Archives of American Art 



Richard J. Wattenmaker, Director 



Acquisitions 



Among important new groups of papers acquired by the Ar- 

 chives in Fiscal Year 1994 are thirty letters from Clyfford Still 

 (1904-1980) donated by Mrs. Annalee Newman. The gift con- 

 sists of the ten year (1946— 1956) correspondence of the Ab- 

 stract Expressionist painter Barnett Newman. This important 

 gift traces the rise and fall of Still's friendship with his col- 

 leagues as well as providing a steady stream of choice Still 

 commentary on the art world, European art, cricics such as 

 Clement Greenberg, and exhibitions. 



The papers (21 feet) of Art historian Richard McLanathan 

 (b. 1916), who was instrumental in bringing TV broadcasting 

 to art museums and was a ma]or figure in establishing the 

 first state arts council, were donated. Mr. McLanathan also 

 gave a 1 1/2 hour oral history interview to New England Re- 

 gional Center Director, Robert F. Brown. 



Additions to personal collections at the Archives include 

 seven letters from John Stewart Curry (1897-1946) and the 

 Curry family together with a scrapbook of clippings exhibi- 

 tion catalogs and printed materials c. 1921-1985. The group is 

 a complement to the Archives' extensive documentation of 

 this Regionalist painter's life and career. Material related to 

 the art collections of Nelson A. Rockefeller, Smith College, 

 and the Chase Manhattan Bank, as well as papers of William 

 Miller (1849-1915), collector and dealer, grandfather of Doro- 

 thy C. Miller (b.1904), were added to the papers already do- 

 nated by Ms. Miller Additional papers of Herbert Wade 

 Hemphill (b. 1929), collector of Folk Art, included correspon- 

 dence (1962-1991) writings, photographs and clippings along 

 with three videotapes. 



A ma|or addicion to the records of Jacques Seligmann Co. 

 Gallery comprising an 18.3 linear foot addition to the 167 feet 

 already in the Archives collection includes gallery records, ac- 

 counting files, inventories and sales records, 1931-1976. The 

 gift also includes writings by Germain Seligmann with re- 

 search notes and manuscripts. 



Another significant gallery acquisition are the records of 

 the Tibor de Nagy Gallery comprising 29 linear feet, a major 

 gift of gallery records, correspondence, photographs, inven- 

 tory cards and checklists. Together with John Bernard Myers, 

 de Nagy made a reputation exhibiting new talent from Larry 

 Rivers to Fairfield Porter 



Finally the papers of Maltby Sykes (1911-1922), 4 linear feet 

 consisting of exhibitions records, correspondence, lecture 

 notes, photographs and scrapbooks of the noted printmaker, 

 and painter from Auburn, Alabama add ro the Archives' previ- 

 ous holdings including material concerning his apprentice- 

 ship in 1936 with Diego Rivera; and the papers of Peter Hurd 

 (1904-1984) and Hennette Wyeth (b. 1907), comprised of four 

 linear feet, complete an important collection of business and 



personal correspondence (1921-1967). In these papers Henri- 

 etta Wyeth chronicles her life with Peter Hurd on their ranch 

 at San Patricio, New Mexico, and their travels together. 



Exhibitions 



Among exhibitions was "The Aura of Human Experience" , J acob 

 Kainenfrom the Archives of American Art, organized by Liza 

 Kirwin. It opened at the New York Regional Center gallery 

 on July I and conrinued through October 15. The exhibition 

 explored Kainen's career as a painter, printmaker, writer and 

 Smithsonian curator through a selection of letters, sketch- 

 books, photographs, and rare printed materials from the col- 

 lection of the Archives of American Art, Ruth and Jacob 

 Kainen, the Graphic Arts Division of the National Museum 

 of American Art and the NMAA/NPG library. The show com- 

 plemented the traveling retrospective exhibition of Kainen's 

 paintings organized by the National Museum of American 

 Art that was simultaneously on display at The Equitable Gal- 

 lery in New York from July I to October I, 



Stella' an exhibition of the papers and prints of Frank 

 Stella, was presented October 26, 1993 to January 21, 1994. 



Organized by New York Regional Director Stephen 

 Polcari, the gift of unknown sketchbooks, original manu- 

 scripts, correspondence and Page 4. ..Narrative — Smithsonian 

 Annals 1994 



other materials given to the Archives by Mr. Stella was the 

 subject of this exhibition, the opening of which coincided 

 with the New York Benefir Gala honoring Stella. 



Publications 



Two more guides to Archives collections were published: A 

 Guide to A rchwal Sources for Italian- A merican A rt History in the 

 Archives of American Art (1993) and Philadelphia: A Guide to 

 Art-Related Archival Materials, Manna Pacini (1994). In addi- 

 tion, two issues of the Archives Newsletter, Vol 3 nos. I and 2 

 were also published. 



Symposium 



"Willem de Kooning Reconsidered" on November 5, 1993, 

 was co-sponsored by the Archives and the Hirshhorn Museum 

 and Sculpture Garden and held at the Hirshhorn. Speakers Ju- 

 dith Wolfe, David Catefons, and Carter Ratcliff explored top- 

 ics related to the Dutch-born Abstract Expressionist painter. 

 Respondent Stephen Polcari, New York Regional Director, 

 presented a thorough critique of the proceedings. The sympo- 

 sium was organized by Liza Kirwin, Southeast Regional 

 Collector. 



Oral History 



The Archives continued its interviews with senior art dealers, 

 funded by a grant from the Arc Dealers Association of Amer- 

 ica. Interviews were conducted with Lawrence Fleischman and 

 Michael St. Clair. Alice Winchester (b. 1907) also gave a three- 



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