The collection is arranged as six series: Series 1: Biographical Material, 1992 (Box 1; 1 folder) Series 2: Letters, 1992-1996, undated (Box 1; 3 folders) Series 3: Writings, 1992-1994, undated (Box 1; 6 folders) Series 4: Financial Records, 1990-1996, undated (Box 1; 2 folders) Series 5: Printed Material, 1991-1996, undated (Box 1, OV 2; 5 folders) Series 6: Photographs, 1921-circa 1990s (Box 1, OV 2; 0.6 linear feet)
Access Note / Rights:
The collection is open for research. Use requires an appointment and is limited to the Washington, D.C. research facility.
Summary:
The papers of self-taught artist Kate Lang consist of a biographical sketch; letters, cards, and instructions from a patron for paintings; notes and other writings; lists of sales and other financial records; newspaper articles about Lang; exhibition announcements; printed source material for paintings; and photographs and snapshots of Lang as a young girl as well as color photographs and snapshots of her artwork. The collection measures 1.1 linear feet and dates from 1921 to 1996.
Citation:
Kate Lang papers, 1921-1996. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
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:
Kate Lang, born Kathryn Louise Barbour in 1910 in Mobile, Alabama, started painting at age 80. A self-taught artist, she sold her paintings at local flea markets (Washington, D.C.'s Eastern Market on Saturdays and Georgetown Market on Sundays) until her death in 1996. Lang excelled at celebrity and pet portraits painted in the style of contemporary folk art. She held exhibitions at Connection Gallery in Washington, D.C. and George Washington University's Dimrock Gallery in 1992 and at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1995.
Language Note:
English .
Provenance:
The papers were donated in 2001 and 2009 by Richard Lang, the son of Kate Lang.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
