1966; his work in sculpture, painting, drawing, and ceramics; and former students at the various places he has taught.
Biographical / Historical:
Ralph Rosenthal (1912-2003) was a sculptor from Boston, Mass.
General:
Originally recorded on 2 sound cassettes. Reformatted in 2010 as 4 digital wav files. Duration is 2 hr., 27 min.
Provenance:
This interview is part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and administrators.
Occupation:
Art teachers -- Massachusetts -- Boston -- Interviews Search this
