An interview of Elisabeth D. Model conducted 1977 May 19, by William McNaught, for the Archives of American Art.
Model speaks of early mentors and friendships with sculptor Moissey Kogan, author Herman Hesse, art dealer Jacques Goudstikker, and others. She recalls visits with artists and collectors, including Aristide Maillol, Charles Despiau, Jacob Epstein, and Jean Paul Getty. She also describes several events, such as the Han van Meegeren art forgeries, her family's escape to New York during WW II, and her career successes.
Biographical / Historical:
Elisabeth D. Model (1897-1993) was a painter and sculptor from New York, New York.
General:
Originally recorded on 1 sound tape reel. Reformatted in 2010 as 2 digital wav files. Duration is 1 hr., 8 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.
Restrictions:
Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.
Occupation:
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
The papers of sculptor Elisabeth Model measure 0.7 linear feet and date from 1939 to 1977. Found are biographical materials, correspondence, a file on poet Hermann Hesse, photographs of Model and her works of art, printed material, and writings by Model including a memoir. Also found are sound recordings of two interviews conducted in 1951, one of which includes artist Lena Gurr.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of sculptor Elisabeth Model measure 0.7 linear feet and date from 1939 to 1977. Found are biographical materials, correspondence, a file on poet Hermann Hesse, photographs of Model and her works of art, printed material, and writings by Model including a memoir. Also found are sound recordings of two interviews conducted in 1951, one of which includes artist Lena Gurr.
Arrangement:
Due to the small size of this collection the papers are arranged as one series.
Biographical / Historical:
Elisabeth Model (1897-1993) was a German-born sculptor and painter active in New York City, New York. She is known for her sculptures of human figures and busts in terracotta.
Born in Bayreuth, Bavaria, Model studied sculpture in Munich under Professors Thor and Cericioli. Later, she studied in Amsterdam at the Rijksakademie under Professor Jurgens, and in Paris under Moissi Kogan. Model, her husband, Max, and their children fled the Netherlands during World War II and moved to New York City in 1941. Model continued her career in New York and was a member of the National Association of Women Artists.
Related Materials:
The Center for Jewish History also holds the Papers of Elisabeth Model, 1912-1993. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington D.C. holds an oral history interview with Elisabeth Model as well as two scrapbooks.
Separated Materials:
Material on Reel N69/40 and manuscripts on reel 4866 including: a scrapbook, 1946-1968, containing 2 biographical accounts, several letters from colleagues, 1955-1967, exhibition catalogs, clippings, 2 award certificates from the Brooklyn Society of Artists, 35 photographs of works of art and one photograph of Model, were returned to Elisabeth D. Model after filming and are not described in the collection container inventory.
Provenance:
The collection was donated by Elisabeth Model in 1977 and 1989 and microfilmed in 1994 with funding provided by the Henry and Lucy Moses Fund, the Lucius N. Littauer Foundation, the Goldie-Anna Charitable Trust, the Samuel Bronfman Foundation, and the Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation.
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 References 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:
Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Model, Elisabeth D. (Elisabeth Dittmann), 1897-1993 Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 1
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1942-1977
Collection 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 References Services for more information.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Elisabeth D. Model papers, 1939-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Model, Elisabeth D. (Elisabeth Dittmann), 1897-1993 Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 2
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1939-1976
Collection 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 References Services for more information.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Elisabeth D. Model papers, 1939-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Model, Elisabeth D. (Elisabeth Dittmann), 1897-1993 Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 3
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1946-1962
Collection 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 References Services for more information.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Elisabeth D. Model papers, 1939-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Model, Elisabeth D. (Elisabeth Dittmann), 1897-1993 Search this
Extent:
1 Sound cassette
Container:
Box 1, Folder 4
Type:
Archival materials
Sound cassettes
Date:
1951, circa 1989
Collection 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 References Services for more information.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Elisabeth D. Model papers, 1939-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Model, Elisabeth D. (Elisabeth Dittmann), 1897-1993 Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 5
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
circa 1950
Collection 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 References Services for more information.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Elisabeth D. Model papers, 1939-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Model, Elisabeth D. (Elisabeth Dittmann), 1897-1993 Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 6
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
circa 1950
Collection 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 References Services for more information.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Elisabeth D. Model papers, 1939-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Model, Elisabeth D. (Elisabeth Dittmann), 1897-1993 Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 7
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
circa 1950-1970
Collection 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 References Services for more information.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Elisabeth D. Model papers, 1939-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Model, Elisabeth D. (Elisabeth Dittmann), 1897-1993 Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 8
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1964-1969
Collection 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 References Services for more information.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Elisabeth D. Model papers, 1939-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Printed Material, Exhibition Announcements and Catalogs
Collection Creator:
Model, Elisabeth D. (Elisabeth Dittmann), 1897-1993 Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 9-10
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1940-1976
Collection 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 References Services for more information.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Elisabeth D. Model papers, 1939-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Model, Elisabeth D. (Elisabeth Dittmann), 1897-1993 Search this
Container:
Box 2, Folder 1
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
circa 1950
Collection 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 References Services for more information.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Elisabeth D. Model papers, 1939-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Model, Elisabeth D. (Elisabeth Dittmann), 1897-1993 Search this
Container:
Box 2, Folder 2
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
circa 1975
Collection 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 References Services for more information.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Elisabeth D. Model papers, 1939-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Model, Elisabeth D. (Elisabeth Dittmann), 1897-1993 Search this
Extent:
Includes 1 sound disc.
