This microfilm collection of the papers of African American painter, muralist, and illustrator Aaron Douglas primarily concern Douglas' years at Fisk University, the development of the art department, and the management of the Stieglitz art collection. The collection consists of biographical material; correspondence; artwork including prints, drawings, and sketchbooks; and teaching material including drafts of lectures and teaching notes. Also included are printed material such as exhibition catalogs and clippings; reports and printed material concerning the Sigma Pi Phi fraternity; and photographs of Douglas and his works of art.
Among the correspondents are Charles Alston, Claude Clark, John Cowles, William Dawson, Jeff Donaldson, Cedric Dover, David Driskell, Mary Beattie Brady of the Harmon Foundation, John Davis Hatch, William C. Haygood of the Julius Rosenwald Fund, and Walter Pach.
Arrangement:
Collection was microfilmed in the order as received from Fisk University.
Biographical / Historical:
Aaron Douglas (1899-1979) was an African American painter, muralist, and illustrator in Nashville, Tennessee. He is commonly regarded as a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance. In 1937 Charles S. Johnson, the first African American president of Fisk University, invited Douglas to develop the university's art department. He served as the department head until his retirement in 1966.
Related Materials:
Fisk University Special Collections holds the Aaron Douglas collection, 1921-1973 and the Aaron Douglas Collection Addendum, 1937-1974. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library holds the Aaron Douglas papers, 1924-1939.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming 1991 by Special Collections Department, Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
The papers of African American painter, muralist, and arts educator Hale Woodruff measure 0.6 linear feet and date from 1920 to 1977 with the bulk of the collection dating from the 1960s to the 1970s. The papers contain biographical material, professional files, writings, printed material, photographs, and photocopies of a scrapbook, and of artwork.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of Hale Woodruff measure 0.6 linear feet and date from 1920 to 1977, with the bulk of the collection dating from the 1960s to the 1970s. The papers contain biographical material, professional files, writings, printed material, photocopies of a scrapbook, photographs, and photocopies of artwork.
Biographical material includes a resume, awards and honorary degrees, and an interview transcript.
Professional files consist of correspondence, committee files, and materials related to exhibitions and projects.
Writings include an illustrated notebook; drafts and copies of lectures, statements, articles, book reviews, and exhibition text; and notes on note cards, as well as photocopies of notes Woodruff took in Mexico while studying with Diego Rivera.
Printed Material includes exhibition announcements, exhibition catalogs, publications in which Woodruff is featured, clippings, and other assorted printed material.
The scrapbook consists of photocopies of scrapbook pages. The originals do not appear in the collection, but mostly contained clippings and printed material, with some correspondence.
Photographs include black and white photographs with an accompanying piece of correspondence, and photocopies of photographs of artwork.
Artwork includes photocopies of sketches and drawings.
Arrangement:
This collection is arranged as seven series.
Series 1: Biographical Material, 1966-1977 (Box 1; 4 folders)
Series 2: Professional Files, 1944-1973 (Box 1; 4 folders)
Series 3; Writings, 1920-1977, undated (Box 1; 0.3 linear feet)
Series 4; Printed Material, 1920s-1970s (Box 2, 4 folders)
Series 5: Scrapbook, 1927-1928, 1940-1960 (Box 2, 1 folder)
Series 6: Photographic Material, 1926-1977 (Box 2, 2 folders)
Series 7: Artwork, 1939-1952, undated (Box 2, 1 folder)
Biographical / Historical:
Hale Aspacio Woodruff (1900-1980) was an African American painter, muralist, and arts educator. His most well-known works are the Amistad murals, painted between 1939 and 1940 for Talladega College's Savery Library.
Woodruff was born in Cairo, Illinois, and grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. He studied at the John Herron Art Institute in Indianapolis, and at the Art Institute of Chicago. After winning an award from the Harmon Foundation, he traveled to Paris and attended the Academie Moderne and the Academie Scandinave. He also spent a summer studying mural painting in Mexico with Diego Rivera.
In 1931, Woodruff established one of the earliest art departments at a Black college at Atlanta University – teaching classes at the University's Laboratory High School, Morehouse College, and Spelman College as well. He also established the Atlanta Annuals, one of the earliest national exhibition opportunities for African American artists. In 1946 he moved to New York and taught in the art department at New York University until his retirement in 1968.
Related Materials:
Also found in the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Hale Woodruff conducted by Al Murray, November 18, 1968.
Separated Materials:
The Archives of American of Art also holds material lent for microfilming (reel 4222), the majority of which was included in subsequent donations. Loaned materials not donated at a later date remain with the lender and are not described in the container listing of this finding aid.
Provenance:
The Hale Woodruff papers were lent for microfilming by Woodruff in 1970. Most of the material was subsequently donated in 1978, along with additional material.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.
Occupation:
Painters -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Muralists -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Educators -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information. Use of archival audiovisual recordings and born-digital records with no duplicate access copies requires advance notice.
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:
Jeff Donaldson papers, 1918-2005, bulk 1960s-2005. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Sponsor:
Funding for the digitization of the Jeff Donaldson papers was provided by the Walton Family Foundation.
