Search Results

Creator:

Mason, Alice Trumbull, 1904-1971  Search this

Names:

American Abstract Artists  Search this

Kelpe, Paul, 1902-1985  Search this

Lassaw, Ibram, 1913-2003 -- Photographs  Search this

Extent:

1.3 Linear feet

Type:

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Sketchbooks

Poetry

Date:

1921-1977

Summary:

The papers of abstract artist Alice Trumbull Mason date from 1921 to 1977 and measure 1.3 linear feet. The collection documents her career as a painter, particularly her role as one of the founders of the American Abstract Artists group, through biographical materials; correspondence with family, friends, fellow artists, art galleries, museums, and organizations; writings and notes, including notebooks of poetry and other creative writings; a small amount of printed material; photographs of Mason, friends, and her artwork; and original artwork, including five sketchbooks.

Scope and Content Note:

The papers of abstract artist Alice Trumbull Mason date from 1921 to 1977 and measure 1.3 linear feet. The collection documents her career as a painter, particularly her role as one of the founders of the American Abstract Artists group, through biographical materials; correspondence with family, friends, fellow artists, art galleries, museums, and organizations; writings and notes, including notebooks of poetry and other creative writings; a small amount of printed material; photographs of Mason, friends, and her artwork; and original artwork, including five sketchbooks.

Biographical material consists of resumes, passports, exhibition files, as well as documentation of her membership and active participation in art organizations, including her work as an officer in the American Abstract Artists group. Also found here are scattered personal financial and legal records. Personal and professional correspondence is with family members, including many detailed letters between her and her husband Warwood, fellow artists, including Paul Kelpe, art organizations, curators, museums, galleries, and others. Professional correspondence generally discusses selection of exhibition and awards, sale of artwork, and art events. Writings and notes, mostly from the 1920s and 1930s, consist of Mason's notes on art history and her creative writings, including poetry and "abstract writing." Also found are a few writings about abstract art and various notes and lists.

Printed material includes news clippings on topics of interest to Mason, and other miscellaneous items such as brochures, and exhibition announcements. Photographs include several portraits of Mason with her artwork, photographs of friends including artist Ibram Lassaw, photographs of an American Abstract Artists exhibition, and artwork by her and others. Original artwork found in this collection includes five sketchbooks belonging to Mason, including two that document her travels through Greece and Italy, and other loose drawings.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into 6 series:

Missing Title

Series 1: Biographical Material, 1925-1968 (Box 1, OV 3; 0.2 linear feet)

Series 2: Correspondence, 1922-1977 (Box 1; 0.4 linear feet)

Series 3: Writings and Notes, 1921-1965 (Box 1; 6 folders)

Series 4: Printed Material, 1936-1974 (Box 1; 2 folders)

Series 5: Photographs, 1920s-1967 (Box 1, OV 3; 5 folders)

Series 6: Artwork, 1924-1963 (Box 1-2, OV 3; 0.4 linear feet)

Biographical Note:

Alice Trumbull Mason was born in 1904 in Litchfield, Connecticut. Her mother, Anne Leavenworth Train, was an accomplished artist before she met Alice's father, William Trumbull, a descendent of the Revolutionary War era painter, John Trumbull. Alice spent much of her childhood in Europe with her family. From 1921 to 1922 they lived in Florence and Rome where she studied at the British Academy. In 1923 she continued her studies with painter Charles W. Hawthorne at the National Academy of Design in New York and from 1927 to 1928 attended courses at the Grand Central Art Galleries taught by Arshile Gorky. Gorky inspired her interest in abstract painting, and Mason painted her first non-objective works in 1929. In 1928 she returned to Italy and Greece and was greatly influenced by ancient art, Byzantium, and Italian primitives. She married Warwood Mason, a merchant seaman, in 1930 and her daughter Emily was born in 1932 and her son Jonathan in 1933. During this period she stopped painting and devoted her creative energy to writing poetry inspired by American avant-garde writers.

