The papers of Vera Berdich measure 3 linear feet and date from circa 1912-1990, with the bulk from 1947-1989. The papers document Berdich's career through
biographical material; correspondence with friends, family, artists, universities, and galleries; writings which include sabattical notes and statements on printmaking; exhibition and professional files; financial records; printed materials, artwork; photographs and slides.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of Vera Berdich measure 3 linear feet and date from circa 1912-1990, with the bulk from 1947-1989. The papers document Berdich's career as a printmaker and educator through biographical material such as resumes; personal correspondence consisting of letters, some of which are illustrated, from friends, colleagues, and family, including Barbara Aubin, Kathleen Blackshear, Whitney Halstead, Thomas Kapsalis, Kathryn Kucera, Denis Loy, Ethel Spears, Lynn Webster and Berdich's sisters and cousins; professional correspondence from galleries and museums including the Art Insitute of Chigago, the George Binet Gallery (N.Y.C.), the Yamada Gallery (Japan), the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Illinois Arts Council. Writings include notes from her sabbatical in San Francisco and on various pieces of her artwork for an unnamed book project. Other writings by Berdich include statements on the printmaking techniques photo etching, clichés verres, and gum printing and a syllabus for an etching class. Writings by others include a transcript of a radio review of one of Berdich's exhibitions. Also found are exhibition files, professional files that document Berdich's involvement at different art institutions and organizations such the Art Institute of Chicago and it's affiliated college and personal business records. The papers also include printed material such as exhibition catalogs and newsclippings related to Berdich's exhibitions as well as select galleries, exhibitions and topics of interest such as women in the arts; four sketchbooks; and photographs of Berdich, her friends, family, other artists and works of art. A majority of the photographs are annotated on the back. Additionally, the series contains slides of Verdich's artwork over the years.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as nine series
Series 1: Biographical Material, 1942-1983 (0.1 Linear feet: Box 1)
Series 2: Correspondence, 1947-1989 (1.4 Linear feet: Box 1-2)
Series 3: Writings, 1960-1985 (0.1 Linear feet: Box 2)
Series 4: Exhibition Files, 1963-1982 (0.1 Linear feet: Box 2)
Series 5: Professional Files, 1946-1989 (0.2 Linear feet: Box 2)
Series 6: Personal Business, circa 1950-1990 (0.1 Linear feet: Box 2)
Series 7: Printed Material, 1943-1989 (0.7 Linear feet: Box 2-3)
Series 8: Artwork, 1957-1965 (0.1 Linear feet: Box 3)
Series 9: Photographic Material, circa 1912-1989 (0.4 Linear feet: Box 3)
Biographical / Historical:
Vera Berdich (1915–2003) was a printmaker and educator from Chicago, Illinois. Growing up, Berdich and her family moved frequently, often settling down in areas with a close proximity to nature which would go on to inspire Berdich's work. Following grammar school Berdich went on to study at the School of the Art Institute (SAIC) graduating with a BA in 1946. A year later Berdich was hired by SAIC, where she founded the printmaking department and continued teaching until she retired in 1979. As a professor, Berdich formed important relationships with fellow professors Kathleen Blackshear and Whitney Halstead.
Over the course of her career Berdich exhibited at galleries and museums throughout the United States and in Europe, such as the Museum of Modern Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1979 SAIC held a retrospective exhibition of her work. Her prints can be found in the collections of a number of institutions including the Library of Congress, the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Provenance:
Donated 1992 by Vera Berdich.
Restrictions:
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact 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.
Vera Berdich Papers, circa 1912-1990, bulk 1947-1989. 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.
