Letters found here are from friends and colleagues including Herman Cherry, Philip Guston, Hilaire Hiler, Jules Langsner, Urban Neininger, Charles Pollock, and Jackson Pollock. One letter from the Leonard Stark family contains a small photograph of Georgia O'Keeffe. Some of the folders contain letters from a single correspondent, and some contain a range of correspondents, all of whom are not listed in the folder title.
See Appendix for a list of correspondents from Series 2.
Arrangement note:
The letters are arranged alphabetically by name of sender.
Appendix: Correspondents from Series 2:
What follows is a complete list of correspondents from Series 2: Letters, which supplements the container list in the finding aid. This list also contains details about the letters sent by each individual listed.
Correspondents Identified by First Name Only
Ab: 1962 (1 postcard)
Alice: 1972-1974 (2 letters)
Barb: undated (1 postcard)
Carleen: 1982 (1 postcard)
Carlotta: 1992 (1 letter to Jenny Lee)
Carol: 1989 (1 letter)
Cathy: undated (1 postcard)
Charley: undated (1 letter)
Clary?: 1995 (1 Christmas card to Jenny Lee)
Clay: 1971 (1 postcard)
Diana: 1971 (1 postcard)
Dolores: 1989 (1 letter)
Doug, Sarah, Molly, and Sam: undated (1 letter)
E., D., and L.: 1990 (1 postcard)
Eddie: 1992 (1 illustrated Christmas card)
Edward: undated (1 postcard)
Ernie: 1980 (1 letter)
Grace?: 1972 (1 postcard)
Honey, Francis, Nick, and Carol: 1995(1 Christmas card to Jenny Lee)
Isabelle: undated (1 letter)
Jeanne: 1987 (2 postcards)
Jeff: undated (1 postcard)
Jeffery: 1979 (1 postcard)
Jennifer: 1987 (1 postcard)
Jim: 1976 (1 letter)
Jin: undated (1 postcard)
Joanna: undated (1 postcard)
Joyce: 1992 (1 postcard)
Kate: 1972 (1 postcard)
Ken and Freida: 1972-1986 (2 letters)
Marina and Bruce: 1987-1989 (1 Christmas card and 2 postcards)
Marion: 1978 (1 postcard)
Martin: 1989-1990 (2 postcards)
Michael: 1985 (1 postcard)
Moira?: 1980 (1 postcard)
Ninette: 1962 (1 postcard)
Patsy: 1985 (1 postcard)
Rene: 1977 (1 postcard)
Roberta: undated (1 postcard)
Robyn: 1988-1989 (2 letters)
Roger and Harriet: undated (1 illustrated postcard)
Ross: 1990 (1 letter)
Sevin?: undated (1 postcard)
Steve: undated and 1994 (4 postcards)
Tom: undated (1 postcard)
Tony: 1978 (1 letter)
Wolfgang: undated (1 postcard)
Correspondents Identified by Surname
Advanced Design: 1989 (1 letter)
Agee, Jon and Carol: undated and 1982-1991 (6 letters, including 2 transparencies and 2 illustrated letters)
Albert, Calvin: 1974 (one postcard with photograph of Albert)
Allan Frumkin Gallery, Inc.: see Frumkin: Allan Frumkin Gallery, Inc.
