Search Results

Collection Creator:

Parsons, Betty  Search this

Container:

Box 22, Folder 59

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1957-1959

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 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:

Betty Parsons Gallery records and personal papers, 1916-1991. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Sponsor:

Funding for the processing and digitization of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art and The Walton Family Foundation.

See more items in:

Betty Parsons Gallery records and personal papers

Betty Parsons Gallery records and personal papers / Series 3: Correspondence Files / 3.1: Institutions and Dealers

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw961bacdb5-9a33-4ec6-bc04-28b7396ca594

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aaa-parsbett-ref906

Sculptor:

Andre, Carl 1935-2024  Search this

Medium:

Bent steel reinforcing rod

Type:

Sculptures

Owner/Location:

Smith College Smith College Museum of Art Elm Street at Bedford Terrace Northampton Massachusetts 01063 Accession Number: 1979:34-5

Date:

1972

Topic:

Abstract  Search this

Control number:

IAS 22280002

Data Source:

Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_ari_26331

Creator:

Sosa, Irene  Search this

Spero, Nancy, 1926-2009  Search this

Subject:

Smith College. Museum of Art  Search this

Type:

Videorecording

Date:

1990-1991

Citation:

Irene Sosa and Nancy Spero. Minerva, Sky Goddess, Madrid: Nancy Spero in Madrid and To Soar II: Nancy Spero in Smith College Museum of Art, 1990-1991. Nancy Spero papers, 1940s-2009. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Record number:

(DSI-AAA)25881

See more items in:

Nancy Spero papers, 1940s-2009

Data Source:

Archives of American Art

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:AAADCD_item_25881

Collector:

Lissim, Simon, 1900-1981  Search this

Cooper-Hewitt Design Archive  Search this

Names:

Carl Sorensen & Son  Search this

Castleton China, Inc.  Search this

City University of New York. City College  Search this

Claude Boulme, Inc.  Search this

Cooper-Hewitt Design Archive  Search this

Georg Jensen, Inc.  Search this

Jonals & Co.  Search this

Lenox China (Firm)  Search this

Manufacture nationale de Sèvres  Search this

Boulme, Claude  Search this

Donor:

Dee, Elaine Evans  Search this

Author:

Philip, Prince, consort of Elizabeth II, Queen of Great Britain, 1921-  Search this

Extent:

1.5 Cubic feet

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photostats

Scrapbooks

Clippings

Correspondence

Contracts

Drawings

Photographs

Slides

Catalogs

Brochures

Invoices

Press releases

Date:

1924 - 1981

Scope and Contents:

This collection covers the period 1924-81 and consists of exhibition catalogs, correspondence, photographs, slides, drawings, photostats, contracts, book proofs, and related biographical material on Lissim. Extensive material on the designer's work for the Sevres porcelain factory includes correspondence, original contracts, photographs of porcelains and designs for porcelains, slides, drawings, and invoices.

Most of the material relating to Sevres is in French. A copy of the brochure for the Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes, 1925, is included, which features many of his designs. Also included are his designs for commencement caps and gowns, and other related ephemera for the City University of New York's City College.

The collection contains a mock-up of his 1952 publication, "How to be an Artist", which describes different techniques and how to apply them to greeting cards, porcelains, and textiles. Copies of the introduction and biographical sections of his book "An Artist's Interpretation of Nature", published in 1958 are included.

A scrapbook consists of articles, reviews, personal correspondence, press releases, and brochures. Among Lissim's personal correspondence are letters exchanged with Prince Philip of England, an avid collector of his work. Material on Lissim's work for the theater consists of exhibition brochures, correspondence, and lists of institutions in possession of his work. In addition, the collection contains photographs of Lissim's designs for jewelry, flatware, and textiles.

Biographical / Historical:

Porcelain, theater, and metalwork designer. Born, Kiev, Russia, 1900. Lissim left Russia in 1919 and moved to Paris where he resided until 1940. In all of Lissim's designs, his appreciation for nature is apparent in his use of fish, birds, flowers, and other motifs.

In 1921, he began designing scenery and costumes for the Theatre de l'Oeuve in Paris. In 1924, he created his first designs for the Sevres porcelain factory. His relationship with Sevres lasted for more than 40 years and some of his designs are still being produced. His work achieved a gold medal at the 1929 Exposition Internationale Des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Barcelona. Lissim made his first journey to the United States in 1935, and by 1936, his designs for the theater were featured in exhibitions in this country. His porcelains were featured in exhibitions at The Smith College Museum of Art, 1939, and Georg Jensen, Inc., 1941.

