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Glenn Wessels papers, [ca. 1932-1982]

Catalog Data

Creator:
Wessels, Glenn A., 1895-,  Search this
Subject:
Haley, John  Search this
Loran, Erle  Search this
Ryder, Worth Allen  Search this
Cunningham, Imogen  Search this
Limerick, Ila A.  Search this
Alvarez, Peace K.  Search this
Hofmann, Hans  Search this
Adams, Ansel  Search this
University of California, Berkeley. Department of Art  Search this
Place of publication, production, or execution:
Other
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear feet
Access Note / Rights:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Summary:
Biographical material, 1953-1981; 15 letters from Hans and Maria Hofmann, and two from Wessels to Hofmann, 1952-1964; correspondence with Ila Limerick and Peace and Pauline Alvarez regarding mostly their planned but uncompleted biography of Wessels, ca. 1959-1968; miscellaneous correspondence; typescripts of lectures by Wessels; photographs of Wessels, including one by Imogen Cunningham, 1956, Wessels with others, one of his work, and one by Wessels (?) of an outdoor scene; newspaper clippings and printed material, undated, 1959-1967 and 1982; and miscellany, 1932-1966.
The Hans Hofmann letters, written from New York and Provincetown, discuss the importance of painting, his and Wessel's work, his plans to come to Berkeley to accept an honorary doctorate, and his feelings toward Wessels, Erle Loran, and others. Three of the letters are written by his wife Maria. Wessels' letters to Hofmann relate to the University's choice of Erle Loran to present Hofmann's honorary doctorate.
The correspondence with Ila Limerick, and Peace and sometimes Pauline Alvarez, contain lengthy, detailed reminiscences by Wessels on personal and professional topics. The later correspondence with Peace Alvarez relates mainly to the deteriorating health of Wessels' wife, Kay.
The miscellaneous correspondence includes a letter from Wessels to Worth Ryder, 1943, relating to Erle Loran and John Haley; a letter from Alfred Frankenstein thanking Wessels for sending his paper "The New Approach to Nature in Painting"; a letter from Worth Ryder congratulating Wessels on his exhibition, 1959; a letter from Ansel Adams praising Wessels' work done at a Polaroid Corp. Workshop, 1965; and letters regarding a controversy surrounding credit for bringing Hofmann to U.C. Berkeley, including a copy of a letter from John Haley to Paul Cummings; from Wessels to Haley, 1978; and from Wessel's brother-in-law Willis Foster to James Elliott, Director, University Art Museum, 1986.
Included in the printed material are an issue of The Fortnightly (Feb. 26, 1932) which Wessels helped found and served as art editor, and The Argonaut (July 16, 1937), containing Wessels' weekly column on art.
Citation:
Glenn Wessels papers, [ca. 1932-1982]. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Additional Forms:
Hofmann letters and miscellaneous correspondence: photocopies.
Location of Originals:
Hofmann letters and miscellaneous correspondence: Location of originals unknown.
Biography Note:
Painter, lecturer, critic, and teacher; Berkeley, Calif. Born Captown, South Africa. Studied with Hans Hofmann in Munich. Professor of Art at University of California at Berkeley.
Language Note:
English .
Provenance:
Donated 1991 by Willis Foster, Wessels' brother-in-law.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
Topic:
Fortnightly  Search this
Argonaut (Periodical)  Search this
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- California -- San Francisco Bay Area  Search this
Theme:
Lives of artists  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)10807
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)214541
AAA_collcode_wessglen
Theme:
Lives of artists
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_214541