Allison, Ann: 1964-1976 (2 letters)
American Art and Antiquities: 1978 (1 letter)
American Iris Society: 1988 (1 letter)
American Journal of Archaeology: 1970 (1 letter)
American National Red Cross: 1947 (1 letter)
American Turkish Society: 1973 (1 invitation)
Ames, Arthur: 1938 (1 letter)
AOI Construction, Inc.: 1986 (1 letter)
Archaeological Institute of America, New York Society: 1979 (5 letters)
Archaeometry: 1979 (1 letter)
Archives of American Art: 1976-1991 (5 letters)
Archives of the New York School: 1989 (1 letter)
Art Dealers Association of America, Inc.: 1979 (1 letter)
Art Edifices Enterprises: 1976-1979 (2 letters)
Art for Mexico: 1986 (1 letter)
Art in America: undated (1 letter)
Artists for CORE: 1965 (1 letter)
Artists for SEDF
(Scholarship, Education and Defense Fund for Racial Equality, Inc.): 1967-1968 (3 letters)
Arts Commission of San Francisco: 1988 (1 letter)
Aruz, Joanna: 1972-1986 (4 letters)
Ashford: 1 undated photograph of children
Ashton, Dore and Matti: undated (1 illustrated postcard to Jenny Lee)
Atasoy, Sumer: undated and 1970-1972 (3 letters)
Auerbach, Dorthy: 1989-1990 (2 letters)
Australian National Gallery: see Graham, Lanier
Axe, Martin: undated and 1985-1987 (3 letters)
B., F.: 1964 (1 postcard)
Barger, Illia: 1989 (1 letter including a photograph of an art work)
Barnes Foundation: 1985 (1 letter)
Barnett: David Barnett Gallery: 1971-1973 (4 letters, including a photograph of art work by Kadish)
Barnoya, Miguel Benedict: 1982 (1 letter)
Baskin, David: 1991 (1 letter with illustrated envelope and 6 picture postcards)
Beckmann, Hannes: 1969 (1 letter)
Beeblitz, Patricia: 1972 (1 letter)
Bell, Leland: see Parsons School of Design
Benson, Elaine M.. (Benson Gallery): 1975 (1 letter and 1 postcard)
Kadish, Reuben, to Bromberg, Prof. (State University College, New Paltz, N.Y.): 1968 (1 letter)
Kadish, Reuben, to Constan, Eugene: undated (1 letter)
Kadish, Reuben, to Goldman, Shifra: undated (1 letter)
Kadish, Reuben, to Guggenheim, John: 1986-1987 (3 letters)
Kadish, Reuben, to Kadish family: 1990 (1 letter)
Kadish, Reuben, to Kadish, Ruth and Moishe: 1984 (1 letter)
Kadish, Reuben, to Kyle, Mr.: 1967 (2 letters)
Kadish, Reuben, to Lee, Jenny: 1987-1992 (66 letters)
Kadish, Reuben, to Mayer, Musa (Ingie): [1988] (1 letter)
Kadish, Reuben, to Mitchel, Julio: 1988 (1 postcard)
Kadish, Reuben, to Page, Lee: 1981 (1 letter)
Kadish, Reuben, to Pound, Brandy: undated (2 letters)
Kadish, Reuben, to Reed, Susan: 1992 (1 letter)
Kadish, Reuben, to Rodriguez family: undated and 1989 (2 letters)
Kadish, Reuben, to Spring, Bob: 1992 (1 letter)
Kaufman, B. John: undated (5 photographs of art work)
Kean College of New Jersey: 1981 (1 letter)
Kenkeleba House, Inc.: 1987 (2 letters and an exhibition announcement)
Kettenbach, Friedel: 1985 (1 Christmas card)
Klayman, Toby Judith: 1981 (1 letter)
Klinger, Randy: 1988 (1 letter)
Kohn, Gabe: 1959-1962 (6 letters)
Krafft, Jo: undated (1 letter)
Kroeplin, Jim: 1974 (1 letter)
Kupferman, Lawrence: 1943-1944 (6 letters)
Kyle, Thomas: see Kadish, Reuben; see Museum of Contemporary Crafts
L., Howard: 1980 (1 letter)
Lacy, Bill: see Lee, Jenny
Landmark Gallery, Inc.: 1977-1978 (2 letters)
Langsner, Jules: undated and 1937-1963 (36 letters, including a photograph of a railroad yard, and 9 photographs of Delhi, India)
Lebt?, Bill: 1967 (1 letter)
