Papers kept by Benjamin K. Smith, an employee of the O'Brien Galleries (1912-1922), including: handwritten lists concerning paintings from the Samuel Nickerson collection on consignment from the Chicago Art Institute (1920-1921) and furniture bought for the O'Brien Galleries (photographs of furniture microfilmed on reel 4181); a December 1912 issue of ART, a monthly magazine published by the Galleries; sales catalogs and announcements for the O'Brien Art Galleries, the House of O'Brien, and M. O'Brien & Sons; a 1922 exhibition announcement for paintings by Helen West Heller at the Walden Book Shop with pencil sketches of a table "Spanish early 17th cent." on its reverse; a newspaper advertisement and an article (1941) "Gallery Fading from Picture as Art Declines in Chicago."
Biographical / Historical:
Art gallery; Chicago, Ill. and Scottsdale, Az. Chicago's first art gallery and one of the oldest family owned and operated gallery in the United States. It opened in 1855 as a frame shop, offering a variety of services to both artists and collectors. It was called by several names, including O'Brien's Art Emporium, O'Brien Art Galleries, O'Brien Galleries, House of O'Brien, and M. O'Brien & Sons. The gallery remained in Chicago until 1941, closed during the war, and resumed operation in Scottsdale, Arizona in the 1950s. Three generations of O'Briens (Martin, William, and William Jr.) ran the gallery before it moved to Arizona; all were committed to bringing culture and the visual arts to Chicago.
Provenance:
Donated by Barton Smith, 1986, son of Benjamin K. Smith (1872-1973), was an employee of the gallery from 1912 to 1922 prior to opening his own art appraisal business.
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.
Correspondence, business records, catalogs, clippings, and other material relating to Artists Equity Association, Inc. Also included is correspondence and printed material concerning Helen West Heller; color pencil drawings by Carl Sprinchorn; and papers of Schaeffer's husband, Themis De Vitis.
Biographical / Historical:
Painter; New York, N.Y. Was an officer in the Artists Equity Association.
Provenance:
Donated 1966-1974 by Henri Bella Schaeffer.
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:
Painting, Modern -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Correspondence, works of art, a journal and a sketchbook, exhibition announcements and catalogs, and photographs.
REEl D361: Correspondence, with Gold's teacher, Howard Giles, ca. 1930-1940, and others; a seven-page manuscript autobiography of Gold's friend, woodcut artist Helen West Heller; a sketchbook, 1949; a scrapbook containing clippings; photographs and slides; biographical information; and exhibition catalogs. Among the photos are a few of Giles with his students, and 1 of Gold teaching a children's art class, 1955.
UNMICROFILMED: Correspondence; photographs of Gold, and photographs, slides and negatives of her art work; a journal, 1958-1959; writings on Yorkshire terriers; four poems; four oil sketches, seven watercolors and a collage; exhibition catalogs and announcements; clippings; and miscellany.
Biographical / Historical:
Painter, watercolorist, collage artist, expert on Yorkshire terrier breed of dog; New York, N.Y. Also known as Fay Helfand Gold, Fay Goldmeigs, and Fay Helfand.
Provenance:
Donated 1962-1979 by Fay Gold.
Restrictions:
Microfilmed material must be viewed on microfilm. Access to unmicrofilmed material requires an appointment.
Occupation:
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Lithographers -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Collagists -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Artisans -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Engravers -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Included are extensive memoirs of William Henry Fox director of the museum for over 25 years; scattered records of the Brooklyn Institute, 1823-1873; catalogs for Brooklyn Museum exhibits (4 1/2 reels) and for exhibits held in various galleries and museums, primarily in N.Y. (14 reels); brief records of the Dept. of Painting and Sculpture primarily relating to Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington; records of the Dept. of Prints and Drawings, mainly regarding exhibitions, including correspondence, much of it with curator Una Johnson, correspondence with art dealers, files on artists, and statistics on exhibitions, 1936-1939; and records of the Registrar's office, 1933-1936, regarding the museum's involvement in the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration, mainly the Graphic Arts Division.
Dept. of Prints & Drawings artists files relate to: Grace Albee, Josef Albers, Glen Alps, Maxil Ballinger, Leonard Baskin, Wilfred Roloff Beny, Fiske Boyd, Robert Broner, Edmond Casarella, Minna Citron, Robert Conover, Worden Day, Arthur Deshaies, Werner Drewes, Antonio Frasconi, Leon Goldin, William Gropper, Stanley William Hayter, Helen West Heller, Margo Hoff, John Paul Jones, Misch Kohn, David Lang, Ezio Martinelli, Seong Moy, Danny Pierce, Rudolph Pozzatti, Peter Sager, Louis Schanker, Karl Schrag, Susanne Suba, Maltby Sykes, Peter Takal, John Von Wicht, Sylvia Wald, Hyman Warsager, Max Weber, Toshi Yoshida, Richard Zoellner, and others.
Other correspondents of note (reels BR21-22) include John Taylor Arms, Mary Cassatt (1 letter, 1903), George Overbury "Pop" Hart, Mrs. Gaston Lachaise, Joseph Pennell (re Whistler), and a group from art dealers.
Also included are papers of and related to Austrian artist Emil Fuchs, including letters regarding commissions, a list of books and prints, and miscellany.
Biographical / Historical:
The Brooklyn Museum had its roots in the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, founded 1823. The Museum was formed in 1889.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming 1964-1965 by Brooklyn Museum.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