Container:
Item 3
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1951
Scope and Contents:
Includes transcript.
Collection 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 References Services for more information.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Elisabeth D. Model papers, 1939-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Model, Elisabeth D. (Elisabeth Dittmann), 1897-1993 Search this
Extent:
0.7 Linear feet (Boxes 1-2, Item 3)
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1939-1977
Scope and Contents:
Biographical materials include biographical sketches, three holiday cards sent by the Model family, and a hand colored photograph of Model's jewelry made of clay. Correpsondence is with friends, family, and institutions including the Corcoran Gallery, Lesley Frost, Alma Reed, and the Wadsworth Atheneum. Also found is a file concerning German-Swiss poet Hermann Hesse with correspondence, printed material, and photographs of Hesse. Photographs depict Model, an exhibition, and of works of art. Printed materials includes clippings and exhibition announcements and catalogs. Two writings by Model concern her and her family's early life, flight from the Nazis, and eventual settlement in New York City. Both writings are photocopies. Model's memoir entitled "Memories of Persons and Places" is bound and includes original sketches by Model.
The series also includes sound recordings of two interviews conducted in 1951: an interview (with transcript) of Model and Lena Gurr conducted by Peter Lipman-Wulf for "Art Review;" and an interview of Model conducted by Dwight Cooke for "Art and the World," on CBS Radio.
Collection 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 References Services for more information.
Collection 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.
Collection Citation:
Elisabeth D. Model papers, 1939-1977. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Processing of this collection received support from the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Elisabeth D. Model, 1977 May 19. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Elisabeth D. (Elisabeth Dittmann) Model and Laurie Lisle. Interview with Elizabeth Model, 1983 November 16. Laurie Lisle research material on Georgia O'Keeffe and Louise Nevelson, 1902-1990. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
The Lena Gurr (1897-1992) papers date from 1908 to 1979 and measure 7.0 linear feet. Gurr was a painter and printmaker who studied under John sloan and Maurice Sterne at the Art Students League between 1920-1922. She also studied in France and married painter and photographer Joseph Biel in 1931. The papers document both Gurr and Biel's careers through correspondence, notes, art work, printed material, scrapbooks, and photographs. The collection offers researchers a valuable resource for studying the New York art community of the pre-war era.
Scope and Content Note:
The Lena Gurr papers date from 1908 to 1979 and measure 7.0 linear feet. The collection presents a good overview of Gurr's career as a painter and printmaker, and her relationship with her husband, painter Joseph Biel. Through biographical material, correspondence, notes, an interview with Lena Gurr, original artwork by Gurr and others, scrapbooks, printed material, photographs of Gurr, family, and friends, and photographs of artwork by Gurr and others, the collection offers researchers a valuable resource for studying the New York art community of the pre-war era.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged into eight series. Material within each series is arranged chronologically.
Series 1: Biographical Material, 1968, undated (box 1; 1 folder)
Series 2: Correspondence, 1921-1979, undated (boxes 1-4; 3.1 linear ft.)
Series 3: Notes, 1926-1972 (box 4; 4 folders)
Series 4: Interview, 1950 (box 4; 1 folder)
Series 5: Artwork, circa 1908-1951 (box 4; 36 folders)
Series 6: Scrapbooks, 1912-1948 (boxes 4-5, 8-11; 1.45 linear ft.)
Series 7: Printed Material, 1926-1978 (box 5; 21 folders)
Series 8: Photographs, 1912-1978 (boxes 5-7; 1.05 linear ft.)
Biographical Note:
Born October 27, 1897, in Brooklyn, New York, Lena Gurr was the daughter of Hyman and Ida (Gorodnick) Gurr. She attended the Maxwell Training School for Teachers from 1915 to 1917, then turned her energies toward art. She studied painting and printmaking at the Educational Alliance Art School in 1919, and at the Art Students League (1920-1922), where she was a student of John Sloan and Maurice Stern. She also studied art in Paris, Nice, and Mentone, France. Her first solo exhibition was in 1932 at the Brooklyn Museum.
On November 24, 1931, Gurr married painter and photographer Joseph Biel. He was born October 27, 1891 in Russia, studied at the Russian Academy in Paris, and at the Workman's College, Melbourne, Australia. He also established the first Jewish Library in Melbourne. Upon his arrival in the United States, he studied under George Grosz at the Art Students League. Biel died in April 1943 of a heart ailment.
Provenance:
The Lena Gurr papers were donated to the Archives of American Art by Lena Gurr from 1966 to 1979.
Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Patrons must use microfilm copy.
Rights:
The Lena Gurr papers are owned by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Literary rights as possessed by the donor have been dedicated to public use for research, study, and scholarship. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
