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Catalog Data

Creator:
Challis Galleries (Laguna Beach, Calif.)  Search this
Names:
Adele Bednarz Galleries  Search this
Laguna Art Museum (Laguna Beach, Calif.)  Search this
Laguna Beach. City Council (Calif.)  Search this
Bongart, Sergei, 1918-1985  Search this
Bradbury, Bennett  Search this
Brandt, Rex, 1914-2000  Search this
Challis, Richard  Search this
Dan, Virginia  Search this
DiBert, Paul  Search this
Dike, Phil, 1906-1990  Search this
Farron, Paul  Search this
Franks, Leon  Search this
Kuntz, Roger, 1926-1975  Search this
Marlette, Lacy  Search this
O'Hara, Frank, 1926-1966  Search this
Pillin, Polia  Search this
Proctor, Burt  Search this
Extent:
2.2 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1950-1994
Summary:
The records of Challis Galleries located in Laguna Beach, California, measure 2.2 linear feet and date from 1950 to 1994. The bulk of the records consist of artists' files and sales ledgers. Also included are a few administrative files and business correspondence.
Scope and Contents:
The records of Challis Galleries located in Laguna Beach, California, measure 2.2 linear feet and date from 1950 to 1994. The bulk of the records consist of artists' files and sales ledgers. Also included are a few administrative files and business correspondence. Administrative files include Challis Galleries brochures, materials related to exhibitions and events; one folder on Adele Bednarz Galleries, which Richard Challis ran for two years; and one folder of miscellaneous printed material. Business correspondence is from art world colleague Paul Farron, accountant Lacy Marlette, Laguna Beach City Council, and Laguna Beach Museum of Art on matters relating to operating Challis Galleries. Artists' files include a range of materials on artists represented by Challis Galleries such as biographical outlines, photographs, printed material and price lists. Notable artists include Bennett Bradbury, Sergei Bongart, Rex Brandt, Virginia Dan, Paul Di Bert, Phil Dike, Leon Franks, Roger Kuntz, Eliot O'Hara, Polia Pillin and Burt Proctor, among others. There are 16 ledgers that record the sales of artwork at Challis Galleries.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as four series. Series 1: Administrative Files, 1965-1989 (Box 1; 6 folders) Series 2: Business Correspondence, 1951-1983 (Box 1; 0.2 linear feet) Series 3: Artists' Files, 1950-1994 (Boxes 1-2; 1.3 linear feet) Series 4: Sales Ledgers, 1958-1984 (Boxes 2-3; 0.6 linear feet)
Biographical / Historical:
Challis Galleries (1950-1984) was an art gallery in Laguna Beach, California, that featured the work of local and regional artists. Richard Challis was born in London, England in 1920 and moved to Laguna Beach, California in 1946. Roughly three years after arriving in California, he purchased a building at 1390 South Coast Highway which became Laguna Studio Gallery, later renamed as Challis Galleries in 1966. The gallery officially opened its doors in 1950. Challis Galleries showcased the work of California watercolorists and regional artists. Among the artists represented are Bennett Bradbury, Sergei Bongart, Rex Brandt, Virginia Dan, Paul Di Bert, Phil Dike, Leon Franks, Roger Kuntz, Eliot O'Hara, Polia Pillin, Burt Proctor, and many others. The gallery held regular exhibitions with Richard Challis as its director until his retirement in 1984. Shortly thereafter the gallery was sold to Esther Wells and became known as the Esther Wells Collection.
Provenance:
The Challis Galleries records were donated to the Archives of American Art by gallery owner Richard Challis in 1994.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.
Topic:
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- California -- Exhibitions  Search this
Function:
Art galleries, Commercial -- California
Citation:
Challis Galleries records, 1950-1994. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.chalgall
See more items in:
Challis Galleries records
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw92cf3eb48-bf4c-498e-8fc5-126d9143dd71
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-chalgall