Arnold, Florence M. (Florence Millner), 1900-1994 Search this
Extent:
2.4 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Sketchbooks
Video recordings
Interviews
Date:
circa 1920-1994
Summary:
The papers of teacher, painter, and serigrapher Florence Millner Arnold measure 2.4 linear feet and date from circa 1920 to 1994. The papers demonstrate her career through biographical materials, correspondence, writings, personal business records, printed and photographic materials, and artwork.
Scope and Contents:
The Florence Millner Arnold papers measure 2.4 linear feet and date from circa 1920-1994. Biographical materials include a video interview with Lyn Gamwell and an interview with Helen Chen for the Fullerton College Oral History Program, among others. Also included is a publication for Who's Who of American Women and various certificates and awards granted to Arnold throughout her career. Correspondence is between Arnold and others, including letters and postcards regarding her world travels, and with the Archives of American Art regarding her collections.
Writings consist of various essays about Arnold, reviews of her artwork, and lesson plans for her 7th and 8th grade classes at Buena Park Elementary School in Fullerton, California. Personal business records include materials relating to her professional activities including documentation on the "Night in Fullerton" program and records for her various silk screen prints. Printed materials include exhibition catalogs and announcements, as well as materials for "Louise Hutton's Distinguished Delegation" event for USA and USSR women. Photographic material contains photographs of Arnold, her friends and family, and her artwork. Artwork includes sketches and sketchbooks.
Arrangement:
This collection consists of seven series.
Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1920-1994 (.1 Linear feet: Box 1)
Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1920-1989 (.1 Linear feet: Box 1)
Series 3: Writings, circa 1930-1985 (.1 Linear feet: Box 1)
Series 4: Personal Business Records, circa 1920-1987 (.4 Linear feet: Box 1)
Series 5: Printed Material, circa 1920-1980 (1.3 Linear feet: Box 1-2)
Series 6: Photographic Material, circa 1923-1989 (.3 Linear feet: Box 3)
Series 7: Artwork, circa 1947-1970 (.1 Linear feet: Box 3)
Biographical / Historical:
Florence "Flossie" Maud Arnold (née Millner, 1900-) was a teacher, painter and serigrapher who worked primarily in Orange County, California. She was born in 1900 in Prescott, Arizona. Arnold earned a Bachelor of Arts in music in 1926 from Mills College in Oakland, California, and went on to earn a bachelor's in education in 1937 from Claremont College. After marrying her husband, Archie, and settling in Fullerton, California, Arnold taught music for 42 years at Fullerton Union High School. Once she had retired from teaching, Arnold began to take classes at Fullerton College in painting. Although she speacialized early in landscapes and still life, she soon shifted towards her eventual style of hard-edge abstract paintings, drawing inspiration from John McLaughlin's work and studying under Karl Benjamin.
Arnold was very active in the Orange County art community, organizing the Orange County Art Association and, in 1966, helping to found the "Night In Fullerton" program, a night of performance and visual arts at local museums. Arnold was also a founder of the Art Alliance at California State University and the Muckenthaler Cultural Center and she held events to promote young artists including the recurring Florence Young Artist Festival Exhibition. Arnold's work has been exhibited in the U.S., Madrid, Copenhagen, Florence, Rome, Milan, and Venice. California State University continues to grant scholarships in Arnold's name, a practice established in 1990. Arnold died at 93 years old in 1994.
Provenance:
The Florence Millner Arnold microfilmed materials on reels 3979-3980 were donated to the Archives of American Art by Florence Arnold in 1975 and 1980. Papers were donated by Arnold's daughter, Adrienne Chakerian, in 1994.
Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References 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.
Florence Millner Arnold papers, circa 1920-1994 Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
