An interview of Robert Beverly Hale conducted 1984 Mar. 7, by Robert F. Brown, for the Archives of American Art.
Hale speaks of his childhood years living a bohemian life; personal and family friend Marcel Duchamp; his time as a student at the Columbia School of Architecture; being a biology student at Columbia University; studying painting in Paris at Fontainebleau; assisting Waldo Pierce as a secretary; the gold medal from the American Poetry Society; running the publicity department of the Arts Students League; connection to the Metropolitan Museum of Art; Art News magazine critic in 1930s; tenure in the American wing of the Met; friend Jackson Pollack and the art scene at East Hampton; discussion of drawing the planes of the human body; and writing a book on figure drawing. Hale also recalls Bertrand Russell, Julian Huxley, Henry Oliver Walker, Phil Wiley, George Bridgman, William McNulty, Stuart Klonis, Sam Lewis, Edward Root, Walter Baker, Joseph Hirshhorn, Alan Priest, Albert Gardner, Henry Geldzahler, James Rorimer; David Rockefeller, Alfred Barr, and Terrance Coyle.
Biographical / Historical:
Robert Beverly Hale (1901-1985) was an administrator, instructor, and art historian from New York, N.Y.
General:
Originally recorded on 1 sound cassette. Reformatted in 2010 as 2 digital wav files. Duration is 1 hr., 7 min.
Provenance:
This interview is part of the Archives of American Art 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.
A sketchbook of 34 sketches in pencil and ink of sailboats, sailing ships and sailors. Only one sketch is dated: August 31, 1929 and it depicts a sailboat race. It was attributed to McNulty by the Archives of American Art, however other names are inscribed on the covers of the book, along with that of "McNulty 1929." These include "Chas Pearce," "Russell H. Tarr, 72 Barrow, Walker 3796," and "Mr. D.F. Harris & Co., Wharf St, ? Sea Co."
Biographical / Historical:
Painter, illustrator, etcher and art instructor. Worked in New York City and Rockport, Massachusetts. Born in Ogden, Utah. Studied at Art Students League for 3 months. Taught illustration and composition at Art Students League from 1931 on. Illustrator for local daily papers and magazines prior to that.
Provenance:
The sketchbook was an annonymous gift.
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.