Lissim became Head of the Art Education Project at the New York Public Library in 1942. In 1947 he began teaching at the City Univerity of New York's City College campus, where he also designed commencement costumes for the Chancellor, President, and Chief Marshal. In 1952, Lissim became an art consultant for Castleton China, Inc. in New Castle, Pennsylvania. His work was featured in the exhibition, "A Designer's Interpretation of Nature", held at the American Museum of Natural History in New York in 1953. In 1954, Lissim created his first silver pieces of jewelry and flatware manufactured by Carl Sorensen & Son, Copenhagen, Denmark. In the early 60s, Lissim created three designs for plates that were executed by Claude Boulme. He continued to work and hold exhibitions at his studio in Dobbs Ferry, New York, until his death in 1981.

Related Archival Materials:

Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Applied Arts Department

A Lenox vase, plates, cups, and saucers. A sterling silver pin, paperweight, and cutlery.

Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Department of Drawings and Prints

Designs for plates, vases, and other porcelain pieces, silver cutlery, stage designs, playing cards, and greeting cards. Drawings of commencement robes, a gavel, and a mace designed for City College. Poster for the Musée Céramique de Sévres.

Additional archival materials can be found at The New York Public Library, Theater Division; City University of New York, City College Archives; and Columbia University Libraries, Bakhmeteff Archive, New York City.

Porcelains designed by Lissim are in the collections of the following museums: Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris; The Victoria and Albert Museum, London; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City; The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York; and The Museum of the City of New York, New York City, among others.

Provenance:

These materials were donated to Cooper-Hewitt by the museum's former Curator of Drawings and Prints, Elaine Evans Dee, in 1996. Transferred to the Archives Center in 2012.

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.

Rights:

Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.

Topic:

Theater designers  Search this

Theater design -- History -- 20th century  Search this

Porcelain design -- History -- 20th century -- France  Search this

Designers -- Porcelain  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photostats

Scrapbooks

Clippings

Correspondence

Contracts

Drawings

Photographs -- 20th century

Slides

Catalogs

Brochures

Invoices

Press releases

Citation:

Simon Lissim Papers, 1924-1981, Archives Center, National Museum of American History.

Identifier:

NMAH.AC.1276

See more items in:

Simon Lissim Papers

Archival Repository:

Archives Center, National Museum of American History

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ep83f938108-81da-4e6f-ae63-0a382f4c217b

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-nmah-ac-1276

Artist:

Alexander Archipenko, American, b. Kyiv, Ukraine, 1887–1964  Search this

Medium:

Bronze

Dimensions:

15 x 5 1/4 x 6 in. (38.0 x 13.2 x 15.1 cm)

Type:

Sculpture

Date:

1909-1911, cast by 1926

Credit Line:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1966

Accession Number:

66.74

See more items in:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Collection

Data Source:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/py2cf942d27-f749-46aa-a16f-c8a42c7b7d80

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:hmsg_66.74

Artist:

Alexander Archipenko, American, b. Kyiv, Ukraine, 1887–1964  Search this

Medium:

Wood and paint

Dimensions:

9 X 2 1/2 X 1 1/2 IN. (22.6 X 6.3 X 3.7 CM.) ON ARTIST'S WOOD BASE: 1/4 X 5 1/2 X 4 1/2 IN. (0.6 X 14 X 11.4 CM)

Type:

Sculpture

Date:

(1909)

Credit Line:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1972

Accession Number:

72.10

See more items in:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Collection

Data Source:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/py22797e2e4-05b5-4f9c-bac6-3b06fcf23914

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:hmsg_72.10

Author:

Smith College Museum of Art  Search this

Hitchcock, Henry-Russell 1903-1987  Search this

Physical description:

35 pages illustrations, port 23 cm

Type:

Exhibitions

Expositions

Exhibition catalogues

Exhibition catalogs

Festschriften

Date:

1968

Topic:

Art  Search this

Call number:

N5020 .N95

N5020.N95

N628.A57

Data Source:

Smithsonian Libraries

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sil_8155

Artist:

Edwin Romanzo Elmer, 1850 - 1923  Search this

Sitter:

Edwin Romanzo Elmer, 1850 - 1923  Search this

Effie Lillian Elmer, 1880 - 1888  Search this

Mary Ware Elmer, 1855 - 1927?  Search this

Medium:

Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

69.5cm x 89.5cm (27 3/8" x 35 1/4"), Sight

Type:

Painting

Date:

c. 1890

Topic:

Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair  Search this

Exterior\Landscape\Rural  Search this

Nature & Environment\Animal\Cat  Search this

Nature & Environment\Plant\Tree  Search this

Nature & Environment\Hill  Search this

Architecture\Building\House  Search this

Toy\Doll  Search this

Vehicle\Carriage  Search this

Nature & Environment\Animal\Sheep  Search this

Mary Ware Elmer: Female  Search this

Edwin Romanzo Elmer: Visual Arts\Artist  Search this

Edwin Romanzo Elmer: Male  Search this

Edwin Romanzo Elmer: Natural Resource Occupations\Agriculturist\Farmer  Search this

