“The world's largest and most widely used resource on the history of art in America”. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institute Archives of American Art Smithsonian Institute

How it was created The Archives of American Art was founded in Detroit, Michigan in 1954 Founders: –Edgar P. Richardson, then Director of the Detroit Institute of Arts –Lawrence A. Fleischman, Detroit businessman and active young collector Initial goal was a microfilm repository of papers already housed in other institutions

And how it grew Joined the Smithsonian Institution in 1970 Smithsonian mission to increase and spread knowledge Today, the Archives includes over 16 million items, 5,000 collections, 2,000 oral history interviews

Mission “To illuminate scholarship of the history of art in America through collecting, preserving, and making available for study the documentation of this country's rich artistic legacy” Purpose: Research

Washington, D.C. and NYC 750 9th St. N.W. at H Street - one block north of the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery

Warm archival types

Staff positions 1.Director 2.Asst. Director for Operations 3.Curator of Manuscripts 4.Chief Collections Processing 5.Registrar 6.Information Resources Manager 7.Information Technical Specialist 8.Library Technician 9.Library Technician/Special Projects 10.Web Developer Liza Kirwin, Curator Of Manuscripts

Staff – more titles 1.Archivists/Processing 2.Archivists/Processing Special Projects 3.Administrative Officer 4.Administrative Specialist 5.Archives Specialist, Curatorial 6.Archives Specialist, Acquistions 7.Archives Technicians, Reference 8.Archives Technicians, Special Projects 9.Microfilm Technician 10.Digital Imaging Technician 11.Journal Editor & Assistant Editor Joan Lord picking up a donation at donor’s house

Collections Span over 200 years of American art Primary sources –letters & diaries –manuscripts –records of museums, galleries and schools –photographs of art figures and events –works of art on paper Significant in the history of art

Accumulations by individuals Artists & photographers Curators & administrators Artists’ models Art dealers Art critics, journalists, editors Historians, collectors Librarians

Records from corporate bodies Auction Houses (illustrated catalogs) Framing shops (designs & techniques) Manufacturers (bronze foundries) Museums & galleries Programs (Federal Art Project) Publishers (bios, interviews ) Universities & art schools (educators & trends)

Personal papers of individuals, records of organizations Letters from, or references to, prominent figures in American cultural history Significant body of unpublished manuscript material Documentation on major American artists or major art trends

Digital collections online Funded by the Terra Foundation for American Art Online features –Copyright policies on use –Proper citations –Guidelines for potential donors Search images, oral histories, inside the finding aids

“most useful to researchers” PERSONAL LETTERS PROFESSIONAL CORRESPONDENCE Drafts or copies of OUTGOING LETTERS DIARIES OR JOURNALS SKETCHBOOKS, LOOSE SKETCHES, STUDIES PHOTOGRAPHS, SLIDES, FILM, VIDEOTAPES LECTURES, ADDRESSES, ARTICLES AUDIOTAPES SCRAPBOOKS, CLIPPINGS, exhibition catalogues, announcements TEACHING MATERIALS RESEARCH files FINANCIAL PAPERS

Message to donors “Only a small portion of all records have archival value” “Enduring value is found in records that document, as they occur, decision making and the conduct of affairs”

Photograph of Yasuo Kuniyoshi, ca. 1940, taken in his studio during his work for the Federal Art Project, NYC. Photographed by [Max] Yavno for the Federal Art Project, NYC, Photographic Division. Collection of Yasuo Kuniyoshi Yasuo Kuniyoshi papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Yasuo Kuniyoshi papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Historical significance Three-page letter to George Biddle, written 3 days after Pearl Harbor Yasuo Kuniyoshi papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Yasuo Kuniyoshi papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.“…a few short days have changed my stature in this country, although I myself have not changed at all....Artists, art executives, museums and the press have been contacted affirming my loyalty to this county and its war effort." Yasuo Kuniyoshi papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Yasuo Kuniyoshi papers, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Resources Archives of American Art [home page] Archives of American Art Journal Textbook… Questions… Thank you!