Various reference files, stored in three-ring binders and always referred to as "notebooks," were compiled and maintained by the Downtown Gallery. Notebooks were among the records the Downtown Gallery loaned to the Archives of American Art for microfilming in 1957 and 1967. Between their initial microfilming and subsequent donation, additions and/or deletions were made in many notebooks. All have been refilmed; thus, this set of microfilm reflects what is now owned by the Archives of American Art.
Notebooks are categorized as: American Folk Art Gallery Notebooks (5 linear feet), Artist Notebooks (22.5 linear feet), and Publicity Notebooks (5 linear feet). All contain large numbers of photographs, notes, and printed matter mounted on sheets of paper punched for three-ring binders; but over the years, many items have become detached. The contents were removed from their binders many years ago, and exact titles of some volumes may not have been recorded.
Arrangement note:
This series is arranged into three subseries: 3.1: American Folk Art Gallery Notebooks, 1931-1969, undated
3.2: Artist Notebooks, 1835, 1874, circa 1880-1969, undated
3.3: Publicity Notebooks, 1901-1969, undated
Box numbers provided in the Container Listing are approximate.
Collection Restrictions:
The microfilm of this collection has been digitized and is available online via the Archives of American Art website.
Collection Rights:
The Downtown Gallery records are owned by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Rights as possessed by the donor have been dedicated to public use for research, study, and scholarship. The collection is subject to all copyright laws. Prior to publishing information regarding sales transactions, researchers are responsible for obtaining written permission from both artist and purchaser involved. If it cannot be established after a reasonable search whether an artist or purchaser is living, it can be assumed that the information may be published sixty years after the date of sale.
Collection Citation:
Downtown Gallery records, 1824-1974, bulk 1926-1969. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the processing, microfilming and digitization of the microfilm of this collection was provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. Glass plate negatives in this collection were digitized in 2019 with funding provided by the Smithsonian Women's Committee.
