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Catalog Data

Creator:
Jordan, Patricia M., 1937-1989  Search this
Names:
Anger, Kenneth  Search this
Beattie, Paul, 1924-1988  Search this
Berman, Wallace, 1926-1976  Search this
Brakhage, Stan  Search this
Cornell, Joseph  Search this
Duncan, Robert Edward, 1919-  Search this
Herms, George, 1935-  Search this
Jess, 1923-  Search this
Jordan, Larry, 1934-  Search this
Snyder, Gary, 1930-  Search this
Extent:
2.4 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Illustrated letters
Mail art
Photographs
Date:
1870
1949-1984
Summary:
The papers of San Francisco based Beat photographer Patricia Jordan measure 2.3 linear feet and date from 1870, 1949-1984. The papers include correspondence, much of it illustrated and with Beat artists and poets, writings, exhibition files, printed materials, photographs, and artwork.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of San Francisco based Beat photographer Patricia Jordan measure 2.3 linear feet and date from 1870, 1949-1984. The papers include correspondence, much of it illustrated and with Beat artists and poets, writings, exhibition files, printed materials, photographs, and artwork. About one-half of the collection consists of correspondence; many items of which could be considered works of art or mail art. There are letters, illustrated letters, photographs, collages, postcards, greeting and holiday cards, and exhibition invitations. Letters are addressed to Patricia Jordan, her husband Larry, and/or daughter Lorna and are from family and friends, including many Beat artists and poets such as Kenneth Anger, Steve Arnold, Paul Beattie, Wallace Berman, Stan Brakhage, Jess Collins, Joseph Cornell (with whom Larry Jordan studied in 1965), Robert Duncan, George Herms, and Gary Snyder. Family letters are from Patricia's parents, sisters, daughter, and husband Larry. The papers contain a large number of photographs and are primarily portraits taken by Patricia Jordan of friends and family including her husband Larry, daughter Lorna, Geroge Herms, and Wallace Berman. Many of the subjects are not identified. Some photographs are candid snapshots, while others are prints and test prints of images featured in the 1975 exhibition, "A Kind of Beatness," at Focus Gallery in San Francisco. The remainder of the collection is comprised of scattered writings, exhibition files, printed material, and artwork.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 6 series Missing Title Series 1: Correspondence, circa 1950-1977 (1.1 linear feet; Box 1, OV 4) Series 2: Writings, circa 1959-1970s (0.1 linear foot; Box 2) Series 3: Exhibition Files, 1962-1978 (0.1 linear foot; Box 2) Series 4: Printed Material, circa 1920-1984 (0.2 linear feet; Box 2) Series 5: Photographs, circa 1870-1970s (0.7 linear feet; Box 2-3) Series 6: Artwork, 1949-circa 1970s (0.2 linear feet; Box 2-3)
Biographical / Historical:
Patricia Jordan (1937-1988) was a photographer and integral part of the Beat circle in San Francisco during the late 1950s and 1960s. Through her photography, she captured intimate portraits of the artists and poets in San Francisco at that time. Patricia Jordan, née Topalian, married Larry Jordan, assemblagist and avant-garde filmmaker, in the late 1950s. They lived in San Francisco, Larkspur, and finally settled in San Anselmo, California. Patricia and Larry Jordan had one daughter, Lorna, born in 1960.
Provenance:
Patricia Jordan donated her papers to the Archives of American Art in 1988.
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.
Occupation:
Photographers -- California -- San Francisco  Search this
Topic:
Beat generation  Search this
Women artists  Search this
Women photographers  Search this
Genre/Form:
Illustrated letters
Mail art
Photographs
Citation:
Patricia Jordan papers, 1870, 1949-1984. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.jordpatr
See more items in:
Patricia Jordan papers
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw985cd4ab0-f55c-4702-bec8-2a3579f6ebd4
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-jordpatr