Artworks consist of pencil drawings on tracing paper as studies for sculptures. Biographical materials include a resume and biographical sketch, and clippings regarding Shiras's wedding in 1956. Also found is a writing by Shiras entitled "A Sum of Small Vulgarities."
Early correspondence is with family and includes a note from David Shiras's mother Josefa Wilson to the Haupt family as well as a letter from David Shiras to Myrna. Correspondence from the 1970s is largely with feminist art organizations and publishing houses. Of note is a group of letters described by Shiras about Black Maria. Additional correspondence relates to Shiras's participation with the Palos Verdes Library District. Also found is a transcript for an interview with Shiras by Merrilyn Duzy in 1976.
Photographs depict Shiras, her friends, and family, many of which are labeled. Also found are photographs, slides, negatives, and photocopies of photographs of works of art. Printed material includes clippings, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and posters relating to Shiras's art career.
Collection 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.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Mryna Shiras papers, 1954-1976. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.