The papers of New York City art entrepreneur, curator, and journalist Joan Kron date from 1959 to 1971 and measure 1.4 linear feet. The papers include correspondence, scattered financial records, notes and writings, printed material, photographs, a sound and video recording, and project/exhibition files concerning Kron's involvement in the 1960s with the exhibtions of the Arts Council of the Young Men's/Women's Hebrew Association (YM/WHA)of Philadelphia and her business, the Beautiful Bag and Box Co.
Scope and Content Note:
The papers of New York City art entrepreneur, curator, and journalist Joan Kron date from 1959 to 1971 and measure 1.4 linear feet. The papers include correspondence, scattered financial records, notes and writings, printed material, photographs, a sound and video recording, and project/exhibition files concerning Kron's involvement in the 1960s with the exhibtions of the Arts Council of the Young Men's/Women's Hebrew Association (YM/WHA)of Philadelphia and her business, the Beautiful Bag and Box Co.
Papers relating to Kron's volunteer chairmanship of the Arts Council of the Young Men's/Women's Hebrew Association (YM/WHA)of Philadelphia include general files concerning the administration and operation of the organization, as well as exhibition files for Art 1963/ A New Vocabulary (1962) and Museum of Merchandise 1967.) Files generally consist of correspondence, clippings and other printed materials, notes and writings, photographs, and financial documents. The exhibition files for Art 1963/ A New Vocabulary include a typescript "Dictionary Suggestions" by Billy Klüver which contains slang terms with creative definitions, and photographs of Claes Oldenburg, Billy Klüver, Joan Kron, Sam Maitin, Niki de Saint-Phalle, Audrey Sabol, George Segal, Jean Tinguely, and Robert Watts. The files for Museum of Merchandise contain a painting on paper by Geoffrey Hendricks, a drawing by Ray Johnson, a photograph of fabric designer Karl Rosenberg, a photograph of a wedding dress design by Christo, and a 1/2" open reel videotape made by Nam Jun Paik of Kron's appearance on The Tonight Show.
The records of the Beautiful Bag and Box Co., an art entrepreneurial business created by Kron and her colleague Audrey Sabol, include correspondence, a ledger of sales and deposits, income tax records, miscellaneous invoices, notes and writings, clippings, miscellaneous printed material, and photographs. Also found are project/product files for Art Museum Store, Temporary Tattoos, Durable Dishes designed by Roy Lichtenstein, Eat Pin likely designed by Robert Indiana, Art on Billboards, and Stunning Stationery. The file for project Art on Billboards contains postcards from Allan Kaprow and Jim Dine expressing interest in the project, and a photograph of Edwin and Audrey Sabol on a motorcycle posing in front of a billboard designed by Roy Lichtenstein. There is also a 7" audio reel tape recording of a radio program Hey, Look at That containing comments about billboards from Kron, Roy Lichtenstein, architect Robert Venturi, and Evan H. Turner, Director of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as 2 series:
Missing Title
Series 1: Arts Council of the YM/YWHA of Philadelphia, 1959-1971 (Box 1-2, OV 3; 0.6 linear feet)
Series 2: Beautiful Bag and Box Co., 1963-1969 (Box 1-2; 0.8 linear feet)
Biographical Note:
Joan Kron (circa 1928-) is a fashion and style journalist in New York City, but began her career in Philadelphia as an advocate of avante-garde artists and co-founder of The Beautiful Bag Co. which worked with artists to produce commercial household and fashion art products. Kron worked on projects with Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Robert Indiana, among others.
Joan Kron was born circa 1928 in New York. She studied at the Yale University School of Drama from 1946-1948, graduating with a degree in costume design. She married surgeon Dr. Samuel Kron and lived in Philadelphia during the 1960s. For almost a decade, Kron volunteered as chairman of the Arts Council of the Young Men's/Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia (YM/YWHA.) The YM/YMA Arts Council focused on promoting and hosting new and avant-garde programs in dance, theatre, poetry, crafts, and the visual arts. Under Kron's leadership, the YM/YWHA Arts Council curated Arts1963/A New Vocabulary (1962) and Museum of Merchandise (1967.)
