This accession consists of records documenting the curatorial activities of Harold P. Stern, assistant in research, 1951-1958; Associate Curator, 1958-1961; Curator
of Japanese Art, 1961-1962; Acting Assistant Director, 1962; Assistant Director, 1963-1971; and Director, 1971-1977; and Ann Yonemura, Museum Specialist, 1976-1979; Assistant
Curator, 1979-1990; and Associate Curator, 1990- . Topics include lectures, research, outreach, administration, and professional activities. Both Stern and Yonemura specialized
in Japanese art, but occasionally lectured on Chinese and other East Asian art. Stern continued his curatorial duties during his tenure as assistant director and director.
Many records in this accession were created within the Freer Gallery of Art prior to the establishment of the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in 1982. Materials include correspondence,
memoranda, lecture scripts, photographs of artwork, notes, proposals, installation photographs, meeting materials, and related materials.
The papers of Cleveland museum director and art historian Sherman E. Lee measure 10.3 linear feet and date from 1947-1997. The records document Lee's extensive career as an art historian, curator and expert on Asian art, director of the Cleveland Museum of Art, writer, educator, and consultant. His papers include scattered biographical materials, correspondence, writings, travel files, committees and organizations files, consulting files, teaching files, personal business records, printed material, photographs, and one pencil drawing.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of Cleveland museum director and art historian Sherman E. Lee measure 10.3 linear feet and date from 1947-1997. The records document Lee's extensive career as an art historian, curator and expert on Asian art, director of the Cleveland Museum of Art, writer, educator, and consultant. His papers include scattered biographical materials, correspondence, writings, travel files, committees and organizations files, consulting files, teaching files, personal business records, printed material, photographs, and one pencil drawing.
Correspondence is with friends, scholars, editors, collectors, dealers, art societies and organizations, and other
museums. Writings consist of articles, lectures, book reviews by Lee and scattered writings by others. Writing project files contain correspondence with publishers, contracts, and printed material relating to the publication of Lee's writings. Travel files document numerous trips to Asian and European countries and include travel diaries, photographs, and lists of works of art viewed. There are files concerning Lee's membership and involvement with various committees, museums, and arts organizations. Consulting files mostly focus on Lee's work advising John D. Rockefeller III on the purchase of art, and with the Permanent Public Areas Advisory Committee of Cleveland, Ohio. Teaching files document classes he taught at Case Western Reserve and Harvard. Personal business records mostly concern Lee's personal art collection. Also found among the papers are general clippings, photographs of Lee and of artwork, and one pencil drawing.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 12 series.
Missing Title
Series 1: Biographical Material, 1947-circa 1983 (0.4 linear feet; Box 1, 11)
Series 2: Correspondence, 1953-1996 (1.5 linear feet; Box 1-2)
Series 3: Writings and Notes, 1962-1983 (1.7 linear feet; Box 2-4)
Series 4: Writing Project Files, 1958-1997 (1.0 linear feet; Box 4-5)
Series 5: Travel Files, 1959-1994 (1.8 linear feet; Box 5-7)
Series 6: Committees and Organization Files, 1971-1997 (1.8 linear feet; Box 7-8)
Series 7: Consulting Files, 1960-1993 (1.1 linear feet; Box 8-9)
Series 8: Teaching Files, 1963-1977 (0.1 linear feet; Box 9)
Series 9: Personal Business Records, 1958-1995 (0.3 linear feet; Box 9)
Series 10: Printed Material, 1962-1987 (0.9 linear feet; Box 10-11)
Series 11: Photographs, circa 1952-1993 (0.2 linear feet; Box 10-11)
Series 12: Artwork, circa 1960s (1 folder; Box 10)
Biographical / Historical:
Sherman Emery Lee (1918-2008) was an recognized expert on Asian art and director of the Cleveland Museum of Art from 1958-1983.