Effie Lillian Elmer: Female  Search this

Portrait  Search this

Credit Line:

Owner: Smith College Museum of Art

Object number:

1953:129

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Catalog of American Portraits

Data Source:

Catalog of American Portraits

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm40e230597-c0e7-4ea4-9391-b3b5239b4feb

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:npg_1953_129

Container:

Box 3 of 7

Type:

Archival materials

Collection Citation:

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Accession 00-128, National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian Institution), Office of the Registrar, Exhibition Records

See more items in:

Exhibition Records

Exhibition Records / Box 3

Archival Repository:

Smithsonian Institution Archives

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-sia-fa00-128-refidd1e2677

Collection Creator:

Spero, Nancy, 1926-2009  Search this

Extent:

Includes 1 videocassette (VHS). "Minerva, Sky Goddess, Madrid: Nancy Spero in Madrid" and "To Soar II: Nancy Spero in Smith College" by Irene Sosa.

Container:

Box 13, Folder 34

Type:

Archival materials

Date:

1988-1990

Scope and Contents:

Includes photos of installation at Smith College Museum of Art of To Soar II

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:

Nancy Spero papers, 1940s-2009. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Sponsor:

Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by The Walton Family Foundation. Funding for the digitization of the collection was provided by the Smithsonian American Women's History Initiative.

See more items in:

Nancy Spero papers

Nancy Spero papers / Series 6: Gallery and Museum Files

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9587357e2-2be3-4a8a-b1a4-a1365e49cccd

EDAN-URL:

ead_component:sova-aaa-spernanc-ref386

Artist:

Milton E. Simons, active 1830s  Search this

Sitter:

Milton E. Simons, active 1830s  Search this

Medium:

Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

Stretcher: 127 x 101.7cm (50 x 40 1/16")

Type:

Painting

Date:

1838

Topic:

Home Furnishings\Drape  Search this

Art implements\Palette  Search this

Art implements\Paintbrush  Search this

Artwork\Portrait  Search this

Art implements\Easel  Search this

Self-portrait  Search this

Costume\Jewelry\Pin  Search this

Milton E. Simons: Male  Search this

Milton E. Simons: Visual Arts\Artist\Portraitist  Search this

Portrait  Search this

Credit Line:

Owner: Smith College Museum of Art

Object number:

1964:28

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Catalog of American Portraits

Data Source:

Catalog of American Portraits

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4aab0b2a9-e6e0-4153-bfb8-b6f9c6c1f76c

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:npg_1964_28

Creator:

Jacques Seligmann & Co.  Search this

Subject:

Hauke, Cesar M. de (Cesar Mange)  Search this

Glaenzer, Eugene  Search this

Haardt, Georges  Search this

Seligman, Germain  Search this

Seligmann, Arnold  Search this

Parker, Theresa D.  Search this

Waegen, Rolf Hans  Search this

Trevor, Clyfford  Search this

Seligmann, René  Search this

Seligmann, Jacques  Search this

De Hauke & Co., Inc.  Search this

Jacques Seligmann & Co  Search this

Eugene Glaenzer & Co.  Search this

Germain Seligmann & Co.  Search this

Gersel  Search this

Type:

Gallery records

Citation:

Jacques Seligmann & Co. records, 1904-1978, bulk 1913-1974. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Topic:

Mackay, Clarence Hungerford, 1874-1938 -- Art collections  Search this

Schiff, Mortimer L. -- Art collections  Search this

Arenberg, duc d' -- Art collections  Search this

Liechtenstein, House of -- Art collections  Search this

Art -- Collectors and collecting -- France -- Paris  Search this

Art -- Collectors and collecting  Search this

World War, 1939-1945 -- Art and the war  Search this

La Fresnaye, Roger de, 1885-1925  Search this

Art, Renaissance  Search this

Decorative arts  Search this

Art treasures in war  Search this

Art, European  Search this

Theme:

Art Gallery Records  Search this

Art Market  Search this

Record number:

(DSI-AAA_CollID)9936

(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)212486

AAA_collcode_jacqself

Theme:

Art Gallery Records

Art Market

Data Source:

Archives of American Art

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_212486

Artist:

Cecilia Beaux, 1 May 1855 - 17 Sep 1942  Search this

Sitter:

Ada Louise Comstock, 1876 - 1973  Search this

Medium:

Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

137.2cm x 108cm (54" x 42 1/2"), Accurate

Type:

Painting

Date:

1922-1923

Topic:

Interior  Search this

Home Furnishings\Furniture\Desk  Search this

Ada Louise Comstock: Female  Search this

Ada Louise Comstock: Education and Scholarship\Administrator\College administrator  Search this

Portrait  Search this

Credit Line:

Owner: Smith College Museum of Art

Object number:

MA160134

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Catalog of American Portraits

Data Source:

Catalog of American Portraits

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4d9e250e5-1945-491a-b9f5-d74edb3e24df

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:npg_MA160134

Artist:

Jacob Epstein, 10 Nov 1880 - 19 Aug 1959  Search this

Sitter:

Paul Robeson, 9 Apr 1898 - 23 Jan 1976  Search this

Medium:

Bronze

Dimensions:

37.6cm x 21.1cm x 31.1cm (14 13/16" x 8 5/16" x 12 1/4"), Accurate

Type:

Sculpture

Date:

1928?

