Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Oral history interview with Rockwell Kent, 1969 Feb. 26-27

Catalog Data

Interviewee:
Kent, Rockwell, 1882-1971  Search this
Interviewer:
Cummings, Paul  Search this
Subject:
Armitage, Merle  Search this
Chase, William Merritt  Search this
Henri, Robert  Search this
Miller, Kenneth Hayes  Search this
Zigrosser, Carl  Search this
American Artists Group  Search this
Art Students League (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Type:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Place of publication, production, or execution:
United States
Physical Description:
1 Sound tape reel, Sound recording: (3 hours 30 min.), 7 in.; 40 Pages, Transcript
Access Note / Rights:
Transcript: Patrons must use microfilm copy.
Summary:
An interview of Rockwell Kent conducted 1969 Feb. 26-27, by Paul Cummings, for the Archives of American Art. Kent speaks of his family background; his early interest and talent in art; studying painting with Robert Henri and William Merritt Chase; his early studies and work in architecture; Kenneth Hayes Miller as a teacher; experiences which influenced him and inspired him; his travels and explorations; his work in book design and illustration; mural commissions; the American Artists Group; his political life and public affairs. He recalls Merle Armitage and Carl Zigrosser.
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Rockwell Kent, 1969 Feb. 26-27. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Additional Forms:
Transcript: 35mm microfilm reel 4210 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Biography Note:
In addition to being a successful painter, printmaker, illustrator, designer, and commercial artist, Kent pursued careers as a writer, professional lecturer, and dairy farmer. He travelled extensively, and was a political activist who supported the causes of organized labor, civil liberties, civil rights, anti-Fascism, and peace and friendship with the Soviet Union.
Language Note:
English .
Provenance:
These interviews are part of the Archives of American Art Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.
Location Note:
Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, 750 9th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20001
Topic:
Book design  Search this
Illustration of books  Search this
Mural painting and decoration  Search this
Printmakers -- New York (State) -- Interviews  Search this
Illustrators -- New York (State) -- Interviews  Search this
Landscape painters -- New York (State) -- Interviews  Search this
Muralists -- New York (State) -- Interviews  Search this
Painters -- New York (State) -- Interviews  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)12106
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)212453
AAA_collcode_kent69
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_212453