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Catalog Data

Creator:
Printed Matter, Inc.  Search this
Names:
Davis, Douglas  Search this
DeAk, Edit  Search this
Fasnacht, Heide, 1951-  Search this
Huebler, Douglas  Search this
Lawler, Louise  Search this
LeWitt, Sol, 1928-2007  Search this
Linn, Nancy  Search this
Lippard, Lucy R.  Search this
Nonas, Richard, 1936-  Search this
Princenthal, Nancy  Search this
Rosler, Martha  Search this
Ruscha, Edward  Search this
Sischy, Ingrid  Search this
Spiegelman, Art  Search this
Stuart, Michelle, 1933-  Search this
Tacha, Athena, 1936-  Search this
Weiner, Lawrence  Search this
Extent:
24.9 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Architectural drawings
Date:
1970-1990
Summary:
The records of Printed Matter, Inc., a non-profit artists' book publisher and distributor in New York, measure 24.9 linear feet and date from 1970 to 1990. Documentation on this organization includes artist, distributor, and client files; inventory records; legal and administrative records; general correspondence; ledgers, invoices, and other financial records; files arranged by subject; and architectural drawings of the interior office space. The administrative correspondence scattered across the various series shows Printed Matter's philosophy, operations, and relationships to artists. Many early notes and minutes are in Sol LeWitt's handwriting. Among the names to be found in the files are former staff members Edith deAk, Mike Glier, Nancy Linn, Ingrid Sischy, and Nancy Princenthal; founders Sol LeWitt and Lucy Lippard; and contracted artists, such as Douglas Davis, Heidi Fasnacht, Jenny Holzer, Douglas Huebler, Louise Lawler, Richard Nonas, Martha Rosler, Ed Ruscha, Art Spiegelman, Michelle Stuart, Athena Tacha, and Lawrence Weiner.
Scope and Contents:
The records of Printed Matter, Inc., a non-profit artists' book publisher and distributor in New York, measure 24.9 linear feet and date from 1970 to 1990. Documentation on this organization includes artist, distributor, and client files; inventory records; legal and administrative records; general correspondence; ledgers, invoices, and other financial records; files arranged by subject; and architectural drawings of the interior office space. The administrative correspondence scattered across the various series shows Printed Matter's philosophy, operations, and relationships to artists. Many early notes and minutes are in Sol LeWitt's handwriting. Among the names to be found in the files are former staff members Edith deAk, Mike Glier, Nancy Linn, Ingrid Sischy, and Nancy Princenthal; founders Sol LeWitt and Lucy Lippard; and contracted artists, such as Douglas Davis, Heidi Fasnacht, Jenny Holzer, Douglas Huebler, Louise Lawler, Richard Nonas, Martha Rosler, Ed Ruscha, Art Spiegelman, Michelle Stuart, Athena Tacha, and Lawrence Weiner.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 9 series. Artist Files, circa 1970-1990 (Boxes 1-3; 3.0 linear feet) Distributor Files, 1976-1988 (Boxes 4-6; 3.0 linear feet) Client Files, 1971-1989 (Boxes 7-8; 2.0 linear feet) Inventory Cards, circa 1970s-1980s (Boxes 9-10; 2.0 linear feet) Legal and Administrative Records, 1976-1989 (Boxes 11-13; 2.6 linear feet) Correspondence, 1975-1986 (Boxes 13-14; 0.7 linear feet) Subject Files, 1972-1990 (Boxes 14-20; 6.0 linear feet) Financial Records, 1975-1989 (Boxes 20-25; 5.5 linear feet) Architectural Drawings, circa 1985 (OV 26; 0.1 linear feet)
Biographical / Historical:
Printed Matter, Inc., a non-profit artists' book publisher and distributor in New York was established in 1976 by Sol LeWitt, Lucy Lippard, and others. The organization grew from a small business coalition of artists into the largest facility dedicated to publications made by artists in book form. By 1986, Printed Matter had published or disseminated books by more than 1800 artists. Its history also mirrors the trajectory of the downtown art scene in the 1970s and 1980s, for which it became a matrix, an outlet, and a representative.
Provenance:
Donated in 2001 by David Platzker for Printed Matter, Inc.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.
Topic:
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Function:
Publishing houses -- New York (State)
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Architectural drawings
Citation:
Printed Matter, Inc. records, 1970-1990. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.prinmati
See more items in:
Printed Matter, Inc. records
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw91cf104ae-e549-4fda-89bf-85184f345171
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-prinmati