The papers of Leslie Judd Ahlander measure 1.0 linear feet and date from 1945 to 1986. The papers document Ahlander's career as an art critic and curator through correspondence regarding exhibitions at the Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida, 1973-1974, and Ahlander's efforts to build a collection of Latin American art; material relating to the Washington Color School, including a typescript of a statement by Howard Mehring, press releases, clippings, catalogs, an annotated checklist of Morris Louis's second one-man show and other printed material mostly written by Ahlander; correspondence, photographs, copies of lectures and articles relating to Ahlander's position at the Pan American Union, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, as art critic for the Washington Post, and as free-lance writer.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of Leslie Judd Ahlander measure 1.0 linear feet and date from 1945 to 1986. The papers document Ahlander's career as an art critic and curator through correspondence regarding exhibitions at the Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida, 1973-1974, and Ahlander's efforts to build a collection of Latin American art; material relating to the Washington Color School, including a typescript of a statement by Howard Mehring, press releases, clippings, catalogs, an annotated checklist of Morris Louis's second one-man show and other printed material mostly written by Ahlander; correspondence, photographs, copies of lectures and articles relating to Ahlander's position at the Pan American Union, the Corcoran Gallery of Art, as art critic for the Washington Post, and as free-lance writer.
Professional material consists of a curriculum vitae, general correspondence, lectures, drafts of articles on art, work with the Washington Post, some purchase orders and receipts, and two photographs of Ahlander.
Ringling Museum material consists of correspondence, grant applications, materials related to "Contemporary Religious Imagery in American Art" exhibition and the "Latin American Horizons: 1976" exhibition. Also included are clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and press releases related to Ringling Museum exhibitions Ahlander curated. There is also a file of photographs, negatives, and transparencies of works in the Ringling Museum collection.
Printed material consists of published articles by Ahlander, newspaper and magazine clippings, exhibition annoucements and catalogs, and press releases. Also included are a series of bulletins from the Pan American Union.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into three series.
Series 1: Professional Activity Files, circa 1953-1980 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1)
Series 2: Ringling Museum, 1970-1977 (0.4 linear feet; Box 1)
Series 3: Printed Material, 1945-1986 (0.4 linear feet; Box 1)
Biographical / Historical:
Leslie Judd Ahlander (1915-2013) was an art critic and curator. Ahlander was born in New York City, and she completed her studies in art at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Ahlander worked on the visual arts programs for the Pan American Union, and she was a critic for the Washington Post. She also served as the Curator of Education at the Corcoran Gallery, and as the first Curator of Contemporary Art at the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, Florida. Ahlander died in 2013.
Provenance:
Donated 1979 and 1986 by Leslie Judd Ahlander.
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.
Rights:
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.