Topic:

Paul Robeson: Male  Search this

Paul Robeson: Performing Arts\Performer\Actor\Stage actor  Search this

Paul Robeson: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer  Search this

Paul Robeson: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Activist\Civil rights activist  Search this

Paul Robeson: Performing Arts\Performer\Actor\Movie actor  Search this

Portrait  Search this

Credit Line:

Owner: Smith College Museum of Art

Object number:

1933: 5-1

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Catalog of American Portraits

Data Source:

Catalog of American Portraits

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4d56767f9-3aad-4fa5-a223-b984e313b1ec

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:npg_1933__5-1

Artist:

Guy Pène Du Bois, 4 Jan 1884 - 1958  Search this

Sitter:

George Moore, 24 Feb 1852 - 21 Jan 1933  Search this

Sarah Bernhardt, 1844 - 1923  Search this

Medium:

Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

48.3cm x 64.1cm (19" x 25 1/4"), Accurate

Type:

Painting

Date:

1920

Topic:

Sarah Bernhardt: Visual Arts\Artist  Search this

Sarah Bernhardt: Female  Search this

Sarah Bernhardt: Literature\Writer  Search this

Sarah Bernhardt: Performing Arts\Performer\Actor\Stage actor  Search this

Sarah Bernhardt: Legion of Honor  Search this

George Moore: Male  Search this

George Moore: Literature\Writer\Novelist  Search this

Portrait  Search this

Credit Line:

Owner: Smith College Museum of Art

Object number:

1963.100

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Catalog of American Portraits

Data Source:

Catalog of American Portraits

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4c85e61f9-a7e3-4783-a105-f22915884ba8

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:npg_1963.100

Artist:

William Jennys, 1774 - 21 Oct 1859  Search this

Sitter:

Isaac Stone Coffin, 1798 - 1855  Search this

Medium:

Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

61cm x 44.8cm (24" x 17 5/8"), Accurate

Type:

Painting

Date:

c. 1807

Topic:

Isaac Stone Coffin: Male  Search this

Isaac Stone Coffin: Natural Resource Occupations\Seaman\Sea captain  Search this

Portrait  Search this

Credit Line:

Owner: Smith College Museum of Art

Object number:

1975:5-1

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Catalog of American Portraits

Data Source:

Catalog of American Portraits

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm430c50641-2676-4c63-93c1-7958667b39a2

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:npg_1975_5-1

Creator:

Miller, Dorothy Canning, 1904-2003  Search this

Subject:

Rockefeller, Nelson A. (Nelson Aldrich)  Search this

Cahill, Holger  Search this

Rothko, Mark  Search this

Coggeshall, Calvert  Search this

Hicks, Edward  Search this

Still, Clyfford  Search this

Calder, Alexander  Search this

Gorky, Arshile  Search this

Charlton, Maryette  Search this

Feininger, Lyonel  Search this

Pereira, I. Rice (Irene Rice)  Search this

Johns, Jasper  Search this

Horwitt, Will  Search this

DeFeo, Jay  Search this

Christo  Search this

Nevelson, Louise  Search this

Sheeler, Charles  Search this

Rauschenberg, Robert  Search this

Karpel, Bernard  Search this

Copley, Alfred L.  Search this

Davis, Stuart  Search this

Newman, Barnett  Search this

Sage, Kay  Search this

Byars, James Lee  Search this

Mather, Eleanore Price  Search this

Barr, Alfred H., Jr.  Search this

Feitelson, Lorser  Search this

O'Keeffe, Georgia  Search this

Hartigan, Grace  Search this

Noguchi, Isamu  Search this

Chryssa  Search this

Levy, Julien  Search this

Asher, Elise  Search this

Reinhardt, Ad  Search this

Scharf, William  Search this

Matisse, Pierre  Search this

Bontecou, Lee  Search this

Canady, John  Search this

Picasso, Pablo  Search this

Guggenheim, Peggy  Search this

Sterne, Hedda  Search this

World Trade Center (New York, N.Y.)  Search this

Federal Art Project  Search this

Betty Parsons Gallery  Search this

Rockefeller University  Search this

Smith College. Museum of Art  Search this

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey  Search this

Chase Manhattan Bank  Search this

Municipal Art Exhibition (1st : 1934 : New York, N.Y.)  Search this

Mark Rothko Foundation  Search this

Smith College  Search this

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden  Search this

PepsiCo, Inc.  Search this

Type:

Photographs

Sketches

Christmas cards

Drawings

Citation:

Dorothy C. Miller papers, 1853-2013, bulk 1920-1996. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Topic:

Art museum curators -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this

Corporations -- Private collections  Search this

Art -- Private collections  Search this

Folk art  Search this

Women museum curators  Search this

Women art historians  Search this

Theme:

Women  Search this

Research and writing about art  Search this

Record number:

(DSI-AAA_CollID)6469

(DSI-AAA_SIRISBib)215653

AAA_collcode_milldoro

Theme:

Women

Research and writing about art

Data Source:

Archives of American Art

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:AAADCD_coll_215653

Creator:

Miller, Dorothy Canning, 1904-2003  Search this

Names:

Betty Parsons Gallery  Search this

Chase Manhattan Bank -- Art collections  Search this

Federal Art Project  Search this

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden  Search this

Mark Rothko Foundation  Search this

Municipal Art Exhibition (1st : 1934 : New York, N.Y.)  Search this

PepsiCo, Inc.  Search this

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey -- Art collections  Search this

Rockefeller University  Search this

Smith College -- Students  Search this

Smith College. Museum of Art  Search this

World Trade Center (New York, N.Y.) -- Art collections  Search this

Asher, Elise, 1914-  Search this

Barr, Alfred H., Jr., 1902-1981  Search this

Bontecou, Lee, 1931-  Search this

Byars, James Lee  Search this

Cahill, Holger, 1887-1960  Search this

Calder, Alexander, 1898-1976  Search this

Canady, John  Search this

Charlton, Maryette  Search this

Christo, 1935-  Search this

Chryssa, 1933-  Search this

Coggeshall, Calvert, 1907-1990  Search this

Copley, Alfred L.  Search this

Davis, Stuart, 1892-1964  Search this

DeFeo, Jay, 1929-1989  Search this

Feininger, Lyonel, 1871-1956  Search this

Feitelson, Lorser, 1898-1978  Search this

Gorky, Arshile, 1904-1948  Search this

Guggenheim, Peggy, 1898-1979  Search this

Hartigan, Grace  Search this

Hicks, Edward, 1780-1849  Search this

Horwitt, Will  Search this

Johns, Jasper, 1930-  Search this

Karpel, Bernard, 1911-1986  Search this

Levy, Julien  Search this

Mather, Eleanore Price, 1910-  Search this

Matisse, Pierre, 1900-1989  Search this

Nevelson, Louise, 1899-1988  Search this

Newman, Barnett, 1905-1970  Search this

Noguchi, Isamu, 1904-1988  Search this

O'Keeffe, Georgia, 1887-1986  Search this

Pereira, I. Rice (Irene Rice), 1902-1971  Search this

Picasso, Pablo, 1881-1973  Search this

Rauschenberg, Robert, 1925-2008  Search this

Reinhardt, Ad, 1913-1967  Search this

Rockefeller, Nelson A. (Nelson Aldrich), 1908-1979 -- Art collections  Search this

Rothko, Mark, 1903-1970  Search this

Sage, Kay  Search this

Scharf, William, 1927-  Search this

Sheeler, Charles, 1883-1965  Search this

Sterne, Hedda, 1910-2011  Search this

Still, Clyfford, 1904-1980  Search this

Extent:

34.6 Linear feet

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Sketches

Christmas cards

Drawings

Date:

1853-2013

bulk 1920-1996

Summary:

The papers of contemporary and folk art curator, historian, and consultant Dorothy C. Miller measure 34.6 linear feet and date from 1853-2013, with the bulk of the material dating from 1920 to 1996. The papers primarily concern Miller's private art consulting work outside of her curatorial work at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Found are scattered biographical materials, extensive correspondence and subject files, and project files for her art consulting work for the Rockefeller family, Rockefeller University, Chase Manhattan Bank, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the World Trade Center, and other miscellaneous corporate and private clients. Miller's work as a trustee and committee member of various public and private boards and commissions is also represented here. Additionally, the papers contain Miller's research files on Edward Hicks and folk art, and a small number of files of her husband Holger Cahill about his work as Director of the Federal Art Project. There is a scattered documentation of Miller's early curatorial work with Holger Cahill on the First Municipal Art Exhibition (1934) held at the RCA Building in Rockefeller Center. Also found is Dorothy Miller's collection of artists' Christmas cards and photographs of Miller and others. An addition to the papers includes biographical material; family papers; correspondence; professional files; art collection and client files; printed material; and photographic material. While a small number professional files are included, the majority of the addition relates to her personal life, including correspondence with her husband Holger Cahill, and files pertaining to her personal art collection.