Lee, Jenny: undated and 1985-1992 (61 letters, including clippings, exhibition announcements, 2 books -- Dreams: Visions of the Night -- by David Coxhead and Susan Hiller, and -- Italian Renaissance Sculpture -- by John Pope-Hennessy, and 8 photographs of the Watts Towers; 7 letters are illustrated); see Kadish, Reuben. Letters to: Fox, George: 1987 (1 letter); Lacy, Bill: 1987 (1 letter); McNamara, Mary: 1987 (1 letter); Miller, Lee Ann (Cooper Union): 1987 (1 letter)
Leggist?, Gihuan: 1937 (1 letter)
Lehman: Herbert H. Lehman College: 1976 (1 letter)
Leong, Jim: 1990 (1 letter, including a resume)
Lesher, Derek: 1992 (1 letter)
Levine, Marsha: undated and 1973-1986 (12 letters)
Metropolitan Museum of Art: 1975- 1986 (2 letters)
Mexican Muralists in the United States: Their Work and Influence (NEH research project): 1980-1982 (7 letters)
Michigan State University: 1966 (1 letter)
Millburn Corporation: 1988 (1 announcement for New York Aegean Bronze Age Colloquium)
Miller, Lee Ann (Cooper Union): see Lee, Jenny
Mills, J. D.: 1984-1986 (3 Christmas cards)
Ministero per i Beni Culturali e Ambientali: 1989 (2 letters in Spanish)
Minneapolis Institute of Arts: 1959 (2 letters)
Mirski, Boris: 1945 (1 letter)
Mitchel, Julio: see Kadish, Reuben
Montgomery family: 1973-1986 (14 letters, including 19 photographs of family members and sculpture)
Moore, Lucile and Jim Al: 1985-1986 (2 Christmas cards)
Morgan, Dane D.: 1963 (1 letter)
Moss, Tobey C.: 1986 (1 letter)
Museu de Arte Moderna de Sao Paulo: 1959 (1 letter)
Museum of Contemporary Crafts: 1967 (1 letter)
Museum of Modern Art: 1963 (1 letter)
Mythic Arts Africa: 1987 (1 letter from Jenny Lee)
National Academy of Design: undated (1 letter)
National Gallery of Art: 1975 (1 letter)
National Geographic Society: undated (1 form letter)
National Museum of American Art: 1986-1990 (7 letters)
National Social Welfare Assembly, Inc.: 1967 (1 letter)
NBC News: undated (1 letter)
Neininger, Urban and Jean: undated and 1937-1989 (28 letters)
Nemanic, Todd: 1981 (1 exhibition announcement)
Newark Museum: 1968 (1 letter)
Newark Public School of Fine and Industrial Art: undated and 1956-1960 (4 letters)
Newbill, Al: 1976-1987 (4 letters)
New Jersey State Council on the Arts: 1989 (1 letter)
New Jersey State Museum: 1976-1991 (10 letters)
New York Civil Liberties Union: 1972 (1 postcard)
New York Studio School: 1971-1977 (5 letters)
New York University: 1963 (1 letter)
North Jersey Cultural Council: 1970-1974 (2 letters)
O'Connell, Hilda: undated and 1963-1990 (18 letters); see Kadish, Barbara
Odate, Gerlinde: 1966-1974 (2 letters, including one with an illustration)
O'Keeffe, Georgia: see Stark, Leonard
Oles, James: 1991 (1 postcard)
Oord, A. and B.: 1984 (1 postcard)
Oregon: University of Oregon: 1973-1976 (4 letters)
Pace, Stephen: 1976-1987 (1 letter and an exhibition announcement)
Page, Lee: see Kadish, Reuben
Panero, Lorenza (Laurie): 1989-1991 (1 letter enclosing a typescript "The Three Masters of Mexican Muralism and Their Impact on the Development of American Art", and 1 exhibition announcement in Spanish)
Parsons School of Design: 1991 (1 announcement for memorial for Leland Bell)
Pekarsky, Mel: 1992 (7 letters)
Perrone, Francis S., M.D.: 1972 (1 invoice)
Phillips, Bill and Helen: 1947-1981 (2 letters and a press release)
Pollock: see McCoy, Sande
Pollock, Charles and Sylvia: undated and 1972-1990 (18 letters)
Pollock, Jackson: 1944-1947 (5 letters)
Pollock-Krasner Foundation: 1988-1992 (6 letters)
Polyn, Winifred: 1989 (1 postcard)