Born in Seattle, Washington in 1918, Sherman E. Lee grew up in New York and received degrees from American University and a Ph.D. from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Lee began his art career as a curator at the Detroit Institute of Art and Seattle Art Museum. During World War II, he served with the U. S. Navy and was transferred to the Monuments, Fine Arts and Archives Section in Japan. After the war he continued working as a civilian advisor on the preservation of Japanese artworks.
Sherman Lee accepted a position as curator of Oriental art at the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1952 and became director in 1958, where he remained until 1983. During his long tenure there, he built one of this country's most remarkable collections of Asian art, transforming the museum from a regional presence to one of national significance. In 1973 Lee was chosen as Chairman of the Art and Archeology Delegation to the People's Republic of China, jointly sponsored by the Committee on Scholarly Communication of the People's Republic of China and the Scientific and Technical Association of the People's Republic of China.
Lee wrote or co-wrote a number of books including A History of Far Eastern Art (1964) and numerous articles for journals, magazines, and newspapers. He was the recipient of many honorary degrees, awards, and honors including the Order of the Sacred Treasure from Japan and Chevalier of the Legion d'Honneur. He taught art history courses at the Case Western Reserve University and Harvard and was consultant to John D. Rockefeller III and the Cleveland Permanent Public Advisory Committee. He retired to North Carolina where he taught at the University of North Carolina and was advisor to the University's Ackland Art Museum.
Lee was married to his wife Ruth for sixty-nine years. The two met in college and had three daughters and one son. Lee died July 9, 2008 at Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Provenance:
Sherman E. Lee donated his papers to the Archives of American Art in 1997.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Conract Reference Services for more information.
Rights:
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.
Detail of the Neiman Marcus dress salon designed by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Type:
Photographs
Date:
ca. 1941
Citation:
Detail of the Neiman Marcus dress salon designed by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, ca. 1941. Terence Harold Robsjohn-Gibbings papers, 1915-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Two classes taught by Rudolph Schaeffer for a summer seminar on Oriental art
Creator:
Schaeffer, Rudolph Frederick, 1886-1988 Search this
Type:
Sound Recording
Date:
196-?
Citation:
Rudolph Frederick Schaeffer. Two classes taught by Rudolph Schaeffer for a summer seminar on Oriental art, 196-?. Rudolph Schaeffer papers, 1880s-1997. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Gensho no shōzō : kirokushū : Kokusai Geijutsu Sentā Aomori Ātisuto In Rejidensu Puroguramu 2009 Haru = Primeval portraits report : Aomori Contemporary Centre Artist in Residence Program 2009 Spring / henshū Aomori Kōritsu Daigaku Kokusai Geijutsu Sentā Aomori
Title:
原初の肖像: 記錄集 : 国際芸術センター青森アーティスト・イン・レシテンス・フロクラム 2009 春 = Primeval portraits report : Aomori Contemporary Centre Artist in Residence Program 2009 Spring / 編集青森公立大学国際芸術センター青森
Nezu Seizan no shihō shodai Nezu Kaichirō korekushon no kiseki : zaidan sōritsu 75-shūnen kinen tokubetsuten henshū Nezu Bijutsukan Gakugeibu = Preserving heritage : the Nezu collection : commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Nezu Museum : special exhibition / edited by the Curatorial Division, Nezu Museum
Title:
根津青山の至宝 : 初代根津嘉一郎コレクションの軌跡 : 財団創立75周年記念特別展 / 編集根津美術館学芸部 = Preserving heritage : the Nezu collection : commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Nezu Museum : special exhibition / edited by the Curatorial Division, Nezu Museum=880 20 610-04/$1 根津美術館 Exhibitions
Nezu collection
Preserving heritage the Nezu collection : commemorating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Nezu Museum : special exhibition
Illustrated catalogue of ancient Chinese and Japanese paintings, screens, prints, Chinese porcelains, wood carvings, and gold lacquers from the collection of ... Bunkio Matsuki of Boston, Mass. ... : to be sold February 25th and 26th, 1910 ... / the Anderson Auction Company