Scope and Content Note:

The papers of contemporary and folk art curator, historian, and consultant Dorothy C. Miller measure 34.6 linear feet and date from 1853-2013, with the bulk of the material dating from 1920 to 1996. The papers primarily concern Miller's art consulting work outside of her curatorial work at the Museum of Modern Art in New York city. Found are scattered biographical materials, extensive correspondence and subject files, and project files for her art consulting work for the Rockefeller family, Rockefeller University, Chase Manhattan Bank, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and other miscellaneous corporate and private clients. Her work as a trustee and committee member of various public and private boards and commissions is also represented here. Additionally, the papers contain Miller's research files on Edward Hicks and folk art, and a small number of files related to Miller's husband Holger Cahill and his work as Director of the Federal Art Project. There is important documentation of Miller's early curatorial work with Holger Cahill on the First Municipal Art Exhibition (1934) held at the RCA Building in Rockefeller Center. Artwork includes scattered sketches and drawings enclosed with correspondence and original Christmas cards sent to Miller by various artists. Photographs of Miller date from 1926 - circa 1950.

Scattered biographical material mostly concerns Miller's education at Smith College and awards and honorary degrees that she received. Extensive correspondence and subject files document her professional and personal relationships with family, friends, colleagues, museums, art dealers and artists, as well as her research interests. Individual files may contain a mix of correspondence with, as well as about, the person or subject, compiled research documents, printed materials, and scattered photographs. Files are found for Lewin Alcopley, Alfred Barr, Betty Parsons Gallery, Cahill family members, Lee Bontecou, James Byars, Holger Cahill, Alexander Calder, Christo, Chryssa, Calvert Coggeshall, John Canaday, Maryette Charlton, Stuart Davis, Jay DeFeo, Lorser Feitelson, Arshile Gorky, Peggy Guggenheim, Grace Hartigan, Will Horwitt, Jasper Johns, Julien Levy, Pierre Matisse, Louise Nevelson, Barnett Newman, Isamu Nauchi, Georgia O'Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Ad Reinhardt, Kay Sage, Charles Sheeler, Hedda Sterne, travel, Clyfford Still, William Scharf, among many others.

Detailed records of Miller's art consulting and advisory work for the Rockefeller family include correspondence with Nelson A. Rockefeller and David Rockefeller about building their personal collections of contemporary and folk art, meeting notes and minutes, research notes and writings, and printed materials. The largest group of records concerns the writing and publication of The Nelson A. Rockefeller Collection: Masterpieces of Modern Art. Miller's curatorial work for David Rockefeller and the Rockefeller University's Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Hall art collection is documented in Series 4 through curatorial files, correspondence, printed materials, photographs and slides, artists files, and design records.

Series 5 contains files relating to Miller's work as the first art consutant to the Chase Manhattan Bank and the building of the corporation's extensive collection of contemporary art. There is a draft of Miller's text for the bank's published catalog, Art At Work: Chase Manhattan Bank Collection. A smaller set of records is found in Series 6 documenting Miller's work on the Art Committee of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, including files about selecting artwork for the World Trade Center during the early 1970s. Files concerning Miller's advisory work with additional public and private clients, boards, and commissions are arranged in Series 7 and 8 and concern the Amstar Corporation, Fidelity International Bank, First National Bank of Tampa, First National City Bank, Inmont Corporation, Pepsico, United Mutual Savings Bank, the Empire State Plaza Art Commission, the Hancock Shaker Village, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Mark Rothko Foundation, the Museum of American Folk Art, and the Smith College Museum of Art.

Miller's papers include a small group of files relating to the WPA Federal Art Project (FAP)created by her husband Holger Cahill when he was director of the FAP, Holger Cahill. A small series is devoted to Miller's work with Eleanore Price Mather researching and writing Edward Hicks: His Peaceable Kingdom and Other Paintings. A series of general research files contain miscellaneous research notes and photographs related to Miller's interests in early American art and folk art. Series 12 contains important documentation of Miller's early curatorial work with Holger Cahill on the First Municipal Art Exhibition (1934) held at the RCA Building in Rockefeller Center.

Works of art are primarily in the form of Christmas cards sent to Miller by various artists including Elise Asher, Lyonel Feininger, Bernard Karpel, and Irene Rice Pereira. A small group of photographs includes photographs of Miller from 1926-circa 1950 and a few photographs of others.

The addition includes biographical material; family papers; correspondence; professional files; art collection and client files; printed material; and photographic material. While a small number of professional files are found here, the majority of material relates to Miller's personal life, including correspondence with her husband Holger Cahill, and files pertaining to her personal art collection. Scattered correspondence, inventories, research, and notes created by curator and donor of the papers, Wendy Jeffers, are found throughout the collection. These materials date from the 1980s-2000s.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged as 15 series:

Missing Title

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1917-1986 (Box 1; 0.3 linear ft.)