Port Authority of N.Y. & N.J.: 1979 (1 letter)
Potter, Jeffrey: 1990-1991 (2 letters, including a typescript "A Note on Joseph Meert")
Pound, Brandy: 1976 (1 letter); see Kadish, Reuben
Preston, Joanna: 1969-1989 (11 letters)
Printmaking Workshop: 1976-1980 (4 letters)
Pritchard, Norman: 1976 (1 Christmas card)
Provost, Larry: 1990 (1 letter)
Pye, Elizabeth: 1970 (1 letter)
Queens College: 1969 (2 letter)
Racz, David: undated (1 postcard)
Rantz, Clark T.: 1979 (1 letter)
Rapee, George and Jody: 1992 (1 letter)
Reddy, Krishna: 1974-1980 (1 letter and 9 letters from other concerning Reddy, including one letter from Stanley William Hayter)
Reed, Susan: see Kadish, Reuben
Reim, Johannes and Lois Borgenicht: 1987 (1 birth announcement)
Renfro, Claudia: undated and 1988-1992 (7 letters, including an illustrated Christmas card)
Resika, Paul: 1989 (1 postcard)
Richards: 1990 (2 photographs of a man with a child)
Richardson, Louise and Joe: undated and 1985-1986 (1 letter and 3 Christmas cards)
Ringwood Manor Association of Arts: 1975 (1 letter)
Ripton, June and James: 1984-1986 (3 Christmas cards)
Rodriguez, Melinda and Nickolas: 1989-1991 (4 letters, including a photograph of Nickolas); see Kadish, Reuben
Roecker and Gnazzo: 1986 (1 postcard)
Root, William Pitt: see Masini, Donna
Ross, Tim: 1985 (illustrated New Year's announcement)
Ru, Ridley: see San, Tamar
Ruben, Richards: 1991 (1 wedding announcement)
Rubenfeld, Florence: 1989 (2 letters)
Rubinson, Karen S.: 1987 (1 letter)
Sacartoff, Elizabeth: 1946 (3 letters)
San, Tamar, and Ridley Ru: undated (1 letter)
San Francisco Friends of the Urban Forest: 1993 (1 certificate for memorial trees for Reuben and Barbara Kadish)
Spanish Bay Galleries: 1991 (1 illustrated letter)
Spring, Bob: see Kadish, Reuben
Stable Gallery: 1958 (1 letter)
Stanzl, Gouter: 1970 (1 letter)
Stark, Leonard: undated and 1937-1966 (73 letters, including one with illustrations, one enclosing a cut-out silhouette portrait, one enclosing a photograph of a boy with a raccoon and one, dated 1947, enclosing a photograph of a film shoot with Georgia O'Keeffe)
Stewart, Jack: 1972 (1 postcard)
Stony Brook: 1990-1992 (6 letters)
Sun, Carol: 1990 (2 letters, including an exhibition announcement and clippings)
University of Oregon: see Oregon: University of Oregon
Unver, Huseyin: 1968 (2 letters)
Vergette, Helen: 1978 (1 postcard)
Vidal, Francine: 1986 (1 letter)
Vulliemoz, Yvonne: 1987-1995 (1 postcard and 1 Christmas card)
Waxman, Wendy: 1989 (1 letter)
Wayne, June: see Tamarind Lithography Workshop, Inc.
Weatherspoon Art Gallery: 1973 (1 letter)
Weeks, Leigh K.: 1974-1987 (2 letters)
Welles, Halsted (Hal): undated and 1962-1966 (3 postcards and a calling card)
Wibroe-Sanders, Suzi: 1989-1990 (2 letters)
Williams, Govaine: 1986 (1 letter)
Williams, Julian and Le: undated and 1977-1990 (1 letter, 1 wedding invitation, and 3 Christmas cards [2 with photos of microbes and a forest])
Wines, Gul and Suzan: 1986 (1 Christmas card)
Witkin, Joy: 1990 (1 letter)
Wong, Jimmy, and Songsri Chang: 1985 (1 Christmas card)
Wood, Betty: 1975 (1 letter and a postcard)
Woodward/White, Inc.: 1983 (1 letter)
Works Progress Administration - California: 1937 (1 letter)
Wu, Nancy: 1987 (6 letters)
Zogbaum, Wilfrid: 1960-1962 (2 letters)
Collection Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Use requires an appointment. Microfilmed portion must be consulted on microfilm.
