Papers relating to Block's involvement as a supervisor in the WPA Federal Art Project New York City office and as a member of the Artists Congress.
Frames 825-889: Photographs of murals in New York City, many unidentified, and photographs of strike and picketing by Artists' Union [microfilm title WPA-FAP, New York].
Frames 1013-1300: Correspondence and memoranda regarding rejection of murals for the Harlem Hospital by black artists, and charges of racism and segregation in the FAP; memos and reports by Block on the Index of American Design in New York City, including a roster of master artists on the Index; memos relating to cutbacks and quotas on the FAP; memos from the Supervisors Association of the FAP; Artists Congress report to membership, November 1936; issues of AMERICAN ARTIST; Index of American Design exhibition catalogs; and other printed material.
Biographical / Historical:
Administrator, Federal Art Project; New York, N.Y.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming 1965 by Louis Block.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
United States -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945 -- Photographs
United States -- Social conditions -- 1933-1945 -- Photographs
Date:
1934-1937
Scope and Contents:
Photographs of Bloch's murals in the House of Detention for Women in New York City, for Madison House, and for George Washington High School; and photographs of unknown demonstrators.
Biographical / Historical:
Mural painter and painter, New York, N.Y. Died Mar. 13, 1999 Bloch was an artist for the Federal Art Project (New York, N.Y.).
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming by Lucienne Bloch.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Topic:
Mural painting and decoration -- 20th century -- Photographs Search this
Mural painting and decoration, American -- Photographs Search this
Typescript of an article, "Out of the Wookwork: A New Look at WPA-FAP Murals," with a checklist of New York City WPA-FAP murals.
Biographical / Historical:
Writer (New York, N.Y.)
Provenance:
Donated 1977 by Greta Berman.
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:
Mural painting and decoration (New York, N.Y.) Search this
Biographical material; personal and business correspondence, including correspondence with Francis V. O'Connor regarding her involvement with the WPA Federal Art Project; address books; draft of an unfinished autobiography and other published and unpublished writings; a transcript of an interview with Susan C. Larsen, dealing with American Abstract Artists; subject, teaching and exhibition files; photographs of Browne and her artwork; printed material on Browne and art in general; exhibition catalogs and announcements; and a manuscript of her 34-page article "Abstract Art and the W.P.A. in New York," commissioned by O'Connor, submitted to him in June 1969 and published in his THE NEW DEAL ART PROJECTS: AN ANTHOLOGY OF MEMOIRS.
Also included are 2 untranscribed cassette tapes of a monologue of Browne concerning her husband Byron Browne and Sam Kootz.
Biographical / Historical:
Painter, art critic, and educator; New York, N.Y. Married painter Byron Browne.
Provenance:
Donated 1978-1979 by Rosalind Bengelsdorf Browne and her son, Stephen B. Browne.
Restrictions:
Use of 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.
Occupation:
Art critics -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Topic:
Women artists -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Art -- Study and teaching -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Painting, Abstract -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
1.8 Linear feet ((partially microfilmed on 2 reels))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Interviews
Sketchbooks
Date:
1920-1982
Scope and Contents:
Biographical material, interviews, printed materials, writings, correspondence, art work, and photographs.
REEL 290: Eleven scripts for radio programs on the Index of American Design, broadcast in New York throughout 1940. Interviewees include: Rothschild, Holger Cahill, director of the WPA-FAP; Edith Halpert, director of American Folk Art Gallery; Katherine Coffey, curator of Newark Museum; Alice Winchester, editor of "Antiques"; and Theodore Starr.
REEL NDA 15: Press releases; pamphlet on permanent art programs; Index of American Design papers; a report concerning government art programs; memorandum to Gustave Von Groschwitz outlining a plan for new subject matter for FAP artists; and "Report to the Sculptors of the Federal Art Project" by Girolamo Piccoli.[Report to the sculptors...under microfilm title Girolamo Piccoli]
UNMICROFILMED: Writings on art and on the Index of American Design; radio scripts for the series "The American Artists" sponsored by Artists Equity, 1953; clippings, 1936-1982; a nearly complete set of his newsletter, THE PRAGMATIST IN ART, 1964-1978; material on Kenneth Hayes Miller; resumes, school transcripts and memorabilia; photographs of Rothschild and of his sculpture; correspondence concerning THE PRAGMATIST IN ART (1964-1978), The Index of American Design (1968-1973), his research on Miller (1964-1977) and other publications, his work for Artists Equity, and other matters; a sketchbook; and a drawing. Among the correspondents are Samuel Kramer, editor of "The Shipyard Worker," Peppino Mangravite, Katherine Schmidt Shubert, Betty Burroughs Woodhouse, and critics Rudolf Arnheim, John Canaday and Donald Kuspit.