Series 2: Correspondence and Subject Files, circa 1912-1992 (Boxes 1-8, OV 27; 7.2 linear ft.)

Series 3: Rockefeller Family Art Collections, circa 1949-1985 (Boxes 8-12, 25; 3.9 linear ft.)

Series 4: Rockefeller University Collection, 1923-1984 (Boxes 12-13, OV 27; 1.0 linear ft.)

Series 5: Chase Manhattan Bank Collection, 1959-circa 1985 (Boxes 13-14, 26; 1.4 linear ft.)

Series 6: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Art Committee, circa 1965-1987 (Boxes 14-15, OV 27; 0.8 linear ft.)

Series 7: Other Corporate and Private Clients, 1968-1984 (Boxes 15-16; 1.3 linear ft.)

Series 8: Other Boards, Committees and Commissions, 1925, 1949-1985 (Boxes 16-20; 3.6 linear ft.)

Series 9: Works Project Administration Federal Art Project Files, 1935-1979 (Box 20, OV 27; 0.5 linear ft.)

Series 10: Edward Hicks Catalog, 1934-1984 (Boxes 20-22; 1.5 linear ft.)

Series 11: Research Files, 1930s-1980 (Boxes 22-23; 0.8 linear ft.)

Series 12: Exhibition Files, 1932-1986 (Box 23; 0.6 linear ft.)

Series 13: Works of Art, circa 1924-circa 1982 (Boxes 23-25; 1.5 linear ft.)

Series 14: Photographs, 1926-circa 1970s (Boxes 24-25; 0.3 linear ft.)

Series 15: Addition to the Dorothy C. Miller Papers, 1853-2003, bulk 1920-1996 (Boxes 28-38, OVs 39-41; 9.9 linear ft.)

Biographical Note:

Dorothy Canning Miller (1904-2003) worked in New York City as a highly influential curator of contemporary and folk art at the Museum of Modern Art and as the first curator of the museum. Later, she was the primary art consultant for Nelson A. Rockefeller, the Rockefeller family, Rockefeller University, Chase Manhattan Bank, and the Port Authority of and New Jersey. Dorothy Miller was also married to Holger Cahill, director of the WPA Federal Art Project.

Dorothy C. Miller was born in Hopedale, Massachusetts in 1904 and received her Bachelor of Arts from Smith College in 1925. She was first introduced to modern art through classes at the Newark Museum taught by John Cotton Dana and Holger Cahill. Miller joined the curatorial staff of the Newark Museum in 1926. The museum was one of the first to organize exhibitions of American folk art, American Primitives (1930-1931) and American Folk Sculpture (1931-1932). Miller worked with Cahill and others on the exhibition and developed a life-long interest in folk art.

After four years at the Newark Museum, Miller moved to New York city, hoping to get involved with the newly opened Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), and, likely, to be with Holger Cahill, with whom she lived with on 8th Street prior to their marriage in 1938. Between 1930 and 1932 she took odd jobs and worked with Mrs. Henry Lang cataloging, researching and installing Lang's collection of Native American art Lang donated to the Montclair Art Museum. At the same time, Holger Cahill was serving as Acting Director of the Museum of Modern Art during an absence of Director Alfred H. Barr. In 1932, Cahill asked Miller to assist him with curating the American Painting and Sculpture, 1862-1932 exhibition at MoMA, and together they also curated the First Municipal Art Exhibition, 1934 at the Rockefeller Center.

In 1934, Barr hired Miller as his assistant and one year later appointed her as MoMA's first curator. Miller spent the next 35 years organizing many of this country's most important exhibitions of contemporary art and building personal relationships with new artists and photographers, as well as the collections of MoMA. Miller retired from MOMA in 1969 and focused more on her art consulting work begun in the late 1950s.

Dorothy Miller's most notable client was Nelson A. Rockefeller. She assisted and advised Rockefeller as he acquired a vast personal collection of modern art - some of which was later donated to MoMA. Just prior to her retirement, Miller organized a large exhibition of Rockefeller's collection. The exhibition catalog written by Miller was the basis for the book she worked on with Rockefeller up until and following his death in 1979, ultimately published as The Nelson A. Rockefeller Collection: Masterpieces of Modern Art. In the preface, Rockefeller credited Miller with being one of the four people to whom he was indebted "for the understanding and endless joy I have found in the collecting of modern art in all forms."

Miller also served as the primary art consultant for projects to furnish federal spaces, including Henry Kissinger's State Department office suite, and the official Vice-Presidential residence at the Admiral's House in Washington D.C.

In 1959 Miller was invited to join the art collection committee of the Chase Manhattan Bank and served on the committee until the mid-1980s, contributing her expertise to the development of one of this country's oldest and largest corporate collections of modern and contemporary art.

