The collection is arranged as 7 series Series 1: Biographical material, 1948-1969 (2 folders; Box 1) Series 2: Correspondence, circa 1950-1979 (0.4 linear feet; Box 1, OV 3) Series 3: Writings, circa 1950s-circa 1960s (0.1 linear feet; Box 1, OV 3) Series 4: Personal Business Records, 1955-1974 (3 folders; Box 1) Series 5: Printed Material, 1956-1975 (0.2 linear feet; Box 1, OV 3) Series 6: Photographs, circa 1940s-circa 1970s (0.5 linear feet; Boxes 1-2, OV 3) Series 7: Artwork, circa 1950s-circa 1960s (0.3 linear feet; Box 2)
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 papers of California painter Jay DeFeo measure 1.5 linear feet and date from circa 1940s to 1979. The collection provides scattered documentation of DeFeo's career, and details on her seminal work, The Rose , through biographical material, correspondence with friends and colleagues, personal business records, writings by others, printed material, photographs highlighting DeFeo's prominent role in her community, and artwork.
Citation:
Jay DeFeo papers, circa 1940s-1979. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Additional Forms:
The collection was digitized in 2022 and is available on the Archives of American Art website.
Funding:
Funding for the digitization of this collection was provided by The Walton Family Foundation and the Terra Foundation for American Art.
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:
The Archives of American Art has an oral history interview with DeFeo conducted 1975 June 3-1976 January 23 by Paul Karlstrom for the Archives of America Art. An 83 page transcript is available online. The Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley holds some of DeFeo's archival materials.
Biography Note:
Expressionist and symbolist painter, photographer, and educator Jay DeFeo (1929-1989) was a central figure in the progressive community of artists, poets, and musicians of the San Francisco Bay Area in the 1950s-1960s. She devoted eight years to producing her most celebrated painting, The Rose , and was known for her endlessly experimental cross-disciplinary work in painting, drawing, photography, and collage.
Language Note:
Collection is in English.
Provenance:
Donated between 1975-1981 by Jay DeFeo.
Digitization Note:
This site provides access to the papers of Jay DeFeo in the Archives of American Art that were digitized in 2022, and total 1,750 images.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
