The papers of librarian, curator, and photographer Paul Vanderbilt (1905-1992) measure 25.2 linear feet and date from 1854 to 1992 with the bulk of the material dating from 1945 to 1992. The papers are comprised of biographical materials, personal and business correspondence, interviews, writings and notes, fourteen diaries and two diary fragments, reference and project files, photographic materials, sound recordings, and professional files.
Scope and Contents:
The papers of librarian, curator, and photographer Paul Vanderbilt (1905-1992) measure 25.2 linear feet and date from 1854 to 1992 with the bulk of the material dating from 1945 to 1992. The papers are comprised of biographical materials, personal and business correspondence, interviews, writings and notes, fourteen diaries and two diary fragments, reference and project files, photographic materials, sound recordings, and professional files.
Biographical materials include seven appointment books, family letters and documents, and an honorary degree from the University of Wisconsin.
Vanderbilt's correspondence is with colleagues, and organizations including Dorothea Lange, Beaumont Newhall, Roy Stryker, and Julia Vanderbilt.
Sound recordings of interviews of Vanderbilt conducted by Mary North Allen, Barbara Crane, Carl Haywood, Jack Holzhueter, and Jane Plunkett. Other recordings are of Vanderbilt discussing his personal and professional life.
Writings by Paul Vanderbilt include drafts of Between the Landscape and its Other, poems, lectures, student papers, and notes on a variety of subjects. Writings by others are found for William Blake, Gregory Conniff, Woody Guthrie, Michael Lesy, Arnold R. Pilling, Jesse H. Shera, and Roy Stryker.
Fourteen of Vanderbilt's personal diaries and two diary fragments date from 1926 to 1990.
Reference files consist of printed materials on art, art historians, book reviews, library and information studies, photography and microphotography techniques, and other themes of interest to Vanderbilt. Project files include material from Vanderbilt's various projects, including a guide to the iconography of Iran, the reclassification of FSA photographs, and the Union Library Catalog of Philadelphia.
Included in professional files are administrative records, correspondence, exhibition files, project files, printed material, and research files created during Vanderbilt's career at the Library of Congress, Graphic History Society, State Historical Society of Wisconsin, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Farm Security Administration. Also found are materials for Vanderbilt's work as a consultant for several organizations, lecture documents, and art-related workshops.
Photographs are by and of Paul Vanderbilt, the staff of the Library of Congress, and George Talbot. Negatives include images for the Farm Security Administration. Bibliography cards and photographs of artwork from the Library of Congress can be found on microfilm reels within the collection.
Also found are fourteen unidentified sound recordings.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 10 series.
Missing Title
Series 1: Biographical Materials, 1894-1992 (0.5 linear feet; Box 1)
Series 2: Correspondence, 1933-1992 (1.5 linear feet; Box 1-2)
Series 3: Interviews, 1967-1992 (1.5 linear feet; Box 2-4)
Series 4: Writings and Notes, 1887-1992 (4.0 linear feet; Box 4-8)
Series 5: Diaries, 1926-1990 (0.5 linear feet; Box 8)
Series 6: Reference Files, 1877-1992 (2.5 linear feet; Box 8-10, 26)
Series 7: Project Files, 1935-1990 (3.0 linear feet; Box 10-13)
Series 8: Professional Files, 1854-1991 (11.7 linear feet; Box 13-24)
Series 9: Photographic Materials, 1912-1980s (0.5 linear feet; Box 24)
Series 10: Sound Recordings, circa 1980s (0.5 linear feet; Box 24-25)
Biographical / Historical:
Paul Vanderbilt (1905-1992) was a librarian, curator, and photographer active in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and Madison, Wisconsin.
Paul Vanderbilt was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts and educated in Germany, Switzerland, and Massachusetts. He attended Amherst College from 1923 to 1925 before transferring to Harvard where he graduated with a BA in art history in 1927. After graduation, Vanderbilt traveled to Europe where he studied at the American School of Librarianship in Paris and the Institut de Psychologie Bibliogique in Lausanne. In 1929, he returned to the United States and became a librarian at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and director of the Union Library Catalog project for the Philadelphia area.
