An interview of Alvin S. Romansky conducted 1979 September 17, by Sandra Curtis Levy, for the Archives of American Art.
Romansky speaks of his history as a painter, ceramist, and collector; the art scene in Houston as he knew it; his political and law activities; artists and collectors who were his friends and associates; the Contemporary Arts Association; his European experiences; his personal philosophies; and the future of museums. He recalls the Blaffer family, Alexander Calder, Nina Cullinan, and John and Dominique de Menil; William Hayter and Buck Schiwetz.
Biographical / Historical:
Alvin S. Romansky (1907-1994) was a painter, ceramist, and collector of Houston, Tex.
General:
Originally recorded on 6 sound cassettes. Reformatted in 2010 as 11 digital wav files. Duration is 6 hr., 43 min.
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.
Microfilmed as part of the Archives of American Art's Texas project.
The microfilmed Art League of Houston papers contain two scrapbooks (1948-1983) including lists of events, members and officers, and printed material; as well as a file on the Art League's program, "Tribute to a Texas Artist," honoring E. M. "Buck" Schiwetz (1983), containing letters of congratulations to Schiwetz from artists and others, clippings, and printed material. Also included are 18 file books (1961-1979) containing correspondence with members, annual and treasurer's reports, newsletters, exhibition invitations, clippings, and printed material about events and activities sponsored by the Art League; photographs of the Art League building in Houston and guests at Schiwetz's tribute dinner; and reproductions of works by Schiwetz.
Biographical / Historical:
The Art League of Houston was founded in 1948 to assist and promote the work of Houston artists. It was incorporated in 1953. In addition to exhibiting the work of local artists, it sponsors classes, lectures, demonstrations, and awards.
Provenance:
Microfilmed as part of the Archives of American Art's Texas project.
Lent for microfilming 1983 by the Art League of Houston.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Topic:
Art -- Societies, etc. -- Texas -- Houston Search this
The Schiwetz legacy: an artist's tribute to Texas, 1910-1971. Pictures by E.M. "Buck" Schiwetz, selected under the direction of John H. Lindsey. Introd. by R. Henderson Shuffler. Notes by the artist, with John Edward Weems
Correspondence; files on 42 artists, containing clippings, photos, exhibition catalogs and letters; exhibition files for her gallery, Gallery of Wonderful Things, Fort Worth, Texas, and Tall Timbers, Houston, Texas; a scrapbook containing clippings, exhibition catalogs and announcements, photos, and letters about the Gallery of Wonderful Things; printed material and loan records for her private collections of ceramics, paintings and sculpture; photographs; and printed miscellany.
Artist files include David Adickes, Ludwig Bemelmans, James Blake, Bill Bomar, Cynthia Brants, David Brownlow, Max Butler, John Chumley, Charles Cobelle, Dorothy Crowley, Montague Dawson, Adolph Dehn, Joseph Domjan, Kelly Fearing, Robert Fowler, Frank Freed, An Furuta, Henry and Leila Gadbois, R.C. Gorman, George Grammer, John Guerin, Dorothy Hood, William A. Kolliker, Richard M. Lincoln, Anthony Martin, Blanche McVeigh, Marc Moldawer, Martha Mood, Charles Pebworth, Margaret Putnam, Dickson Reeder, Andrew Rush, Porfirio Salinas, E.M. (Buck) Schiwetz, Charles Schorre, Mary Ellen Shipnes, Agnes Sims, Emily Guthrie Smith, Trudy Sween, Charles Umlauf, Bror Utter, and Charles T. Williams.
Biographical / Historical:
Hershey founded Gallery of Wonderful Things, Fort Worth, Texas in 1956 and turned it over to Electra Carlin in 1958. Carlin moved the gallery and changed the name to Carlin Gallery. Hershey moved to Houston and organized four art shows at the Tall Timbers apartment complex owned by her husband.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming 1981 by Terese Tarlton Hershey.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
1 Reel (ca. 300 items (partially microfilmed on 1 reel))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Reels
Date:
1959-1984
Scope and Contents:
REEL 3364: A file on Edward Muegge "Buck" Schiwetz containing correspondence between Harold and Rita Phenix and Schiwetz, Sharon D. Steen and others, clippings, printed material and photographs of Schiwetz; a file on Phenix's work as a design engineer for Conoco, Inc. containing printed material and photographs of his art work; photographs of of Phenix and his art work; exhibition awards, announcements, catalogs and clippings; correspondence with patrons and others; sketches; and a scrapbook containing letters, clippings, printed material and photographs documenting Phenix's career.
UNMICROFILMED: Forty-five slides of art work.
Biographical / Historical:
Painter; Houston, Texas. Design engineer for Conoco. Inc.
Provenance:
Material on reel 3364 lent for microfilming, 1984, by Rita Phenix, Harold's wife, as part of the Archives of American Art's Texas project. Slides were donated, 1985, by Harold Phenix.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Microfilmed materials must be consulted on microfilm. Contact Reference Services for more information.