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:
Reuben Kadish papers, 1851-1995, bulk 1913-1995. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Introduction:
The first week of the 1975 Regional America program focused on the people of the Northern Plains (North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas), particularly on the occupational life-styles related to agriculture and livestock. This is the region that is called the "breadbasket" and the economy of the area is based on grain crops, feed crops, and livestock production. The Smithsonian represented the agriculture of the area by growing on the Festival site wheat (the principal grain crop), alfalfa (a principal feed crop), and some typical plains grasses as well as sorghum and sunflowers. Livestock grazed on the National Mall and were used in demonstrations of herding techniques. Visitors saw varieties of threshing from individual manual techniques to modern mechanical combines. A daily tractor pull contest demonstrated not only the skills of the farmers in operating equipment, but also the pride they take in the power of their own carefully maintained machinery.
Craft presentations included associated occupational and domestic crafts. For example, livestock-related crafts such as those involved with maintenance, auctioneering, leatherworking, blacksmithing, wagon making and repair, and metal working were highlighted, as well as key occupational skills related to livestock include horse handling, sheep shearing, and ropework. Functional but decorative domestic crafts were also demonstrated: piece quilts, braided and rag rugs, corn husk and rag dolls, toys carved from chips, noisemakers, whimmy diddles.
Festival visitors could see and participate in a variety of folk dancing by different ethnic groups who settled in the Plains: Germans, Scandinavians, Ukrainians and Czechs. Northern Plains music is characteristically performed on instruments practiced in isolation such as the fiddle.These are usually played solo, but at the Festival they were also performed in combination.
The character of the California Heartland region (second week of the Festival) is expressed by its flamboyant image, diverse landscape, and - of utmost importance - a 'Mediterranean' climate that makes outdoor living possible. It is also an area rich in ethnic communities, and many of these were featured at the 1975 Festival.
Mexican American muralists from East Los Angeles completed a mural depicting their contribution to the Festival. Paper flower making and piñata making were demonstrated and taught to visitors, as were masa grinding and tortilla and tamale making. Chinese Americans from the San Francisco area performed a shadow puppet play twice daily. Various crafts including kite-making and the construction of paper ribbon fish welcomed audience participation. Three traditional games (an early form of yoyo, shuttlecock and cat's cradle) were demonstrated and taught.
Portuguese American fisherfolk demonstrated boat building as well as net and lure making accompanied by traditional sea chanteys. A highlight of the Portuguese community is the "Festa da Espiritu Santu", a celebration involving a parade of decorated cows, ceremonial milking, a milk and bread feast and a traditional contest between solo singers who improvise verses, enacted on the Festival site from July 2 to 4.
Unique to San Francisco is the tradition of cable car bell ringing. Cable car gripmen announced each session at the main California stage and dance floor, and competed for the bell ringing championship. A Greek father and son demonstrated traditional woven straw beehive construction and discussed bee-keeping and the agricultural use of bees. California Armenians wove rugs and spun wool.
The joys of sociable dancing were shared by square dances, Portuguese chamaritas, Phillippine tinakling and an evening of waltzes. There were also examples of solo singing by Portuguese, Anglo, French, and black singers and group singing by Molokans, Anglos, Chicanos and blacks.
Administrator for the Regional America program was William K. McNeil, with Charles Camp as Research Coordinator; Rayna Green served as Consultant.
