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Esther Bear Gallery records, 1928-1985, bulk 1954-1977

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Catalog Data

Creator:
Esther Bear Gallery (Santa Barbara, Calif.)  Search this
Subject:
Frasconi, Antonio  Search this
Johnston, Ynez  Search this
Martinez, Alfred  Search this
Ward, Nina de Creeft  Search this
Bear, Donald  Search this
Type:
Drawings
Place of publication, production, or execution:
Other
Physical Description:
5.7 Linear feet
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as three series. Series 1: Administrative Records, 1941-1981 (1.5 linear feet; Boxes 1-2, OV 8) Series 2: Correspondence, 1928-1975 (0.5 linear feet; Box 2) Series 3: Artist's Files, 1941-1982 (3.7 linear feet; Boxes 3-7, OV 8)
Access Note / Rights:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Summary:
The records of Santa Barbara, California art gallery, Esther Bear Gallery, measure 5.7 linear feet and date from 1928 to 1985, with the bulk of the records dating from 1954 to 1977. The collection comprises administrative records that include exhibition files, photographs, records documenting the gallery's operations, and files for the Donald Bear Collection and Endowment Fund; professional correspondence with artists, clients, and galleries regarding exhibitions, sales and loans, and other business dealings; and artist files for Thomas Cornell, Antonio Frasconi, Ynez Johnston, Miguel Marina, Alfred Martinez, and Nina de Creeft Ward, among others.
Citation:
Esther Bear Gallery records, 1928-1985, bulk 1954-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Additional Forms:
Portions of the collection are available on 35mm microfilm reels 3986-3987. Researchers should note that the arrangement of the material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
Funding:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Smithsonian Women's Committee.
Use Note:
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.
Related Materials:
Also found in the Archives of American Art are the Donald Bear papers, 1923-1960.
Biography Note:
The Esther Bear Gallery was a commercial art gallery located in Santa Barbara, California, that specialized in contemporary art. The gallery exhibited artists such as Leonard Baskin, Antonio Frasconi, Rico Lebrun, Lee Mullican, Nina de Creeft Ward, Cady Wells, and other prominent artists including Donald Bear, husband of the gallery's owner Esther Bear and director of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art from 1940 to 1952. Esther Bear retired in 1977.
Language Note:
English .
Provenance:
The Esther Bear Gallery records were donated by Esther Bear in 1978 and 1987.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
Topic:
Women art dealers  Search this
Theme:
Art Gallery Records  Search this
Art Market  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)5466
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)209439
AAA_collcode_estebeag
Theme:
Art Gallery Records
Art Market
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_209439