Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Search Results

Collections Search Center
6 documents - page 1 of 1

Oral history interview with Nathan Halper, 1980 July 8-Aug. 14

Interviewee:
Halper, Nathan, 1907-1983  Search this
Interviewer:
Brown, Robert F  Search this
Subject:
Dickinson, Edwin Walter  Search this
Hawthorne, Charles Webster  Search this
Hofmann, Hans  Search this
Kootz, Samuel Melvin  Search this
Motherwell, Robert  Search this
Beachcombers (Organization)  Search this
H.C. Gallery (Provincetown, Mass.)  Search this
H.C.E. Gallery (Provincetown, Mass.)  Search this
Type:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Nathan Halper, 1980 July 8-Aug. 14. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art, American  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)12805
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)212704
AAA_collcode_halper80
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_212704
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Ivan C. Karp

Interviewee:
Karp, Ivan C., 1926-2012  Search this
Interviewer:
Cummings, Paul  Search this
Names:
Club (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Hansa Gallery (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
O.K. Harris Gallery (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Richard Green Gallery (New York, N.Y.)  Search this
Artschwager, Richard, 1923-2013  Search this
Bellamy, Richard  Search this
Castelli, Leo  Search this
Johns, Jasper, 1930-  Search this
Lichtenstein, Roy, 1923-1997  Search this
Rauschenberg, Robert, 1925-2008  Search this
Rosenquist, James, 1933-  Search this
Scull, Robert C.  Search this
Sonnabend, Ileana  Search this
Twombly, Cy, 1928-  Search this
Warhol, Andy, 1928-1987  Search this
Extent:
1 Sound tape reel (Sound recordings: (2 hours 30 min.), 7 in.)
78 Pages (Transcript)
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Sound tape reels
Pages
Sound recordings
Interviews
Date:
1969 March 12
Scope and Contents:
An interview of Ivan C. Karp conducted 1969 March 12, by Paul Cummings, for the Archives of American Art at the Leo Castelli Gallery.
Karp discusses the invention of the names "OK Harris" and "Green Gallery"; his work for Leo Castelli including gallery exhibitions, expenses, collectors, critics and staff; the work of Richard Artschwager, Jasper Johns, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, James Rosenquist, Cy Twombly, Gerry Vanderweil, Andy Warhol, and others; The Club; "soft art"; and the art market. He recalls Richard Bellamy, Ileana Sonnabend, Robert C. Scull, and others. Karp speaks of growing up in the boroughs of New York City, his reading and writing interests, commercial film making, his work for the Hansa Gallery and Martha Jackson, summers in Provincetown, Massachusetts, and the art scene in New York City in the late 1950s.
Biographical / Historical:
Ivan C. Karp (1926- ) is an art dealer and director of the OK Harris Gallery in New York, New York.
Provenance:
This interview is part of the Archives' Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.
Restrictions:
Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.
Occupation:
Art dealers -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Gallery directors -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Topic:
Art -- Collectors and collecting -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this
Optical art  Search this
Pop art  Search this
Soft sculpture -- United States  Search this
Genre/Form:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Identifier:
AAA.karp69
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw937490cff-69fe-4cbc-b150-25706f2b3bb9
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-karp69
Online Media:

Donald F. Witherstine papers

Creator:
Witherstine, Donald F. (Donald Frederick), 1896-1961  Search this
Names:
Gallery 200 (Provincetown, Mass.)  Search this
Shore Studios (Provincetown, Mass.)  Search this
Burlingame, Sheila Ellsworth, 1894-  Search this
Extent:
0.2 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
[ca. 1936-1953]
Scope and Contents:
A file on sculptor Sheila Burlingame containing 2 letters, a list of her sculpture, exhibition catalogs and announcements, newspaper and magazine clippings, 2 photographs of her sculpture MOUNTAIN GOAT and a photograph of a wood carving THE TRIUMPHANT CHRIST; a receipt from Gallery 200; newspaper clippings about Provincetown's Shore Studios, Gallery 200, and the Forum 49 lecture series held at Gallery 200; a schedule of Forum 49 events; a newsletter from the New England Chapter of Artists Equity Association, 1952; and a notice about Acorn Gallery's plans to exhibit contemporary art in the Philadelphia area.
Biographical / Historical:
Gallery director, etcher, blockprinter and painter; Provincetown, Mass. Directed Shore Studios and Gallery 200. Forum 49 was founded by Fritz Bultman, Cecil Hemley and Weldon Kees in 1949.
Provenance:
Donated 1984 by Kay Witherstine Gilman, Witherstine's daughter.
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:
Gallery directors -- Massachusetts -- Provincetown  Search this
Identifier:
AAA.withdona
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw934cceec7-0d36-46bc-afc7-7ec41109e71e
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-withdona

