This collection is arranged in 6 series. Series 1: Correspondence, 1949-1979 (0.1 linear feet; Box 1, 6 folders) Series 2: Writings, 1928-1979 (1.7 linear feet; Box 1-2, 7) Series 3: Teaching Files, 1935-1976 (0.7 linear feet; Box 2-3) Series 4: Subject Files, 1923-1981 (0.6 linear feet; Box 3, 7) Series 5: Artist Files, 1922-1976 (1.5 linear feet; Box 3-5, 7) Series 6: Printed Materials, circa 1935-1980 (0.5 linear feet; Box 6-7)
Access Note / Rights:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
Summary:
The papers of art historian and Monuments Man S. Lane Faison measure 5.1 linear feet and date from 1922 to 1981, bulk from 1950-1976. Faison was an art history professor at Williams College, Massachusetts and, during World War II, he was a member of the Art Looting Intelligence Unit (ALIU) of the U.S. Office of Strategic Services. The collection includes scattered correspondence; writings; teaching files; subject files on exhibitions and projects; artists files; and printed materials. There are two folders of documents and photographs related to Faison's World War II work in the U.S. Art Looting Intelligence Unit.
Citation:
S. Lane Faison papers, 1922-1981, bulk 1950-1976. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Funding:
Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.
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 also holds an oral history interview of S. Lane Faison conducted on December 14, 1981 by Robert F. Brown for the Archives of American Art's oral history program.
Papers of S. Lane Faison, 1945-1986, are also located at the National Gallery of Art.
Biography Note:
Samson Lane Faison Jr. (1907-2006) was an art history professor at Williams College and director of the Williams College Museum of Art, Massachusetts. During World War II, Faison served in the Art Looting Investigation Unit of the Office of Strategic Services, an intelligence unit related to the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Division of the U.S. Army.
Language Note:
The collection is in English, French, Dutch, German and Swedish.
Provenance:
The S. Lane Faison papers were donated to the Archives of American Art by S. Lane Faison, Jr. in 4 installments from 1978 to 1982.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
Topic:
World War, 1939-1945 -- Art and the war Search this