Biographical / Historical:
Lincoln Rothschild (1902-1983) was a cculptor and writer in New York, N.Y. Rothschild was the director of the New York Unit of the Index of American Design, 1937-1940. He taught at Columbia University and Adelphi College, 1946-1950 and was the National Executive Director for Artists' Equity Association, 1951-57. He was the author of SCULPTURE THROUGH THE AGES (1942) TO KEEP ART ALIVE-KENNETH HAYES MILLER, AMERICAN PAINTER 1876-1956 (1974), FORMS AND THEIR MEANINGS IN WESTERN ART (1976) and numerous articles.
Other Title:
Girolamo Piccoli [microfilm title]
Provenance:
Material on reel NDA15 donated by Rothschild, 1964; remainder donated 1987 by his widow, Elisabeth Rothschild.
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.
United States. Work Projects Administration Search this
United States. Works Progress Administration Search this
Extent:
0.4 Linear feet ((partially microfilmed on 1 reel))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
1931-1942
Scope and Contents:
Reports and photographs of the Technical Service Division of the WPA-Federal Art Project, New York; publications of the New York City WPA Art Project including "The WPA Federal Art Project a Summary of Activities and Accomplishments," undated, "Oils, Watercolors, Prints & Sculpture by Artist Teachers of the Art Teachers Division," 1939, "Art in Action: An Exposition of Work in Progress by the New York City WPA Art Project," 1941, and "Technical Problems of the Artist: Canvas Adhesives," 1939, with clippings glued to the inside cover. (A duplicate pamphlet without the clippings was microfilmed on reel 3482). Also included are catalogs, announcements and newspaper clippings concerning Doktor's exhibitions, and the original manuscript to his novel, "The Laughing Torch" along with several rejection letters from publishers.
Biographical / Historical:
Painter; head of the Restoration, Installation and Technical Service Division of the Federal Art Project (FAP) in New York City. Died 1995.
Provenance:
Donated by Raphael Doktor, 1993-1995. An additional copy of "Technical Problems of the Artist" was donated ca. 1970 and microfilmed on reel 3482.
Restrictions:
All except mss.: "Technical Problems of the Artist: Canvas Adhesives" (microfilm reel 3482) is: Unmicrofilmed; use requires an appointment and is limited to AAA's Washington, D.C. storage facility.
An interview of Audrey McMahon conducted 1964 Nov. 18, by Harlan Phillips, for the Archives of American Art.
McMahon speaks of her pre-Federal Art Project experiences; her early involvement with the WPA; how it functioned; and political problems with the WPA. She recalls Juliana Force, Edward Bruce, Holger Cahill.
Biographical / Historical:
Audry McMahon (1900?-1981) served under Holger Cahill as Regional Director of the WPA Federal Art Project for New York and New Jersey from 1935-1939.
General:
Originally recorded on 1 sound tape reel. Reformatted in 2010 as 2 digital wav files. Duration is 2 hrs., 21 min.
Provenance:
This interview conducted as part of the Archives of American Art's New Deal and the Arts project, which includes over 400 interviews of artists, administrators, historians, and others involved with the federal government's art programs and the activities of the Farm Security Administration in the 1930s and early 1940s.
New Deal and the Arts Oral History Project Search this
Extent:
29 Pages (Transcript)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Pages
Sound recordings
Interviews
Date:
1964 December 5
Scope and Contents:
An interview of Serge Trubach conducted 1964 December 5, by Mary Fuller McChesney, for the Archives of American Art New Deal and the Arts Project.
Biographical / Historical:
Serge Trubach (1907-1979) was a painter from Sausalito, California and New York, N.Y. Trubach worked for the Federal Art Project in New York.
General:
Originally recorded on 1 sound tape reel. Reformatted in 2010 as 2 digital wav files. Duration is 2 hr., 2 min.
Provenance:
Conducted as part of the Archives of American Art's New Deal and the Arts project, which includes over 400 interviews of artists, administrators, historians, and others involved with the federal government's art programs and the activities of the Farm Security Administration in the 1930s and early 1940s.
Restrictions:
Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.
