The collection is arranged as 8 series: Series 1: Biographical Material, 1938-1994 (Box 1, OV 10; 11 folders) Series 2: Correspondence, 1939-1997 (Boxes 1-5, 9, OV 10; 5 linear feet) Series 3: Interviews, 1950-1995 (Boxes 5-6; 8 folders) Series 4: Writings, 1963-1996 (Box 6; 13 folders) Series 5: Financial Records, 1979-1990 (Box 6; 15 folders) Series 6: Printed Material, 1941-1997 (Boxes 6-7, 9; .5 linear feet) Series 7: Scrapbook, 1930-1940 (Box 8; 1 folder) Series 8: Photographic Material, 1920-1990 (Box 8; 8 folders)
Access Note / Rights:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
Summary:
The papers of New York abstract painter Leon Polk Smith measure 7.2 linear feet and date from 1921 to 1997. The papers consist of biographical material, business and personal correspondence, interview transcripts and an interview video recording, writings, financial records for the corporate entity Leon Polk Smith, Inc., printed material, photographic material, and a scrapbook of newspaper clippings.
Citation:
Leon Polk Smith papers, 1921-1997. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Additional Forms:
This site provides access to the papers of Leon Polk Smith in the Archives of American Art that were digitized in 2011, and total 396 images.
Blank pages, blank versos of photographs, photographs of artwork, duplicates, and medical and routine financial documents have not been scanned. In most cases, only the cover, title page, and individual relevant pages have been scanned from published materials.
The video recording in this collection was digitized for research access in 2011 and is available at the Archives of American Art offices. Researchers may view the original cassette for the archival notations on it, but the original cassette is not available for playback due to fragility.
Funding:
Funding for the processing and digitization of this collection was provided by the Leon Polk Smith 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.
Biography Note:
Leon Polk Smith (1906-1996) worked primarily in New York City as a painter, educator, and lecturer. He is considered one of the founders of the hard edge style of minimalist abstract art.
Language Note:
English .
Provenance:
The papers of Leon Polk Smith were donated by the artist's partner, Robert Jamieson, in 1998 and 2002.
Digitization Note:
This site provides access to the papers of Leon Polk Smith in the Archives of American Art that were digitized in 2012. The bulk of this collection has been scanned and totals 9,389 images.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