In 1941 Vanderbilt began working under Roy Stryker cataloging the extensive photographic survey collection of the Farm Security Administration and U.S. Office of War Information. The collection is a rich resource of images of American life between 1935 and 1944. In 1943, the FSA photograph collection was transferred to the Library of Congress and Vanderbilt went with it as the curator of the newly formed Prints and Photographs Division, eventually becoming the Division chief of fine arts.
During the early 1950s, Vanderbilt also served as the director of the Graphic History Society of America. There he published a quarterly bulletin Eye to Eye and developed a guide to iconography in Iran. In 1954, he became the Curator of Iconographic Collections at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and worked there until he retired in 1972.
Vanderbilt remained active after retirement. He became an artist-in-residence at the Apeiron Workshops, worked as a photographer for the Seagram courthouse project and the George Eastman House, and was a presenter at multiple conferences. Vanderbilt devoted much of his later life to working on his book titled Between the Landscape and its Other which was published posthumously after Vanderbilt's death in 1992.
Related Materials:
Also found at the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Paul Vanderbilt conducted by Richard Doud on November 10, 1964.
Provenance:
The collection was donated in 1981 by Paul Vanderbilt and in 1993 by his estate through John W. Winn, executor.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Washington, D.C. Research Center. Use of archival audiovisual recordings with no duplicate access copy requires advance notice.
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.
instruments for medical and biological research ; Super-Strobe System for microscopes ; photomicrography exposure meter ; cinemicrography systems ; curtain incubator ; flow pump ; "The Sage Commentary" vol 3 no 1 March 1962 ; "The Sage Commentary" vol 4 no 1 May 1963
Includes:
Trade catalog and price lists
Black and white images
Physical description:
13 pieces; 1 box
Language:
English
Type of material:
Trade catalogs
Trade literature
Place:
White Plains, New York, United States
Date:
1900s
Topic (Romaine term):
Biotechnology and biochemical equipment and supplies Search this
Laboratories and laboratory supplies and equipment Search this
Medical and surgical instruments and supplies Search this
Photovolt Instruments Inc. ; Ace Scientific Supply Co., Inc. ; division of Seragen Diagnostics, Inc and Seradyn, Inc. Search this
Notes content:
Trade lit, circa 1950s-1960s, from an instrumentation company: color and gloss meter ; photometers ; colorimeters ; densitometers ; reflection meters ; pH meters ; spectrophotometers ; fluorescence ; photomicrography ; mirror-monochromators ; galvanometers ; Lammers Thrombograph, an instrument used for recording clot formation ; Varicord Variable-Response Recorder; letter to quality control regarding Aquatest 8 and Model 577 Reflection Meter ; Aquatest Pyrolysis Unit ; vessel and generator solutions- pyridine free ; battery operated pH meter ; electronic pH meter ; clinical pH meter manual ; electronic densitometer manual ; densitometric equipment ; densicord ; linear/log varicord ; integraph
Polaroid Lighting, Inc. (West Haven, CT) ; Mutual-Sunset Lamp Mfg. Co. (New York, NY) ; Land-Wheelwright Laboratories ; Search this
Notes content:
One envelope OVERSIZE ; cameras ; film ; slide and photograph copier ; polarizers ; H-glass filters ; samples in pamphlet entitled "Technical information, primer of polarization" (#012060) ; "Story about the synthesis of quinine," includes a photographic print of the chemists who first synthesized quinine: Robert Woodward and William Doering : "the plan for synthesizing the complex drug was originated by Woodward and incorporated as a project in the basic research program of Polaroid Corporation..."(1944) ; photographic filters ; glare-free headlights ; projection slides ; plastic goggle lenses ; variable day glasses (eyeglasses)(allowing the wearer to adjust to the brightness level) ; promotional packet of brochures entitled, "Polaroid: the first 30 years/the next 300 days," ca. 1977, with news releases and other promotional material, including photographic prints -- announcing the 30th anniversary of Edwin Land's invention of the instant picture process ; "Available reprints on using Polaroid Land Products," a bound compilation of articles and advertisements of Polaroid products ; Polaroid desk lamp ; see the "Brand History" link at the Polaroid Corporation's web site for a complete timeline of the company's history ; www.polaroid.com ; Polaroid International Instant Photomicrography Competition 1983 ; Land Cameras and Accessories ; Speedliner Land Camera Model 95B ; film holders ; Land Camera model 180 ; Type 105 Land Film ; MP-3 Land Camera ; "Polaroid Pointers" ; "slides-on-the-spot transparency systems" ; "instant halftone and line copy systems" ; "SX-70 Land Cameras" ; Industrial View Land cameras ; MP-4 Land Camera ; "Model 600 SE Cameras" ; "Portfolio of Polaroid Industrial and Scientific Photography" ; print copiers ; authorized federal supply schedule film price list ; "polaprinters" ; participating dealers for "polaprinters" ; CU-5 Land Camera
Includes:
Trade catalog, price lists, manual, samples and photographs
Black and white images
Color images
Types of samples:
light polarizers ;
Physical description:
251 pieces; 5 boxes
Language:
English
Type of material:
Trade catalogs
Trade literature
Place:
Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States
Date:
1900s
Topic (Romaine term):
Laboratories and laboratory supplies and equipment Search this
Lighting (electric; gas; candle; oil; etc.) Search this
See also - Charles River Laboratories, Inc. (div.) ; Charles River Biotechnical Services, Inc. (div.); Panoptik Co., Inc. ; Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. ; Micro-Line Division ; Applied Research Laboratories, Inc. ; Baird & Tatlock (London) Ltd. ; Charles Hearson & Co., Ltd. Search this
Notes content:
Binoculars ; chemicals ; colorimeters ; contour measuring projectors ; engineering instruments ; 'Focus' ; lenses ; magnifiers ; metallographic equipment ; metallurgical microscopes ; micro-projectors ; microscopes ; microscope -illuminators ; microtomes ; misc. optical and lab equipment ; opthalmic equipment ; photographic lenses ; photomicrography ; projection equipment (Balopticon) ; range finders ; refractometers ; spectrographic equipment ; 1880's - 1970's ; bifocal lenses ; stereo trainers ; star projector ; anti-aircraft height finders ; searchlight mirrors ; battery commanders' telescopes ; aviators' goggles ; bubble sextant ; anti-tank gun sights ; spotting scopes ; safety goggles ; electronic digital measuring system ; "Vu-tron" ; "Super Gage" ; "Measure-rite" ; "DR optical gage" ; Precision rulings scales and grids ; "Acu-rite - 5" ; scratch depth gage ; "precisionist" ; "Die wear microscope" ; "Ray Ban" sunglasses ; "Orthogon" lenses ; Panoptik Bifocal Primer ; Bulletin from the New England Contact Lens Society, Inc. of their Incorporation and By-Laws ; Information on the Connecticut Optician's Association Member Information ; Opticians Association of America Constitution and Bylaws for June 1974 ; The Association of Dispensing Opticians "Examinations, Correspondence Courses and Training Courses" ; Optician's Association of America Constitution and Bylaws for June 1981 ; Charter of Bylaws and Code of Ethics for The Guild of Prescription Opticians of America, Inc. ; Information on Caescanometry ; "Contact Lens Nomenolature" from the Contact Lens Society of Connecticut ; Newspaper Article from The Bridgeport Post entitled "Barnum Museum Focuses on Spectacles' History" dated March 9, 1982 ; "What a Spectable! Eyeglasses, and how they Evolved" By Dora Jane Hamblin ; "The Origin and Development of Spectacles" By C.J.S. Thompson ; Photocopy of an advertisement entitled "Busch" ; Symposium on "Legislation and