The papers of curator and art historian Ruth Fine measure 24.1 linear feet and 22.43 GB and date from 1929 to 2016, with the bulk of the records dating from the 1950s to 2016. Fine's career is documented through correspondence with art historians, museum professionals, and notable figures; files pertaining to writing projects, lectures and speeches, her time at the National Gallery of Art, and research subjects; association and membership records; and printed and digital material. The bulk of the collection is composed of artist and subject files, which include correspondence, printed and digital material, exhibition and writing files, photographs, and some artwork. These records include a significant number of audiovisual recordings, including dozens of interviews with artists and others. Notable within the collection are extensive interviews documenting the works of Romare Bearden, Crown Point Press, and Gemini G.E.L.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of curator and art historian Ruth Fine measure 24.1 linear feet and 22.43 GB and date from 1929 to 2016, with the bulk of the records dating from the 1950s to 2016. Fine's career is documented through correspondence with art historians, museum professionals, and notable figures; files pertaining to writing projects, lectures and speeches, her time at the National Gallery of Art, and research subjects; association and membership records; and printed and digital material. The bulk of the collection is composed of artist and subject files, which include correspondence, printed and digital material, exhibition and writing files, photographs, and some artwork. These records include a significant number of audiovisual recordings, including dozens of interviews with artists and others. Notable within the collection are extensive interviews documenting the works of Romare Bearden, Crown Point Press, and Gemini G.E.L.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged as 10 series.
Series 1: Biographical Material, 1953-2013 (Box 1, 5 folders)
Series 2: Correspondence, 1958-2014 (Box 1, 0.5 linear feet)
Series 3: Interviews, 1970-2009 (Box 1-2, 0.5 linear feet)
Series 4: Writings, 1979-2013 (Box 2, 0.8 linear feet, ER01-ER04; 5.44 GB)
Series 5: Lectures and Speeches, 1963-2012 (Box 3-4, 1.8 linear feet, ER05-ER08; 0.292 GB)
Series 6: National Gallery of Art Administrative Records, 1971-2011 (Box 4-5, 0.8 linear feet)
Series 7: Artist Files, 1947-2016 (Box 5-18, OV 25, 15 linear feet, ER09-ER26; 14.11 GB)
Series 8: Subject Files, 1929-2014 (Box 19-22, 3.5 linear feet, ER27-ER29; 0.604 GB)
Series 9: Association and Membership Files, 1962-2014 (Box 22-23, 0.5 linear feet, ER30; 1.99 GB)
Series 10: Printed Material, 1936-2015 (Box 23-24, 1 linear foot)
Biographical / Historical:
Ruth Fine (1941-) is a curator and art historian most active in Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fine received her B.F.A from the Philadelphia College of Art (now the University of the Arts, 1962), an MFA from the University of Pennsylvania (1964), and was a student at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture (1961). She was an instructor at the Philadelphia College of Art from 1965 through 1969, and at Beaver College (now Arcadia University) from 1968 to 1972 and 1978 to 1979, and also taught at the University of Vermont (1976, 1977). Fine continued lecturing on a variety of topics throughout her career.
As an artist, Fine's exhibitions include those at the Philadelphia Art Alliance, Beaver College, Ryder University, Bryn Mawr College, Bennington College, and Anna Leonowens Gallery in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was awarded a grant from the Ingram Merrill Foundation for work in etching (1989), and had studio residencies at The Vermont Studio Center (1992) and the Anni and Josef Albers Foundation (2000).
Provenance:
The collection was donated by Ruth Fine in 2017.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Access to original papers and audio visual material requires an appointment, and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
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.
Ruth Fine Papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
The collection is open for research. Access to original papers and audio visual material requires an appointment, and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Ruth Fine Papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
Wayne Thiebaud and Ruth Fine. Interview about Crown Point Press with Wayne Thiebaud, 1996 June 12. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Bob Feldman and Ruth Fine. Interview about Kathan Brown and Crown Point Press with Bob Feldman, 1996 February 16. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Robert Kushner and Ruth Fine. Interview about Kathan Brown and Crown Point Press with Bob Kushner, 1996 June 6. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Constance Lewallen and Ruth Fine. Interview about Kathan Brown and Crown Point Press with Connie Lewallen, 1996 June 12. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Daria Sywulak and Ruth Fine. Interview about Crown Point Press with Daria Sywulak, 1996 January 11. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Kathan Brown and Ruth Fine. Interview about Crown Point Press with Kathan Brown, 1996 January 11. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Kathan Brown and Ruth Fine. Interview about Crown Point Press with Kathan Brown, 1996 June 9-12. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Wayne Thiebaud and Ruth Fine. Conversation with Wayne Thiebaud and Kathan Brown about Crown Point Press, National Gallery of Art, 1997 June 8. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Kathan Brown and Ruth Fine. Conversation about Crown Point Press with Kathan Brown, undated. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Kevin Powis Parker and Ruth Fine. Interview about Crown Point Press with Kevin Parker, 1996 June 11. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Margaret Roeden and Ruth Fine. Interview about Crown Point Press with Margaret Roeden, undated. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Mari Andrews and Ruth Fine. Interview about Crown Point Press with Mari Andrews, 1996 January 11. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Karen McCready and Ruth Fine. Interview about Crown Point Press with Karen McCready, 1996 April 30. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Nancy Anello and Ruth Fine. Interview about Crown Point Press with Nancy Anello, 1996 June 12. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Pat Steir and Ruth Fine. Interview about Crown Point Press with Pat Steir, 1996 April 24. Ruth Fine papers, 1929-2016. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