Kron's work with the Arts Council allowed her to build business partnerships with several artists. She partnered with Andy Warhol to produce a line of perfume, "You're In," packaged in silver Coca-Cola bottles, with Robert Indiana for a Love Ring, and other products and projects associated with the exhibitions of the Arts Council. Then, around 1964, she partnered with colleague Audrey Sabol to form The Beautiful Bag and Box Co. and continued to explore commercial products created or designed by artists, including a line of dinnerware "Durable Dishes" designed by Roy Lichtenstein, a series of billboards displaying art work and the Eat Pin, most likely designed by Robert Indiana.
Kron began her career in journalism in the late 1960s by contributing an article about a cannabis harvest in an upscale neighborhood to the Philadelphia magazine in 1969. She continued to write for the magazine until after her divorce. She moved to New York City in 1971 and was hired by New York magazine. She researched and wrote a special issue about the blossoming SoHo art district. Kron then focused the remainder of her career primarily on writing, and worked for a number of magazines and newspapers, and published several books. As of 2010, she was living in New York City and working as contributing editor at large for Condé Nast's Allure magazine, primarily covering the subject of cosmetic surgery.
Related Materials:
Additional copies of microfilm reels 4224-4225 are available at the Free Library of Philadelphia.
Also found in the Archives are selected papers of the Young Men's/Women's Hebrew Association Arts Council that were loaned by Judith Golden for microfilming, and are now available only on microfilm reels 3898. Another small collection of printed material from the YM/WHA records was donated by Acey Wolgin and microfilmed on reel 4340, and transferred to the Smithsonian American Art Museum Library's vertical files.
Provenance:
Joan Kron donated her papers in 1987.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment. 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.
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia building
Subject:
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Arts Council Search this
Type:
Photographs
Place:
Philadelphia, Pa.
Date:
circa 1975
Citation:
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia building, circa 1975. YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia logo
Subject:
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Arts Council Search this
Type:
Printed Materials
Date:
19--
Citation:
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia logo, 19--. YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Quotes and excerpts must be cited as follows: Oral history interview with Audrey Sabol, 1987 June 10. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Arts Council Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 3
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1968-1971
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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:
YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006, bulk 1967-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Arts Council Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 26
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1962
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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:
YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006, bulk 1967-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Arts Council Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 34
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1969-1970
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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:
YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006, bulk 1967-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
General Administrative Records, "New Arts Council,"
Collection Creator:
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Arts Council Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 12
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1981
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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:
YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006, bulk 1967-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Correspondence and exhibition files documenting Audrey Sabol's involvement with the Arts Council of the Young Men's/Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia during the 1960s.
Exhibition files for Pop Art, contemporary sculpure, and artist-designed products include: "Art 1963/A New Vocabulary" (November 1962); "Dial Y for Sculpture" (October 1964); "How the West Has Done" (March 1966); and "Museum of Merchandise" (May 1967). The files contain correspondence, financial records, photographs, clippings, catalogs, announcements and other printed miscellany. The file for "Dial Y for Sculpture" includes untranscribed cassette tapes and CDs of artists describing their work and tapes of the Steve Reich composition "Buy Art, Buy Art"
Correspondence consists primarily of letters received from Mark di Suvero (1964-1965), whom Sabol became acquainted with during planning of "Dial Y for Sculpture," describing works in progress, materials, tools, personal impressions, and physical difficulties in working after his accident. Two letters contain sketches of his sculpture as well as sketches illustrating dismantling instructions for AMERIGO V. A few miscellaneous letters from Thomas Hess to Holmes Perkins and from Holmes Perkins, Nicholas Calas, and Dieter Rot to Sabol are included.
Biographical / Historical:
Audrey Sabol (1922- ) is a curator in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Partner with Joan Kron in the Beautiful Bag Co.
Provenance:
Donated 1986 by Audrey Sabol.
Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Arts Council Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 19
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1976
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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:
YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006, bulk 1967-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Arts Council Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 42
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1971
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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:
YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006, bulk 1967-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Arts Council Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 25
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1969-1970s
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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:
YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006, bulk 1967-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Arts Council Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 35
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1970
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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:
YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006, bulk 1967-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Lottery of Living Experiences Sponsor/Patron Event (1970)
Collection Creator:
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Arts Council Search this
Extent:
(2 folders)
Container:
Box 1, Folder 36-37
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1969-1971
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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:
YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006, bulk 1967-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Arts Council Search this
Extent:
(5 folders)
Container:
Box 1, Folder 44-48
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1968-1980
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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:
YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006, bulk 1967-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
The records of the YM/YWHA Arts Council measure 1.2 linear feet and date from 1962 to 2006, with the bulk of the records dating from 1967 to 1981. This collection documents the activities of the Philadelphia-based arts organization, primarily during the period that Judith Golden was the council chair. Included are administrative records, scattered correspondence, exhibition and program files, and printed material.
Scope and Content Note:
The records of the YM/YWHA Arts Council measure 1.2 linear feet and date from 1962 to 2006, with the bulk of the records dating from 1967 to 1981. This collection documents the activities of the Philadelphia-based arts organization, primarily during the period that Judith Golden was the council chair. Included are administrative records, scattered correspondence, exhibition and program files, and printed material.
Administrative records include documentation on the Arts Council history, the council manual belonging to Judith Golden, committee member lists, meeting minutes and agendas, and documentation on grants and program funding. Also found are draft letters to members, draft press releases, scattered printed material and correspondence, meeting records, notes, reports, and proposed budgets. Correspondence is from 1969 to 1972 and includes Judith Golden's outgoing and incoming correspondence as Chairman of the Arts Council. Additionally, there is one letter addressed to Golden from 2004.
The exhibition and program files document art exhibitions, theater and dance performances, lectures, and patron events organized by the YM/YWHA Arts Council. Files may include performance agreements, planning documents, correspondence, printed announcements, press releases, and press clippings.
Printed Material consists of numerous brochures and program announcements for events at the YM/YWHA. Also found are magazines and newpaper clippings documenting arts events, scattered press releases, and The Review newsletter, published by the Jewis Ys and Centers of Greater Philadelphia.
Arrangement:
The collection is arranged as # series:
Missing Title
Series 1: Administrative Records, circa 1966-1981 (Box 1; 0.4 linear feet)
Series 2: Correspondence, 1969-1972, 2004 (Box 1; 3 folders)
Series 3: Exhibition and Program Files, 1962-1970s, 2006 (Box 1; 0.4 linear feet)
Series 4: Printed Material, 1967-1987 (Box 1-2; 0.4 linear feet)
Historical Note:
The YM/YWHA Arts Council was established in 1958 as a volunteer organization dedicated to bringing the visual and performing arts to Philadelpha. Judith Golden was Arts Council Chairman from 1969-1971 and Advisory Co-Chair from 1974-1976.
Related Material:
Additional YM/YWHA records were donated in 1986 by Acey Wolgin, an early member of the Association. These records were transferred to the vertical file of Smithsonian American Art Museum Library after microfilming, and are available on microfilm reel 4340. Also at the Archives of American Art are the Joan Kron papers, 1959-1971, and the Audrey Sabol papers, 1962-1967. Both collections document their work with the YM/YWHA Arts Council of Philadelphia.
Provenance:
The YM/YWHA Arts Council records were lent for microfilming in 1986 and subsequently donated with additional unmicrofilmed material in 2010 by Judith Golden, former chairman of the YM/YWHA Arts Council of Philadelphia.
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.
Topic:
Art -- Exhibitions -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Search this
Art centers -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia Search this
Function:
Arts organizations -- Pennsylvania
Genre/Form:
Minutes
Drafts (documents)
Citation:
YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006, bulk 1967-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Arts Council Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 24
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
circa 1970-1971
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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:
YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006, bulk 1967-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Young Men's and Young Women's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia. Arts Council Search this
Container:
Box 1, Folder 30
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
1969-1970
Collection Restrictions:
Use of original papers requires an appointment.
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:
YM/YWHA Arts Council records, 1962-2006, bulk 1967-1981. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