An interview of F. Wynn Graham conducted 1965 July 22, by Sylvia Loomis, for the Archives of American Art. Graham speaks of her background and her education at the Art Students League; working on lithography at the Harlem Arts Center; joining the WPA Federal Art Project (FAP) in 1935; working on the easel painting project; the Artists' Union; the effects of the FAP on her career and on art; and her post-FAP career. She recalls Juliana Force.
Biographical / Historical:
F. Wynn Graham is a painter and printmaker in Queens, N.Y. She painted for the Federal Art Project.
General:
An unrelated interview of Donald B. Goodall (7/8/65) conducted by S. Loomis is also on this tape.
Provenance:
Conducted as part of the Archives of American Art's New Deal and the Arts project, which includes over 400 interviews of artists, administrators, historians, and others involved with the federal government's art programs and the activities of the Farm Security Administration in the 1930s and early 1940s.
Restrictions:
Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.
An interview of Eugenie Gershoy conducted 1964 Oct. 15, by Mary McChesney, for the Archives of American Art's New Deal and the Arts Oral History Project.
Gershoy speaks of her background and education; studying under John Flannagan at the Art Students League; working for the WPA Federal Art Project in New York City; sculptors she associated with; her involvement in protest demonstrations; her feelings about government support for the arts; and her post-FAP career.
Biographical / Historical:
Eugenie Gershoy (1901?-1983 or 6) was a sculptor from New York, N.Y.
Provenance:
This interview conducted as part of the Archives of American Art's New Deal and the Arts project, which includes over 400 interviews of artists, administrators, historians, and others involved with the federal government's art programs and the activities of the Farm Security Administration in the 1930s and early 1940s.
Restrictions:
Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.
An interview of Ruth Gikow conducted by Harlan Phillips in 1964 for the Archives of American Art.
Gikow speaks of being born in Russia; mural painting at the Bronx Hospital for the Federal Art Project; interest in graphics; the Artists Congress; the Index of American Design; and her thoughts on contemporary painting. She recalls John Stuart Curry and Gene Morey.
Biographical / Historical:
Painter, printmaker; New York, N.Y.
General:
Unrelated interviews of Ad Reinhardt and Ralph and Bena Mayer conducted by H. Phillips are also on this tape.
Provenance:
Conducted as part of the Archives of American Art's New Deal and the Arts project, which includes over 400 interviews of artists, administrators, historians, and others involved with the federal government's art programs and the activities of the Farm Security Administration in the 1930s and early 1940s.
Restrictions:
Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.
An interview of Ted Gilien conducted 1965 Mar. 3, by Betty Hoag, for the Archives of American Art. Gilien speaks of his background and education; getting on the WPA Federal Art Project; starting out as an assistant mural painter on Ellis Island; his military service in World War II as a combat artist; working in New York City and then in California after World War II; experimenting in screenwriting and novel writing; recurring themes in his paintings; his feelings about the FAP; art criticism; the politics of government support for the arts; camaraderie among artists during the WPA years. He recalls Leonard Bocour and Jack Levine.
Biographical / Historical:
Ted Gilien (1914-1967) was a painter and muralist in New York, N.Y. and Los Angeles, Calif.
General:
An unrelated interview of Charles White (3/9/65) conducted by B. Hoag is also on one tape.
An interview of F. J. Schwankovsky (3/1/65) conducted by B. Hoag is also on one tape.
Provenance:
This interview conducted as part of the Archives of American Art's New Deal and the Arts project, which includes over 400 interviews of artists, administrators, historians, and others involved with the federal government's art programs and the activities of the Farm Security Administration in the 1930s and early 1940s.
2 photographs of Spagna, 22 of his painting and 5 of Spagna's New York City WPA-FAP children's art classes; 2 sketches; 2 business letters; exhibition catalogs; clippings; and 14 items relating to the Artist's Cultural Society, including a manifesto demanding that "the cultural man stand up and meet this great anti-cultural force and stop it from crushing the artist."
Biographical / Historical:
Painter; New York, N.Y.
Provenance:
Donated 1977 by Vincent Spagna.
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.
Occupation:
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Topic:
Children's art -- New York N.Y. -- Photographs Search this
National Society of Mural Painters (New York, N.Y.) Search this
Extent:
80 Items ((on partial microfilm reel))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Place:
United States -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945 -- New York (N.Y.)
United States -- Social conditions -- 1933-1945 -- New York (N.Y.)