Fieldworkers:
Northern Plains Researchers
Metha Bercier, John Carter, Carey Cook, Larry Danielson, Sister Stephanie Dolyniuk, Karen Heinzman, Lynn Ireland, Constance Kane, Jens Lund, Janet McDonnell, Gina Newbold, Douglas Parks, Marjorie Sackett, Earl Sampson, Darrel Sawyer, Dorothy Shonsey, Scott Sorensen, Kenneth Stewart, Sherry Stoskopf, Robert Thompson, Robert Webb
California Research Staff
Coordinator: Bess Lomax Hawes; Assistant Coordinator: Barbara LaPan Rahm; Researchers: Justin Bishop, Joyce P. Bynum, Nicola Marguerite Deval, Nicholas Hawes, Michael Korn, Marilyn Salvador, Daniel Sheehy; Advisors: Stephen P. and Ethel Dunn (Molokan presentation), Elaine Miller (Mexican American presentation), Joanne B. Purcell (Portuguese presentation)
Participants:
Northern Plains
Margaret Anderson, 1900-2002, singer, cook, Scandia, Kansas
August Anheluk, 1917-2001, musician
Leslie Anheluk, dancer
James Baker, dancer
Emerson Baker, singer
Norman Baker, singer
Wade Baker, dancer
Donna Baranko, dancer
Ann Basaraba, singer
Roy Basaraba, singer
Lydia Bears Tail, bead worker, cook & dancer
Saunders Bears Tail, 1934-1998, dancer
Linnea B. Briggs, 1893-1990, bobbin lace maker, Windom, Kansas
Connie Burian, dancer
Laudie Burian, 1915-2001, musician
Lewis Calwell, 1895-1978, horse trainer, Belle Fourche, South Dakota
Alvin Campbell, 1921-, fiddler, Omaha, Nebraska
Marlys Ciscar, singer
George Crow Flies High, agricultural implement maker, dancer
Dan Dasovich, musician, Omaha, Nebraska
Danny Dasovich, musician, Omaha, Nebraska
George Dasovich, 1942-, musician, Omaha, Nebraska
Peter Drakulich, 1926-1998, musician
Frances Driver, Jr., dancer
Harold C. Edwards, 1927-1992, sheep shearer, Edgemont, South Dakota
Jeanette Evoniuk, 1923-2005, dancer
Johnnie Evoniuk, dancer
Laurence Evoniuk, singer
Matt Evoniuk, dancer
Matt Evoniuk, Jr., dancer
Pearl Evoniuk, dancer
Celia Fliginger, 1907-2003, cook, Freeman, South Dakota
Jarle Foss, 1894-1992, fiddler, Scotland, South Dakota
Robert Ernest Lee Jeffery, 1915-1976, blues pianist, San Diego, California
Kate Kalpakoff, Molokan singer
Craig Ernest Kodros, bee hive maker
George Harry Kodros, bee hive maker
Anna Koh, northern Chinese cook
David Koh, assistant northern Chinese cook
Jim A. Korneff, 1916-1994, singer
Julia Lazar, baker, spinner
Robert Lazar, dancer
Calvin E. Long, tinker, San Diego, California
Pauline Loo, Chinese craft assistant
Francisco Macias, charro
Eddie Martinez, muralist, Hacienda Heights, California
Heli Medeiros, 1921-2003, singer
Nellie Melosardoff, 1913-2007, Molokan singer
Anna Mendrin, Molokan singer
John Mendrin, 1923-1989, Molokan singer
Jonnie Kay Neavill, fiddler
David Page, uilleann bagpiper
Sara J. Patapoff, 1924-1993, Molokan singer
Jack Pavloff, 1919-2000, Molokan singers' director
Mary J. Pavloff, Molokan singer
Dolores Pequeño, singer
George M. Prohroff, 1937-2001, Molokan singer
Pamella Ramsing, shadow player
Rigoberto Rincon, charro, president of La Alteña
Victor Romero, -- guitarrista -- , -- vihuelo
Juanita Saludado, singer, Earlimart, California
Paul Saludado, singer, guitarist, Earlimart, California
Roy J. Samarin, 1920-1994, Molokan singer
Don Jesus Sanchez, 1910-1983, violinist, Los Angeles, California
Surma D'Mar Shimun, 1883-1975, dancer
Joel Silva, -- festa -- coordinator, dairyman
Jose V. Silva, tuna boat designer
Manuel Silva, -- guitarrista
Mary Silva, cook, flower maker
Julia Silveira, -- guitarrista
Rafael Furtado Simas, 1916-2006, violinist
Rosa Maria Simas, dancer, baker
João Soares, singer
Shirley Sun, presenter
Araks Talbert, baker, spinner
Anna Tarnoff, Molokan singer
Smith Tester, banjo player
Eugene Ung, assistant southern Chinese cook
Maizie Ung, kite making, paper folding, ribbon fish demonstration
Agostinho Valim, 1917-2000, singer
Laurindo Valim, dancer
Manuel Vasquez, 1935-, -- requintero
Moses A. Volkoff, 1892-1989, Molokan composer
Ossie White, guitarist, Lakewood, California
Roscoe White, 1923-2009, fiddler, Lakewood, California
Margaret L. Wong, southern Chinese cook