Mason began painting again in 1934 and was recognized as a key figure of American abstraction. In 1935 she met and became close friends with fellow artist Ibram Lassaw, and they, along with several other artists, began to meet on a regular basis which led to the first American Abstract Artists group exhibition in 1937. Mason remained very active in the group and served as treasurer in 1939, secretary from 1940 to 1945, and president from 1959 to 1963. She was also an activist for abstract art, protesting the decisions of the Museum of Modern Art several times for excluding abstract artists from exhibitions. During the 1940s her paintings and concept of "architectural abstraction" was influenced by the arrival of Piet Mondrian in New York. Also in the 1940s she had two one-woman shows, but throughout her career she felt there was a bias against women in the New York art world and most often she participated in AAA group shows. Her work would be viewed as an important bridge for future abstract and conceptualist artists. In 1958 her son died, and though she continued to paint and participate in exhibitions, she never recovered from this tragedy and in the late 1960s withdrew into seclusion until her death in 1971.

Related Material:

Also found in the Archives of American Art is a collection of interviews by Ruth Bowman of members of the American Abstract Artists group conducted between 1963-1965, that includes an interview with Alice Trumbull Mason. The Archives of American Art also houses 2.3 linear feet of the records of the American Abstract Artists group.

Separated Material:

A portion of the material donated by Alice Trumbull Mason in 1969 relating to her involvement with the American Abstract Artists was separated and filed with the American Abstract Artists records at the Archives of American Art. Files of news clippings and exhibition catalogs were transferred to the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery Library after microfilming.

Provenance:

A portion of this collection was donated by Alice Trumbull Mason in 1969. Additional material was donated from 1972 to 1977 by Mason's daughter, Emily Mason Kahn.

Restrictions:

The collection is partially microfilmed. Use of material not microfilmed 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:

Painters -- New York (State) -- New York  Search this

Topic:

Women artists  Search this

Women painters  Search this

Women authors  Search this

Genre/Form:

Photographs

Sketchbooks

Poetry

Citation:

Alice Trumbull Mason papers, 1921-1977. 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.masoalic

See more items in:

Alice Trumbull Mason papers

Archival Repository:

Archives of American Art

GUID:

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw95e72c55c-ce27-48d3-a5d7-2904106402d0

EDAN-URL:

ead_collection:sova-aaa-masoalic

Artist:

Agnes Martin, American, b. Macklin, Canada, 1912–2004  Search this

Medium:

Acrylic on canvas

Dimensions:

72 1/8 x 72 in. (183 x 182.9 cm)

Type:

Painting

Date:

1966

Credit Line:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn, 1974

Accession Number:

74.100

See more items in:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Collection

School:

Contemporary American Abstraction

Data Source:

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/py26b51d732-8178-44e9-8982-84d40a1d01af

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:hmsg_74.100

Physical description:

0.5 linear feet (1 document box)

Type:

Exhibition catalogs

Photographs

Slides (photographs)

Date:

Ca. 1972

Topic:

Art museums--Exhibitions  Search this

Art, American  Search this

Image number:

EXH E0000467

See more items in:

Photograph Study Collection

Data Source:

Photograph Study Collection, Smithsonian American Art Museum

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_jul_143132

Medium:

Glass

Dimensions:

H x W x D: 14.1 x 14.1 x 1.1 cm (5 9/16 x 5 9/16 x 7/16 in)

Type:

Unclassified

Origin:

Syria

Date:

1-100

Period:

Roman period

Topic:

Roman Period (30 BCE - 395 CE)  Search this

Syria  Search this

Ancient Near Eastern Art  Search this

Gellatly collection  Search this

Credit Line:

Long-term loan from the Smithsonian American Art Museum; gift of John Gellatly, 1929.8.147.20

Accession Number:

LTS1985.1.147.20

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection

Data Source:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye3aa261ea6-ef35-4b6f-b7f5-be945a44e24e

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:fsg_LTS1985.1.147.20

Medium:

Glass

Dimensions:

H x Diam (overall): 11.1 x 6.9 cm (4 3/8 x 2 11/16 in)

Type:

Vessel

Origin:

Syria

Date:

200-300

Topic:

Roman Period (30 BCE - 395 CE)  Search this

Syria  Search this

Ancient Near Eastern Art  Search this

Gellatly collection  Search this

Credit Line:

Long-term loan from the Smithsonian American Art Museum; gift of John Gellatly, 1929.8.147.23

Accession Number:

LTS1985.1.147.23

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Collection

Data Source:

Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ye34ccac462-cf0d-4e44-9fbf-d6530806159f

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:fsg_LTS1985.1.147.23

Artist:

Thomas Wilmer Dewing, born Boston, MA 1851-died New York City 1938  Search this

Medium:

oil on canvas

Dimensions:

22 3/8 x 21 1/4 in. (56.7 x 54.1 cm)

Type:

Painting

Date:

ca. 1910

Topic:

Figure female\full length  Search this

Object\flower  Search this

Object\other\vase  Search this

Object\furniture\table  Search this

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly

Object number:

1929.6.30

Restrictions & Rights:

CC0

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Painting and Sculpture

On View:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2nd Floor, East Wing

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk74e7142f0-a819-431a-8357-d154668d42ad

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_1929.6.30

Artist:

Thomas Wilmer Dewing, born Boston, MA 1851-died New York City 1938  Search this

Medium:

oil on wood

Dimensions:

20 x 15 3/4 in. (50.7 x 39.9 cm)

Type:

Painting

Date:

ca. 1907

Topic:

Figure female\full length  Search this

Dress\accessory\jewelry  Search this

Object\other\vase  Search this

Architecture Interior\domestic\bedroom  Search this

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly

Object number:

1929.6.40

Restrictions & Rights:

CC0

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Painting and Sculpture

On View:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2nd Floor, East Wing

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk70297a82e-ddb1-4a4b-a520-b9bab08953e6

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_1929.6.40

Artist:

Henry Ossawa Tanner, born Pittsburgh, PA 1859-died Paris, France 1937  Search this

Medium:

oil on canvas

Dimensions:

24 x 21 1/4 in. (61 x 53.9 cm)

Type:

Painting

Date:

1899, reworked ca. 1918-1920

Topic:

Figure male\elderly\waist length  Search this

Hebrew  Search this

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Robbins

Object number:

1983.95.189

Restrictions & Rights:

CC0

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Painting and Sculpture

On View:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2nd Floor, East Wing

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7fddb77b3-54f9-4e8a-89b2-4305de1bc854

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_1983.95.189

Artist:

A. Phimister Proctor, born Bozanquit, Ontario, Canada 1860-died Palo Alto, CA 1950  Search this

Medium:

bronze

Dimensions:

13 1/2 × 19 × 9 3/4 in. (34.3 × 48.3 × 24.8 cm)

Type:

Sculpture

Date:

1912

Topic:

Animal\buffalo  Search this

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Rudolf and Gabrielle Bekink, and Phimister P. and Sally L. Church

Object number:

2017.26

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Painting and Sculpture

On View:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, 2nd Floor, South Wing

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7da026f5e-d2b7-42a4-a551-2fdcd523f3b4

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_2017.26

Artist:

Sid Grossman, born New York City 1913-died New York City 1955  Search this

Medium:

gelatin silver print

Dimensions:

8 x 10 in.

Type:

Photography

Date:

ca. 1940s, printed ca. 1940s

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg

Object number:

2020.67.3

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Graphic Arts

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk79ba9f848-c4f5-4aa1-ad06-88825ffa610d

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_2020.67.3

Artist:

Sid Grossman, born New York City 1913-died New York City 1955  Search this

Medium:

gelatin silver print

Dimensions:

8 x 10 in.

