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Catalog Data

Creator:
Varian, Dorothy, 1895-1985  Search this
Subject:
Schmidt, Katherine  Search this
Schulte, Antoinette E.  Search this
Bacon, Peggy  Search this
Brook, Alexander  Search this
Karfiol, Bernard  Search this
Marshall, Lenore  Search this
Peirce, Waldo  Search this
Klienert, Herminie  Search this
Kuniyoshi, Yasuo  Search this
Type:
Photographs
Sketches
Place of publication, production, or execution:
United States
Physical Description:
2.3 Linear feet
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 7 series. Series 1: Biographical Material, 1920-1980 (5 folders; Box 1) Series 2: Correspondence, 1917-1981 (0.8 linear feet; Box 1) Series 3: Writings, 1940s-1960s (3 folders; Box 1) Series 4: Personal Business Records, 1931-1984 (9 folders; Box 1) Series 5: Printed Material, 1916-1981 (0.5 linear feet; Box 2) Series 6: Photographs, circa 1902-1961 (13 folders; Boxes 2-3) Series 7: Artwork, circa 1912-1924 (11 folders; Boxes 2-3)
Access Note / Rights:
Use of original papers requires an appointment. Use of archival audiovisual recordings with no duplicate access copy requires advance notice.
Summary:
The papers of painter Dorothy Varian date from circa 1902 to 1984 and measure 2.3 linear feet. This collection documents Varian's life primarily through scattered biographical material; correspondence with family, friends, artists and art galleries; personal business records; a few writings; exhibition catalogs, news clippings, and other printed material; photographs of Varian, her friends, and artwork; and original sketches by Varian and fellow artist Peggy Bacon.
Citation:
Dorothy Varian papers, circa 1902-1984. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Additional Forms:
Portions of the collection are available on 35 mm microfilm reels 797 and 833 at the Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of the material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
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 this repository is an interview of Dorothy Varian conducted 1980 Dec. 6-7, by Avis Berman, for the Archives of American Art.
Biography Note:
Dorothy Varian (1895-1985) was a painter in New York City, and Woodstock, NY. Varian was born in New York City on April 26, 1895; daughter of Eugene W. and Helen Estelle Varian. She dropped out of high school at 15 and entered Cooper Union where she graduated with honors. After Cooper Union she attended the Art Students League. While a student she inadvertently won first and second prize in a local art contest sponsored by movie producer, William Fox. She used the prize money to rent her first studio in Woodstock.
Language Note:
The collection is in English and French.
Provenance:
The collection was donated to the Archives of American Art in installments by Dorothy Varian in 1972, 1978, and 1981. An additonal installment was donated in 1986 by the Dorothy Varian estate, via Robert Plate.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
Topic:
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Painting, Modern -- 20th century -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Women artists  Search this
Women painters  Search this
Theme:
Sketches & Sketchbooks  Search this
Women  Search this
Lives of artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)9258
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)211453
AAA_collcode_varidoro
Theme:
Sketches & Sketchbooks
Women
Lives of artists
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_211453