This accession consists of records which document the production of the Archives of American Art Journal (Volumes 23-43). Materials include Editor's records
such as correspondence, issues of the publication, notes, and photographs.
38.84 cu. ft. (38 record storage boxes) (1 16x20 box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Books
Brochures
Clippings
Manuscripts
Architectural drawings
Drawings
Black-and-white photographs
Motion pictures (visual works)
Audiotapes
Videotapes
Date:
circa 1933-1991
Descriptive Entry:
This accession includes records documenting the production of the Archives of American Art Journal (Volumes 24-26). Materials include Editor's records such as
correspondence, publications, notes, grant proposals, agreements, budget summaries, photographs, and reports.
Also included in this accession are records which document the administration of the Archives of American Art (AAA) during the tenure of Richard N. Murray, Director, 1983-1988.
This material consists of correspondence, memoranda, and notes; conference information; meeting agendas and minutes; program reports; information about regional offices, collections
management, exhibitions, and special events; and research material.
These records also include departmental files documenting administrative issues, projects, and special events at AAA and its regional offices. Materials include the correspondence
and memoranda of Edgar Preston Richardson, Director, 1954-1964; William E. Woolfenden, Director; 1964-1983; Richard N. Murray, Director; John A. Fleckner, Acting Director,
1987-1988; Susan A. Hamilton, Acting Director, 1988-1990; Richard J. Wattenmaker, 1990- ; Garnett McCoy, Deputy Director; Emily Nathan, Director of Public Affairs; and Gilbert
H. Kinney, President of the Board of Trustees. The records also consist of research and reference statistics; membership reports; fundraising data; information about committees,
exhibitions, and tours; meeting agendas and minutes; symposium and conference proposals; lecture papers; collections inventory files; curator reports; oral history project
information, which includes "Artists in Michigan"; "In Celebration" 16mm films, 1/4 audio recordings, 1" videotapes, and cassette tape of interviews with artists such as Roger
Brown, John Hegarty, Marshall M. Fredericks, and Richard Hunt; original production copies of the 16mm film "Reliable Sources"; collecting guidelines and policies; contracts
and agreements; artist files; registrar office loan information; questionnaires; surveys, reports, interview lists, and microfilming information pertaining to the "New Deal
and the Arts Project"; AAA public affairs newspaper clippings, press releases, articles, and photographs; proposed acquisitions; curatorial reports; and staff photographs.
29.69 cu. ft. (29 record storage boxes) (1 16x20 box)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Manuscripts
Clippings
Brochures
Black-and-white photographs
Black-and-white negatives
Audiotapes
Motion pictures (visual works)
Date:
1954-1985
Descriptive Entry:
This collection documents the development of the Archives of American Art (AAA), chiefly the period since acquisition of AAA by the Smithsonian in 1970, though some
records from its earlier history in Detroit and New York are also included. These records contain minutes, files, and correspondence of the Board of Trustees and the Advisory
Committee; and correspondence of Edgar P. Richardson and William E. Woolfenden, the first two directors. For the post-1970 period, records and correspondence document the
Archives' acquisition by the Smithsonian; correspondence of Garnett McCoy, Deputy Director; field office correspondence of Robert Brown, director of the New England office,
1975-1986; field office correspondence of Paul J. Karlstrom, director of the west coast office, 1974-1975; field office correspondence of Susan Hamilton, director of the New
York office, 1981-1987; records of the AAA's automated cataloging project, 1986-1989; records of AAA's project to create a central source for information on New Deal art projects,
1963-1965; and editorial files of the Archives of American Art Journal.
This record unit consists of the correspondence of Edgar P. Richardson, Director, 1954-1964; his successor, William E. Woolfenden, 1964-1983; Richard N. Murray, 1983-
, and other staff members; minutes and records of the Board of Trustees; manuscripts, correspondence, and other records of the Archives of American Art Journal; and the files
of various projects in which the Archives participated. These include the correspondence of Sandra J. Levy, area director for the Texas project, 1979-1985; correspondence
of Sharyn Udall, AAA representative, for the Southwest Project, 1969-1975; correspondence of Paul Cumming, Boston area office; and records related to the Treasury Relief Art
Project and other Depression-era relief programs for artists, surveyed and filmed in 1963-1964. Correspondents include William E. Woolfenden, Edgar P. Richardson, Garnett
McCoy, Sharyn Udall, Sandra J. Levy, Paul Cumming, Richard J. Nicastro, Sylvia Loomis, Gilbert H. Kinney, Regina Soria, and Eloise Spaeth.
Historical Note:
The Archives of American Art (AAA) was founded as an independent non-profit corporation in 1954. Edgar P. Richardson, then Director of the Detroit Institute of Arts,
and businessman and art collector Lawrence Fleishman were its founders. AAA originally focused on collecting and microfilming information documenting artists' lives and careers
as reflected in the records of museums, galleries, family members, and collectors. Subsequently the Archives broadened its interests to include the visual arts in America
from the eighteenth century to the present day.
From its founding in 1954 until 1960 the AAA operated from Detroit, headquartered at the Detroit Institute of Arts, but independently supported by gifts and grants. In
1960 the Archives moved its headquarters to New York City, retaining an office in Detroit. In 1963 the AAA opened a field office in Rome in order to tap the records of American
artists' work in Rome and in Italy generally. In 1970 the AAA became a bureau of the Smithsonian Institution. In 1970-1971 field offices were established in Boston and San
Francisco, and in 1984 in San Marino, California.
Edgar P. Richardson, the first Director, had many other commitments, especially to his work at the Winterthur Museum in Delaware. Increasingly, most duties fell to the
Assistant Director, William E. Woolfenden, who served in that capacity from 1960 until 1964, when he officially became Director. Woolfenden remained Director until 1983, when
he was succeeded by Richard N. Murray.
Restrictions:
Boxes 3-6 contain materials restricted indefinitely; see finding aid; Contact reference staff for details.
This accession consists of the website of the Archives of American Art (AAA) as it existed on September 7, 2011. The website consists of general information, collection
information, exhibition descriptions, the "Archives of American Art Journal," annual reports, event information, news, and related materials. Documentation of the website,
including requirements, architecture, design, and project management plans have been included.
Also included in this accession is the AAA blog, crawled July 7, 2011, which highlights individual collection items as well as archival processes and the greater world
of American art. Materials are in electronic format.
This accession consists of the Archives of American Art website and blog as they existed on January 30, 2014. The website consists of general information, collection
information, exhibition descriptions, the "Archives of American Art Journal," annual reports, event information, news, and related materials. Collection information may be
incomplete and, due to technological issues, some videos may be missing. The blog, established in December 2009, highlights individual collection items as well as archival
processes and the greater world of American art. Materials are in electronic format.
This accession consists of the Archives of American Art website and blog as it existed on June 16, 2010. The website consists of general information, finding aids to
collections, exhibition information, the "Archives of American Art Journal," annual reports, event information, news, digitized collections, oral history transcripts, special
focus guides, and related materials. The blog highlights individual collection items as well as archival processes and the greater world of American art.