Judy Woo, assistant shadow player
Jesse Wright, singer
Jimmy Wright, singer, Fresno, California
Walter Wright, singer, Fresno, California
William Wright, 1914-1982, singer, Selma, California
Annie Zolnekoff, 1924-2010, Molokan singer
Paul Zolnekoff, 1919-2005, Molokan singer
Collection Restrictions:
Access by appointment only. Where a listening copy or viewing copy has been created, this is indicated in the respective inventory; additional materials may be accessible with sufficient advance notice and, in some cases, payment of a processing fee. Older papers are housed at a remote location and may require a minimum of three weeks' advance notice and payment of a retrieval fee. Certain formats such as multi-track audio recordings and EIAJ-1 videoreels (1/2 inch) may not be accessible. Contact the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections at 202-633-7322 or rinzlerarchives@si.edu for additional information.
Collection Rights:
Copyright and other restrictions may apply. Generally, materials created during a Festival are covered by a release signed by each participant permitting their use for personal and educational purposes; materials created as part of the fieldwork leading to a Festival may be more restricted. We permit and encourage such personal and educational use of those materials provided digitally here, without special permissions. Use of any materials for publication, commercial use, or distribution requires a license from the Archives. Licensing fees may apply in addition to any processing fees.
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1975 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
An interview of Frank Romero conducted 1997 January 17-March 2, by Jeffrey Rangel, for the Archives of American Art, in Romero's studio, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Romero discusses his growing up in East Los Angeles and his large extended family; his earliest art studies in the public schools; attending the Otis Art Institute where he studied with Joe Mugnaini and had contact with Millard Sheets and Peter Voulkos; the "very polyglut culture" of East Los Angeles; the influences of television, western movies, rock-and-roll, and rhythm and blues on his early musical/artistic taste; time spent in New York; returning to Los Angeles in 1969; and his marriage and family.
He describes his move into Carlos Almaraz's house which became the informal meeting place of the artist group Los Four (Almaraz, Romero, Gilbert Sanchez Lujan, and Roberto "Beto" de la Rocha); the Los Four show at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in 1974; and the stylistic aesthetics of Los Four.
Romero describes the "boys club" nature of Chicano art centers; his contributions to the Chicano art movement; his relationship to the Chicano/Mexican culture and mainstream U.S. culture; murals done by members of Los Four for the Inner City Mural Program; his work for the Metropolitan Transit Authority; the Murals of Aztlan exhibit in 1981 at the Craft and Folk Art Museum; and his shows at the ARCO Center for the Visual Arts. He concludes with his assessment of the Chicano arts movement, the relationship between economic and art cycles, and the role of the more established artists to those of a younger generation.
Biographical / Historical:
Frank Romero (1941- ) is a painter from Los Angeles, Calif.
General:
Originally recorded on 5 sound cassettes. Reformatted in 2010 as 9 digital wav files. Duration is 4 hr., 27 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 administrators.
Restrictions:
Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.
Occupation:
Muralists -- California -- Los Angeles -- Interviews Search this
Topic:
Painters -- California -- Los Angeles -- Interviews Search this
This interview received Federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center. Funding for the digital preservation of this interview received Federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center.
