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.
An interview of Charles Alan conducted 1970 August 20-25, by Paul Cummings, for the Archives of American Art.
Alan speaks of studying scene and stage design; attending Yale School of Drama; doing illustrations for various publications; traveling and studying in Europe; working as a set designer for MGM and Warner Brothers; his experiences working at the Downtown Gallery; his thoughts and recollections about Edith Halpert; leaving Downtown Gallery and starting his own gallery; his opinions on the future of small galleries in New York; museum purchases; Edith Halpert's art collection; selling his gallery to Felix Landau; and various thoughts concerning the art world. He recalls Norman Bell Geddes, Edith Halpert, Stuart Davis, Julien Levy, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Kirk Askew, Raymond Breinin, Ben Shahn, George Washburn, Edward Root, Joe Hirshhorn, John Marin, John Marin Jr., Lawrence Allen, Georgia O'Keeffe, William Harnett, Julian Levi, Jack Levine, Karl Zerbe, Bruce Conner, Richard Baker, Paul Sachs, and many others.
Biographical / Historical:
Charles Alan (1908?-1975) was an art dealer from New York, New York. Alan attended Horace Mann School, graduating in 1924. Attended Yale School of Drama in 1925, then worked as a set designer for MGM and Warner Brothers. In 1930, Alan became a theatrical set designer and director. After serving in the Army in World War II, he worked for Edith Halpert at the Downtown Gallery. In 1952, he opened the Charles Alan Gallery, specializing in contemporary art. Alan closed the gallery in 1970 to become a private dealer.
General:
Originally recorded on 2 sound tape reels. Reformatted in 2010 as 6 digital wav files. Duration is 2 hrs., 58 min.
Provenance:
These interviews are part of the Archives' 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:
Art dealers -- New York (State) -- New York Search this
Topic:
Set Designers -- United States -- Interviews Search this
Biographical material; files on Alexander Brook, Charles Burchfield, George Luks, Peppino Mangravite, Henry Lee McFee, Maurice Prendergast, Eugene Speicher, Theodoros Stamos, and others whose work Root collected, containing correspondence, catalogs, checklists, clippings, receipts, and notes; correspondence with Harris K. Prior and Joseph Trovato of the Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Lydia Powell, William Roerick, Carl Zigrosser, galleries, dealers, and museum officials; inventories, correspondence, notes, catalogs, and clippings relating to Root's collection; writings; diaries; sketches by Root; files on the Utica Art Society; and photographs of Root, his home, his art collection and exhibitions.
Biographical / Historical:
Art collector and instructor; Clinton, N.Y. Collector of predominately American avant-garde art. Taught art at Hamilton College. Edward is the son of Elihu Root.
Provenance:
Lent for microfilming by the Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, 1981.
Restrictions:
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Rights:
Authorization to publish, quote, or reproduce requires written permission from Director, Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute. Contact Reference Services for more information.
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.
Topic:
Art -- Collectors and collecting -- United States Search this
Art, Modern -- 20th century -- United States Search this
Letters recieved, from Albert Einstein, Morris Graves, Edward W. Root, Otto Seligman, Mark Tobey, Wesley C. Wehr and others. Also includes handmade Christmas cards from Walter Isaacs (linocut) and Ambrose Patterson (woodcut).
Biographical / Historical:
Painter; Seattle, Washington.
Provenance:
Donated 1979 by Wesley Wehr, a friend of Anderson.
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.
Occupation:
Painters -- Washington (State) -- Seattle Search this
Topic:
Painting, Modern -- 20th century -- Washington (State) -- Seattle Search this
Eilshemius, Louis M. (Louis Michel), 1864-1941 Search this
Extent:
2 Items ((on 1 partial microfilm reel))
Type:
Collection descriptions
Archival materials
Date:
[ca. 1930]
Scope and Contents:
Two letters to Root from Louis Michel Eilshemius. Eilshemius discusses a small oil painting purchased by Root that he admirers, his interest in art, the "struggle against irrecognition", his animosity toward the National Academy of Design, views on intellect, and his work other than painting.
Biographical / Historical:
Art collector and art instructor; Clinton, N.Y. Collector of predominately American avant-garde art. Taught art at Hamilton College. He was the son of Elihu Root.
Provenance:
Donated by Mrs. Edward Root, 1964.
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.
Topic:
Art -- Collectors and collecting -- United States Search this
Auspicious vision : Edward Wales Root and American modernism / Mary E. Murray, Paul D. Schweizer, Michael D. Somple ; with an essay by Suzanne Smeaton and Lisa Koenigsberg ; John Bigelow Taylor and Dianne Dubler, principal photographers