Type:

Photography

Date:

1940, printed ca. 1940

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg

Object number:

2020.67.4

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Graphic Arts

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7debcd508-9f2b-4ffc-987e-e9eb631de0a8

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_2020.67.4

Artist:

Arthur Rothstein, born New York City 1915-died New Rochelle, NY 1985  Search this

Medium:

gelatin silver print

Dimensions:

image: 13 1/2 × 10 1/2 in. (34.3 × 26.7 cm) sheet: 14 × 11 in. (35.6 × 27.9 cm)

Type:

Photography

Date:

1941

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg

Object number:

2020.67.46

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Graphic Arts

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7e2944bfa-dd62-490f-b6b4-51f0cb230cf5

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_2020.67.46

Artist:

Arthur Rothstein, born New York City 1915-died New Rochelle, NY 1985  Search this

Medium:

gelatin silver print

Dimensions:

image: 13 1/2 × 10 3/8 in. (34.3 × 26.4 cm) sheet: 14 × 11 in. (35.6 × 27.9 cm)

Type:

Photography

Date:

n.d.

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg

Object number:

2020.67.48

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Graphic Arts

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7c5478443-c354-4957-a2a0-3a3245ba5501

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_2020.67.48

Artist:

Arthur Rothstein, born New York City 1915-died New Rochelle, NY 1985  Search this

Medium:

gelatin silver print

Dimensions:

image: 10 3/8 × 13 3/8 in. (26.4 × 34 cm) sheet: 11 × 14 in. (27.9 × 35.6 cm)

Type:

Photography

Date:

1936

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg

Object number:

2020.67.49

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Graphic Arts

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk716d4f686-f8d3-4ad1-88fa-46cee217102f

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_2020.67.49

Artist:

Sid Grossman, born New York City 1913-died New York City 1955  Search this

Medium:

gelatin silver print

Dimensions:

8 x 10 in.

Type:

Photography

Date:

1940, printed ca. 1940

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg

Object number:

2020.67.5

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Graphic Arts

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7e72a03e7-fd70-44d3-a56f-80eff09f897d

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_2020.67.5

Artist:

Arthur Rothstein, born New York City 1915-died New Rochelle, NY 1985  Search this

Medium:

gelatin silver print

Dimensions:

image: 13 1/8 in. × 11 in. (33.3 × 27.9 cm) sheet: 14 × 11 in. (35.6 × 27.9 cm)

Type:

Photography

Date:

1935, printed ca. 1935

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg

Object number:

2020.67.51

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Graphic Arts

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk7540a36de-8aad-4855-9f82-7bf157abcc48

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_2020.67.51

Artist:

Arthur Rothstein, born New York City 1915-died New Rochelle, NY 1985  Search this

Medium:

gelatin silver print

Dimensions:

image: 10 3/8 × 13 3/8 in. (26.4 × 34 cm) sheet: 11 × 14 in. (27.9 × 35.6 cm)

Type:

Photography

Date:

n.d.

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg

Object number:

2020.67.54

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Graphic Arts

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk732a176b0-68dd-4bf0-92a0-bfe664940111

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_2020.67.54

Artist:

Arthur Rothstein, born New York City 1915-died New Rochelle, NY 1985  Search this

Medium:

gelatin silver print

Dimensions:

overall: 14 × 11 in. (35.6 × 27.9 cm)

Type:

Photography

Date:

n.d.

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg

Object number:

2020.67.56

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Graphic Arts

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk78fcb2d94-6211-4ad0-b102-ceec5ae32134

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_2020.67.56

Artist:

Sid Grossman, born New York City 1913-died New York City 1955  Search this

Medium:

gelatin silver print

Dimensions:

8 x 10 in.

Type:

Photography

Date:

1940, printed ca. 1940

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg

Object number:

2020.67.6

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Graphic Arts

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk720f4f46e-3647-4071-8b31-767cde119493

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_2020.67.6

Artist:

Sid Grossman, born New York City 1913-died New York City 1955  Search this

Medium:

gelatin silver print

Dimensions:

8 x 10 in.

Type:

Photography

Date:

1940, printed ca. 1940

Credit Line:

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Howard Greenberg

Object number:

2020.67.7

Restrictions & Rights:

Usage conditions apply

See more items in:

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department:

Graphic Arts

Data Source:

Smithsonian American Art Museum

GUID:

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk72afebc93-f5df-46dc-9532-7e31c44a8dc8

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:saam_2020.67.7