the Role of the Paraprofessional in Eye Care" given by American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology January-February 1977 ; Booklet on "Dispensing Contact Lenses" by Kenneth V. Swanson ; List of Promotional Items and Correspondence ; List of Miscellaneous Literature ; List of Brochures ; List of Trade Literature ; Letter to Dr. Davis at the Smithsonian ; Paper about the "Nasal Clamp Supported by Eyeglass Frame" By Gustave Aufright, M.D. ; A group of Proposals by Hardy Burmester and Lennart Jenssen in Regards to the Pricing of Rochester-manufactured Bifocal Lenses ; Memo about the Commission Rates for Frame Salesmen ; Letter to Robert Parker about the Status of the Company in Europe ; Advertisement for the Contrast Ratio Viewer ; Letter about the Rochester Factory Prescription Price List ; Inter Office Memo ; Management Bulletin from February 11, 1977 ; Letter from January 6, 1978 ; Letter to Bob Parker about the 1977-78 Compensation Plan ; Letter to Distributors, September 26, 1977 ; Letter Justifying the Need to Spend 280 dollars on Training Materials ; Letter Detailing a Telephone Conversation with Bob Simms on May 12, 1978 Magnifiers and Readers ; Color Postcard showing the Bausch & Lomb Optical Co. at Rochester, N.Y. ; The Magnarule ; Booklet on how to Sell Magnifiers ; Patient Instruction booklet for Wearers of Soflens ; The Magnimaid ; Film Slide Viewer ; Advertising Sample of the Panoptic Bifocals ; Nuway Reading Glass ; Consumer Guide to Soft and Hard Contact Lens Care Products ; Patient Instruction Booklet for Wearers of Soft Contact Lenses ; Reducing Glass ; Spectral Transmission Charts ; Pamphlet entitled "Helpful Hints for More Beautiful Eyes" ; Orthogon Rx Authorization Forms ; Pamphlet on "Good Reasons for Plastic Lenses in Your Glasses" ; Orthogon Price List for Uncut Lenses and Semi-Finished Blanks July1, 1931 ; Orthogon Advertising ; Spherical Illuminator Directions ; The Golden Years Newsletter ; Pamphlet entitled "Half of them Blindfolded" urging people to have their eyes checked ; Prescription Price Lists Dated April 1, 1927, May 15, 1929, May 11, 1931, June 1, 1931, and August 15, 1931 ; Panoptik ; Artascope ; Subscription for Eye Witness ; Advertising Sample "Ray-Ban Anti-Glare Sun Goggles" ; Electronic Stock Renewal System SRS 22 ; Informationon Refractometers ; A Guide to Maxi Performers ; Price List May 24, 1964 - October 31, 1964 ; Helium-Neon Gas Laser ; 200 Omnigraphic Recorder ; Information on Which Spectrophotometer is your Best Buy ; Information about Cataracts ; Spectronic 20 Colorimeter ; Newsletter March 4-8, 1963 ; Strip Chart Recorder V.O.M.5 ; Photo-zoom ; Price List December 1, 1983 ; Bausch & Lomb Advertising Bulletin No. 11, Nov, 16, 1936 ; High Power Steroviewer ; Opthalmic Lenses ; Brochure on Soft Lenses ; Zymat 340 Enzyme Analyzer ; Orthogon 65mm Single Vision Full Round Lenses ; Compact Acuity Projector ; Grating Monochromators ; Certified-Precision Diffraction Gratings ; Ophthalmic Lenses Stock Price List September 30, 1967, April, 1970, March, 1971, and March 1973, Pamphlet on "Insight into Eyesight" ; About Astigmatism ; Glass Plastic Rx Price List ; Ophthalmic Lenses Distributor Price Lists September 28, 1968, February 1974, July 1974, ; Ophthalmic Lenses Rochester Factory Prescription Price List September, 1970 ; market analysis & product development study 1977 ; optical instruments for examining and analzying metals ; binocular microscopes ; Chamot Chemical Microscope ; phase contrast accessories ; Dynoptic Labroscopes ; ear wax removal system ; "Bausch & Lomb Magazine (v.29 n.1) ; "Bausch & Lomb At War"...this comprises the uncataloged portion
Includes:
Trade catalog, price lists, manual, samples and histories
Black and white images
Color images
Physical description:
491 pieces; 7 boxes
Language:
English
Type of material:
Trade catalogs
Trade literature
Place:
Rochester, New York, United States
Date range:
1800s-1900s
Topic (Romaine term):
Ceramics; pottery; glass; crystal; china; bricks; and stones Search this