Date:
1934-1940
Scope and Contents:
Official correspondence consisting mainly of letters received by Norman while he was president of the Society of Mural Painters and chairman of the Committee on Mural Painting for the Fine Arts Federation of New York; membership lists; agenda; press releases; newsletters; and clippings relating to the National Society of Mural Painters and the Federal Art Project in New York City.
Biographical / Historical:
Mural and portrait painter, London, England and New York City. Painted murals for the Federal Art Project of the Work Projects Administration.
Provenance:
The lender, Geoffrey Norman, lent his papers for microfilming.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
United Office and Professional Workers of America Search this
Extent:
340 Items ((on partial microfilm reel))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Place:
United States -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945 -- New York (N.Y.)
United States -- Social conditions -- 1933-1945 -- New York (N.Y.)
Date:
1937-1941
Scope and Contents:
Correspondence; mimeographed letters; bulletins; pamphlets; press releases; form letters; minutes; newsletters; and other printed materials relating to artists's organizations and unions in New York City, particularly United American Artists, United Office and Professional Workers of America, and the Federal Art Project.
Biographical / Historical:
Painter, printmaker; Queens, New York. Graham appears to have been involved as an activist for greater federal support for the arts. She painted for the Federal Art Project.
Provenance:
The relation of the lender, Lew Greenfield, to F. Wynn Graham is uncertain.
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.
119 negatives, primarily of works of art by such artists as Ilya Bolotowsky, Lillian Dunn, Louis Ferstadt, Lillian Dangler, Marion Greenwood, Milton Hebald, Allen Hermes, Charles T. Henry, Howard Lee Irwin, Eitaro Ishigaki, James Michael Newell, Lou Osborne, G. Pettet, Ruth Reeves, and John Sloan. Also included are negatives of artists Eitaro Ishigaki, James Michael Newell, Lillian Dunn, the children of Ruth Reeves; and of a sketch of Julien Huxley by Marion Greenwood. 102 of these negatives have been made into prints.
Biographical / Historical:
Photographer; New York, N.Y. Director of Photography Division New York WPA/Federal Arts Project.
Provenance:
The donor, Mrs. Tanya Gutieri, widow of Ralph Gutieri, was contacted through Francis V. O'Connor.
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.
Occupation:
Photographers -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Photographs of the paintings, sketches and murals Egri did for Brooklyn College, a project of the FAP.
Biographical / Historical:
Ted Egri (1913-2010) was a mural painter and sculptor from New York, N.Y. and Taos, N.M. Taught at Kansas City Art Institute and the University of Wyoming. Preferred media: metal, wood, and mixed media.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming 1964 by Ted Egri.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Topic:
Federal aid to the arts -- New York N.Y. -- Photographs Search this
Federal aid to the public welfare -- New York N.Y. -- Photographs Search this
Art and state -- New York (State) -- New York -- Photographs Search this
Mural painting and decoration, American -- Photographs Search this
14 Items (photoprints (on partial microfilm reel), b&w, 20 1/2 x 25 1/2 cm.)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
[ca.1937-1938]
Scope and Contents:
Copyprints of photographs of two WPA murals by Karp, "The Normal Pursuits of Man-Production," 1937, in Bellevue Hospital, NYC, and "Armed with Learning and Reality, Looking from the Past to the Future," 1938, in the Hebrew Orphans Asylum, NYC. The photographs show Karp and assistants at work on the murals and the completed murals. Also included are photographs of a design for a PWAP mural, "Electrical Production and Direction" (never executed in mural scale).
Biographical / Historical:
Painter, mural painter; New York, N.Y.
Provenance:
Transferred from the National Museum of American Art, Department of 20th Century Painting and Sculpture, 1985.
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.
Federal Art Project. Graphic Arts Division Search this
United States. Works Progress Administration Search this
United States. Work Projects Administration Search this
Extent:
250 Items ((on partial microfilm reel))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Place:
United States -- Economic conditions -- New York (N.Y.)
Date:
1935-1938
Scope and Contents:
Printed material including Federal Art Project and Works Progress Administration publications, transcript of a radio talk show, exhibition catalogs, newspaper clippings, and a Federal Art Print calendar, 1938.
Biographical / Historical:
Director, Graphic Arts Division, Federal Art Project, New York, N.Y.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming 1964 by Gustave Von Groschwitz.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Occupation:
Arts administrators -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Topic:
Federal aid to the arts -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Art and state -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
New Deal, 1933-1939 -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Graphic arts -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