Miller was also an advisor to other members of the Rockefeller family, including David Rockefeller, and assisted with developing the art collections of Rockefeller Institute/University. From 1960 through the late 1980s Miller was a member of the art committee for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANJY) and was responsible for selecting much of the artwork for the World Trade Center in the 1970s. She served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Hancock Shaker Village, the Smithsonian Institution's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Empire State Plaza in Albany, Smith College Museum of Art, and the Museum of American Folk Art. She also became a member of the Mark Rothko Foundation Board of Directors after the litigation following Rothko's death between Rothko's executors and his daughter.

In the mid-1970s Miller assisted the Whitney Museum of American with planning an exhibition and supporting catalog of the work of folk artist Edward Hicks. Although the exhibition and catalog were only partially realized in 1980, Miller and Eleanore Price Mather compiled and published a book on Hicks, Edward Hicks: His Peaceable Kingdoms and Other Paintings, published in 1983.

In 1982-1983 Miller received the Art Dealers Association Special Award, an honorary degree from Williams College, and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture governor's award. In 1984 she was named honorary trustee of the Museum of Modern Art. In 1985 the Smith College Museum of Art honored her important contributions to museum connoisseurship with the exhibition Dorothy C. Miller: With An Eye to American Art.

Dorothy Miller died in 2003 at the age of 99 at her home in Greenwich, New York.

Related Material:

The Archives of American Art holds two oral history interviews with Dorothy C. Miller. The first was conducted by Paul Cummings between May 26, 1970 and September 28, 1971, and details Miller's life from childhood up to, and including, her years at the Museum of Modern Art. The second was conducted by Avis Berman on May 14, 1981 and covers Miller's relationships with Mark Rothko and Clyfford Still. Also found among the holdings of the Archives are the papers of Holger Cahill, Dorothy Miller's husband and colleague.

The Museum of Modern Art Achives holds Dorothy Miller's papers related to her curatorial work at the museum.

Provenance:

The collection was donated by Dorothy C. Miller via Wendy Jeffers between 1986 and 1997, and Reid White, Executor of Miller's estate, in 2004. Two subsequent additions were donated by Wendy Jeffers in 2014 and 2015.

Restrictions:

Use of original papers requires an appointment.

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:

Art historians -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this

Topic:

Art museum curators -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this

Corporations -- Private collections  Search this

Art -- Private collections  Search this

Folk art  Search this

Women museum curators  Search this

Women art historians  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photographs

Sketches

Christmas cards

Drawings

Citation:

Dorothy C. Miller papers, 1853-2013, bulk 1920-1996. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Sponsor:

Funding for the processing of this collection was provided by the Terra Foundation for American Art

Identifier:

AAA.milldoro

See more items in:

Dorothy C. Miller papers

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9f1ed6cb6-f194-4b76-a8dd-fce3352c09b8

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-milldoro

Artist:

Raphael Soyer, 25 Dec 1899 - 4 Nov 1987  Search this

Sitter:

Raphael Soyer, 25 Dec 1899 - 4 Nov 1987  Search this

Medium:

Oil on canvas

Dimensions:

26.8cm x 20.7cm (10 9/16" x 8 1/8"), Accurate

Type:

Painting

Date:

early 1940s

Topic:

Raphael Soyer: Male  Search this

Raphael Soyer: Visual Arts\Artist\Painter  Search this

Raphael Soyer: Visual Arts\Founder  Search this

Raphael Soyer: Education and Scholarship\Educator\Teacher  Search this

Raphael Soyer: Literature\Writer\Art writer  Search this

Portrait  Search this

Credit Line:

Owner: Smith College Museum of Art

Object number:

1963:96

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Catalog of American Portraits

Data Source:

Catalog of American Portraits

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm44fadb0b5-8fbc-4dd4-9b75-29007d9269fe

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:npg_1963_96

Artist:

Michael De Lisio, 1911 - 21 Jan 2003  Search this

Sitter:

Edgar Allan Poe, 19 Jan 1809 - 7 Oct 1849  Search this

Medium:

Bronze

Dimensions:

28cm x 25.4cm x 15.9cm (11" x 10" x 6 1/4"), Accurate

Type:

Sculpture

Date:

1960

Topic:

Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache  Search this

Edgar Allan Poe: Male  Search this

Edgar Allan Poe: Literature\Writer\Poet  Search this

Edgar Allan Poe: Journalism and Media\Magazine editor  Search this

Edgar Allan Poe: Literature\Writer\Novelist  Search this

Edgar Allan Poe: Literature\Literary critic  Search this

Portrait  Search this

Credit Line:

Owner: Smith College Museum of Art

Object number:

1976:50

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Catalog of American Portraits

Data Source:

Catalog of American Portraits

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4c18d95bc-3f62-46ee-aeb7-c7d2a5f6953d

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:npg_1976_50