The records of the American Abstract Artists measure 1.6 linear feet and date from 1936 through 1983. The records document the founding of the organization in 1936, membership activities, general administration, and exhibitions via correspondence, member writings, financial and legal records, printed materials, and photographs.
Scope and Contents:
The records of the American Abstract Artists measure 1.6 linear feet and date from 1936 through 1983. The records document the founding of the organization in 1936, membership activities, general administration, and exhibitions via correspondence, member writings, financial and legal records, printed materials, and photographs.
Correspondence mainly relates to the exhibitions and member activities of the American Abstract Artists. There are letters from Josef Albers, Alexander Archipenko, Alexander Calder, Lyonel Feininger, Harry Holtzman, Piet Mondrian, and Irene Rousseau, President Emeritus of the American Abstract Artists. Official bulletins sent to members are also found among the correspondence.
Administrative records include founding prospectus, meeting minutes, lists of members, and drafts and amendments to the American Abstract Artists constitution.
Member writings are by Saburo Hasegawa, Henry Billings, Leo Rabkin, and Ruth Gurin. Financial and legal records include ledger books, insurance documents, and other financial material. Printed materials include announcements for the American Abstract Artists' annual exhibitions, as well as exhibition posters. Finally, there are two photographs of collage paintings by members.
Arrangement:
The arrangement and description in this finding aid refer to unmicrofilmed portions of the collection. Legacy microfilm arrangement is not reflected.
The collection is arranged as 6 series.
Series 1: Correspondence, 1937-1982 (Box 1; 0.3 linear feet)
Series 2: Administrative Records, 1937-1982 (Box 1; 0.3 linear feet)
Series 3: Member Writings, 1938-1954 (Box 1; 4 folders)
Series 4: Financial and Legal Records, 1942-1983 (Box 1-2; 0.5 linear feet)
Series 5: Printed Materials, 1936-1982 (Box 2-3, OV 4; 0.5 linear feet)
Series 6: Photographs, 1963 (Box 3; 1 folder)
Biographical / Historical:
The American Abstract Artists group was established in 1936 in New York, New York by a group of painters and sculptors. The American Abstract Artists contributed to the introduction of abstract art to the American public through exhibitions, publications, and lectures.
During the era of the formation of the American Abstract Artists, abstraction was not critically accepted. In 1937, the American Abstract Artists held their first exhibition at the Squibb Galleries in New York City. It received negative reactions from both the press and the public - the exhibition had a high attendance but poor reviews. The American Abstract Artists addressed the role of the critic through their publications, specifically the 1940 pamphlet "The Art Critics! How Do They Serve the Public? What Do They Say? How Much Do They Know?—Let's Look at the Record!"
The group was most active from 1937 to 1942, and supported the critical success of Abstract Expressionism in later decades.
Related Materials:
Among the holdings of the Archives of American Art are the Ruth Bowman Interviews of American Abstract Art members, 1963-1965, and Susan C. Larsen's Interviews of American Abstract Art members, 1973-1978.
Separated Materials:
The Archives of American Art also holds microfilm of material lent for microfilming available on 35 mm microfilm reels D539, N59-11, N69-72, N69-96, N69-97, N69-137, and N70-48. Much of this material and the papers on reels N70-48 and N59-11 were included in subsequent gifts, and may have been microfilmed again. Loaned materials not donated later are not described in the collection container inventory.
Provenance:
The Archives of American Art acquired the American Abstract Artists records in three installments by Presidents Emeriti of the American Abstract Artists. Alice Trumball Mason first lent papers for microfilming in 1959, and she later gifted the majority of this material in 1969. Following, Leo Rabkin donated records in 1969, and Irene Rousseau gave more papers in 1983.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C.
Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Visual Artists Coalition (New York, N.Y.) Search this
Extent:
0.2 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1964-1981
Scope and Contents:
Correspondence; insurance records; and exhibition announcements, catalogs, and posters.
Biographical / Historical:
Artists organization.
Provenance:
Donated 1982 by Marjorie Kanny, president and founder of Visual Artists Coalition.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Topic:
Art -- Societies, etc. -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Denslow, Dorothea H. (Dorothea Henrietta), 1900-1971 Search this
Extent:
0.6 Linear feet ((partially microfilmed on 1 reel))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1923-1979
Scope and Contents:
Correspondence, writings, notes, business records, scrapbooks, catalogs, and printed material.
REEL 2525: Letters; articles of incorporation; list of board members; a consignment book with prices; book, BLUEPRINT FOR THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN SCULPTURE, by Saul Swarz; blueprints for a planned studio; 101 Sculpture Center, Inc. catalogs; receipts, bills and financial materials; photographs; scrapbooks of Clay Club events; and printed materials.
UNMICROFILMED: Letters; writings and notes, including poetry by George McK. Roberts and Gabriel Kohn; invoices, contracts, and price lists; and exhibition catalogs, announcements, and clippings.
Biographical / Historical:
Art society; New York, N.Y. Established 1928 by Dorthea Denslow as the Clay Club. Was located on 8th Street in Manhattan. Incorporated as the Clay Club Sculpture Center in 1944, and changed to the Sculpture Center in 1950.
Provenance:
Donated 1981-1982 by Sculpture Center. Much of this material was gathered by Cleo Hartwig, an active member of the Sculpture Center.
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.
Topic:
Sculpture -- Societies, etc. -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