Nathan Halper business records, 1952-1979

Creator:
Halper, Nathan, 1907-1983  Search this
Subject:
Stankiewicz, Richard  Search this
Smith, David  Search this
Avery, Milton  Search this
Brodie, Gandy  Search this
Botkin, Henry  Search this
Caro, Anthony  Search this
Motherwell, Robert  Search this
Cuddihy, John Murray  Search this
Gottlieb, Adolph  Search this
Hartley, Marsden  Search this
Hofmann, Hans  Search this
Kootz, Samuel Melvin  Search this
National Association of Women Artists (U.S.)  Search this
Sun Gallery (Provincetown, Mass.)  Search this
H.C. Gallery (Provincetown, Mass.)  Search this
H.C.E. Gallery (Provincetown, Mass.)  Search this
Kootz Gallery (N.Y.)  Search this
Type:
Photographs
Gallery records
Visitors' books
Citation:
Nathan Halper business records, 1952-1979. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art -- Massachusetts -- Provincetown  Search this
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- United States  Search this
Theme:
Art Market  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)9671
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)211879
AAA_collcode_halpnath
Theme:
Art Market
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_211879
Online Media:

Nathan Halper business records

Creator:
Halper, Nathan  Search this
Names:
H.C. Gallery (Provincetown, Mass.)  Search this
H.C.E. Gallery (Provincetown, Mass.)  Search this
Kootz Gallery (N.Y.)  Search this
National Association of Women Artists (U.S.)  Search this
Sun Gallery (Provincetown, Mass.)  Search this
Avery, Milton, 1885-1965  Search this
Botkin, Henry, 1896-1983  Search this
Brodie, Gandy, 1925-1975  Search this
Caro, Anthony, 1924-  Search this
Cuddihy, John Murray  Search this
Gottlieb, Adolph, 1903-1974  Search this
Hartley, Marsden, 1877-1943  Search this
Hofmann, Hans, 1880-1966  Search this
Kootz, Samuel Melvin, 1898-1982  Search this
Motherwell, Robert  Search this
Smith, David, 1906-1965  Search this
Stankiewicz, Richard, 1922-1983  Search this
Extent:
4.2 Linear feet
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Photographs
Gallery records
Visitors' books
Date:
1952-1979
Summary:
Records of four of Nathan Halper's Provincetown galleries measure 4.2 linear feet and date from 1952-1979. The records relate to Kootz Gallery, H-C Gallery, HCE Gallery, and Sun Gallery - all based in Provincetown. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence with artists, estate executors, collectors, galleries, and museums. There are also scattered business and financial records documenting operations and sales, photographs and slides, printed materials, and one poem. Correspondents include Milton Avery, Anthony Caro, John Murray Cuddihy, Marsden Hartley, Hans Hofmann, Samuel Kootz, Robert Motherwell, David Smith, Richard Stankeiwicz, and many others.
Scope and Contents note:
Records of four of Nathan Halper's Provincetown galleries measure 4.2 linear feet and date from 1952-1979. The records relate to Kootz Gallery, H-C Gallery, HCE Gallery, and Sun Gallery - all based in Provincetown. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence with artists, estate executors, collectors, galleries, and museums. There are also scattered business and financial records documenting operations and sales, photographs and slides, printed materials, and one poem. Correspondents include Milton Avery, Anthony Caro, John Murray Cuddihy, Marsden Hartley, Hans Hofmann, Samuel Kootz, Robert Motherwell, David Smith, Richard Stankeiwicz, and many others.

Biographical material consists of one literary poem.

The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence with many artists, estate executors, gallery partners, collectors, galleries, and museums regarding works of art, sales, account balances, requests for information, and general updates.

Scattered business records are found for all four galleries and include a Kootz Gallery guest register, address books, corporation and partnership agreements for the Kootz, H-C, HCE, and Sun galleries, insurance policies, and a Kootz Gallery employee file. Both the guest register and address books were also used as general business related notebooks.

Financial material consists of inventory stock books, price lists and sales, checkbook registers, and general expense invoices/receipts for the four galleries. The undated stock books list artists' names, general artwork identification information, and prices. Additional sales information is found in price lists, correspondence, sales notebooks, and checkbook registers. Invoices and receipts also document general operating expenses.

Printed material includes newspaper clippings on the Provincetown art scene and major artists represented by Halper, three exhibition catalogs, and an event calendar from the National Association of Women Artists.

Photographic material consists of prints and slides of the Kootz, H-C, and HCE galleries; black and white and color prints of exhibitions by Harry Botkin, Adolph Gottlieb, Robert Motherwell, and Hans Hofmann; and black and white prints, color slides, and transparencies of select works of art shown at the galleries.
Arrangement note:
The collection is arranged as 6 series:

Missing Title

Series 1: Biographical Material, circa 1953-1970 (Box 1; 1 folder)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1952-1979 (Boxes 1-2; 1.3 linear feet)

Series 3: Business Records, 1953-1970 (Box 2; .7 linear feet)

Series 4: Financial Material, 1953-1970 (Boxes 3-4; 2 linear feet)

Series 5: Printed Material, 1952-1976 (Box 5; 3 folders)

Series 6: Photographic Material, 1953-1969 (Box 5; 11 folders)
Biographical/Historical note:
Nathan Halper (1907-1983) worked in Provincetown, Massachusetts as a contemporary American art dealer, writer, and James Joyce scholar.

Nathan Halper first moved to Provincetown, Massachusetts in 1936 where he met and eventually married his wife, Helen Marjorie Windust Halper. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, their circle of friends included artists, writers, and academics drawn to the Provincetown art colony. Through friendships with Adolph Gottlieb and Fritz Bultman, Halper was introduced to Hans Hofmann, his students, and other abstract expressionist artists.

In 1949, Halper was invited to give a talk on James Joyce at Forum 49, a Provincetown summer lecture series on the future of art organized by Weldon Kees and held in a gallery at 200 Commercial Street. Speakers ranged from Jackson Pollock to poet laureate Howard Nemerov, and the series also presented one of the first major exhibitions of abstract expressionism in America. In 1952, Halper became the treasurer of the Provincetown Art Association (est. 1914), an influential social nexus that connected artists, galleries, patrons, and the public through memberships and annual events.

In 1953, he entered into a partnership with New York art dealer Sam Kootz and helped establish the Kootz Gallery in Provincetown. Their stable initially consisted of abstract expressionists Kootz represented in New York: Robert Motherwell, Hans Hofmann, Adolph Gottlieb, Fritz Bultman, and William Baziotes. Halper and Kootz mutually agreed to dissolve their partnership in 1954 and Halper opened the H-C Gallery with John Murray Cuddihy in 1955. After Cuddihy's departure at the end of the 1956 season, Halper opened the HCE Gallery (1957-1967), a name inspired by Joyce's Finnegan's Wake. In 1962, Halper entered into a one year partnership with Noah Goldowsky to help finance and run the Sun Gallery.

After the dissolution of the Kootz Gallery, Halper continued to represent Motherwell and, for a short time, Gottlieb in the Provincetown area, but quickly added other artists to the HCE stable. Through its relationship with New York dealers, such as Martha Jackson Gallery, Andre Emmerich Gallery, and Waddington Galleries, HCE was able to exhibit and sell works by Milton Avery, Gandy Brodie, Anthony Caro, Edwin Dickinson, Marsden Hartley, Hans Hoffman, Wolf Kahn, William King, Jan Muller, Elie Nadelman, David Smith, Richard Stankiewicz, Tal Streeter, and Anthony Vevers, among others.
Related Archival Materials note:
Also found in the Archives of American Art are the Kootz Gallery records and oral history interviews with Nathan Halper conducted by Dorothy Seckler, July 17, 1963 and by Robert Brown, July 8-August 14, 1980. Columbia University also holds Nathan Halper's papers concerning his literary scholarly work.
Provenance:
The Nathan Halper business records were donated by Nathan Halper in 1979. Additional materials were donated in 1983 and 1984 by his wife Helen Marjorie Windust Halper.
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.
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.
Occupation:
Art dealers  Search this
Gallery directors -- Massachusetts -- Provincetown  Search this
Topic:
Art -- Massachusetts -- Provincetown  Search this
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- United States  Search this
Function:
Art galleries, Commercial -- Massachusetts
Genre/Form:
Photographs
Gallery records
Visitors' books
Citation:
Nathan Halper business records, 1952-1979. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Identifier:
AAA.halpnath
See more items in:
Nathan Halper business records
Archival Repository:
Archives of American Art
GUID:
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw95a6a9a4b-cbbf-47a1-9f4e-54b3415e3840
EDAN-URL:
ead_collection:sova-aaa-halpnath
Online Media:

Oral history interview with Nathan Halper, 1963 July 17

Interviewee:
Halper, Nathan, 1907-1983  Search this
Interviewer:
Seckler, Dorothy Gees, 1910-1994  Search this
Type:
Sound recordings
Interviews
Citation:
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Nathan Halper, 1963 July 17. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Topic:
Art, American  Search this
Art dealers -- Massachusetts -- Provincetown -- Interviews  Search this
Record number:
(DSI-AAA_CollID)11963
(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)214107
AAA_collcode_halper63
Data Source:
Archives of American Art
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:AAADCD_oh_214107
Online Media:

Modify Your Search







or


Narrow By
  • Archives of American Art