Sweeney, James Johnson, 1900-1986

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James Johnson Sweeney, 1900-1986.

From the description of Papers of James Johnson Sweeney, 1953-2005. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 271825527

Art administrator.

From the description of Ends and beginnings : sound recording, 1965 Mar. 15. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 86093871

James Johnson Sweeney served as Director of the Department of Painting and Sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art (1945-1946), Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (1952-1960), and Director of Museum of Fine Arts Houston (1961-1967). Sweeney also independently curated exhibitions for MoMA before, during, and after his tenure as director.

From the description of James Johnson Sweeney papers, ca. 1930s-1960s. (Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)). WorldCat record id: 670149943

James Johnson Sweeney assumed the directorship (1961-1967) of the MFAH in 1961 under a five year contract that was extended an additional year. As a condition of his employment, a director's acquisition fund was established with which he acquired significant works of contemporary art. Known for his innovative installation techniques -- he used rods to project paintings from the wall at the Guggenheim -- Sweeney utilized the new Cullinan Hall to its best advantage by suspending canvases on wires from the ceiling.

Sweeney collected heavily in the art of the Americas, adding hundreds of North American and MesoAmerican pieces to the museum's collection, and even enlisted Brown & Root to construct a road into the Mexican rainforests so that a sixteen-ton Olmec Head could be displayed on the lawn of the MFAH before finding a permanent home at the new Mexican National Museum of Anthropology. During his tenure he persuaded his longtime colleague, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, to create detailed drawings for the planned second phase of additions to the museum that became the Brown Pavilion.

In the year following his departure from the MFAH, Sweeney continued to work as a consultant to supervise the architectural planning process for the museum. During the 1970s he acted as interim director of the National Gallery in Canberra, chaired the executive committee of the Israel Museum, became president of the International Association of Art Critics, and served as an advisory editor for Partisan Review. He also continued a lifelong career in art criticism, completing a book on Chillida shortly before his death in 1986.

Prior to his association with the MFAH, Sweeney had served as Director of the Department of Painting and Sculpture at the Museum of Modern Art (1945-46), and as the first professional Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (1952-1960).

Born in Brooklyn in 1900 to an Irish-American textile-importing family, Sweeney maintained close ties to Europe throughout his life, residing in Ireland and Paris during intermittent periods. He earned his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in 1922, and for two years thereafter, he did graduate work in literature at Jesus College, Cambridge University. He then studied for one year each at the Sorbonne and the University of Sienna.

From the description of James Johnson Sweeney papers, 1961-1968. (Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Hirsch Library). WorldCat record id: 697807508

Art administrator; Houston, Texas.

Director of the Guggenheim Museum, N.Y.C., and of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

From the description of James J. Sweeney interview, 1962 Mar. 21. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80974390

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Registrar. The Heroic Years: Paris 1908-1914, exhibition files, 1964-1965. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
creatorOf Jules Langsner papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Transition. Papers of the magazine Transition, 1933-1941. Houghton Library
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Registrar. Jean Tinguely Sculptures, exhibition files, 1964-1965. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
creatorOf Text of comments by participants in The Modern Artist Speaks forum Archives of American Art
referencedIn Kandinsky, Wassily, 1866-1944. Wassily Kandinsky papers, 1911-1940 (bulk 1921-1937). Getty Research Institute
referencedIn Elizabeth Nottingham Day papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Bowen, Howard Rothmann, 1908-. Owen and Leone Elliott papers, 1957-1981. University of Iowa Libraries
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of Building and Grounds. Cullinan hall, 1952-1978. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Director. Lee H. B. Malone correspondence and miscellaneous subjects, 1949-1960. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Director. James H. Chillman, Jr. correspondence and miscellaneous subjects, 1924-1970. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
creatorOf James Brooks and Charlotte Park papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Barry Faulkner papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Faulkner, Barry, 1881-1966. Barry Faulkner papers, 1861-1966 (bulk 1900-1966). Library of Congress
creatorOf Michael Lekakis papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin), 1894-1962. Papers, 1870-1969 Houghton Library
creatorOf Sweeney, James Johnson, 1900-. Letter, 1953, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Lyonel Feininger papers, 1883-1960. Houghton Library
referencedIn Arnason, H. Harvard. Papers, 1951-1961 (bulk 1951-1960). Walker Art Center Library
referencedIn Lydia Winston Malbin papers, 1891-1997, 1938-1997 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Wassily Kandinsky papers, 1911-1940, 1921-1937 Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Sweeney, James Johnson, 1900-1986. Papers of James Johnson Sweeney, 1953-2005. Libraries Australia
referencedIn Henry McBride papers, 1863-1962 (inclusive), 1901-1962 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Matter, Herbert, 1907-1984. Herbert Matter papers, circa 1937-1984. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf International Association of Art Critics panel discussions Archives of American Art
referencedIn Harry Levin papers Houghton Library
referencedIn MacDowell Colony Records, 1869-1970, (bulk 1945-1968) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf José de Creeft papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Hickey and Robertson photonegative collection, 1955-1973. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Registrar. Exhibition files, 1924-1998. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of Building and Grounds. Brown pavilion, 1960-1983. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
referencedIn Barry Faulkner papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Museum of Fine Arts, Houston records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Howe, George, 1886-1955. George Howe papers, 1926-1974, (bulk 1926-1955). Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Department of Education. Ruth Pershing Uhler subject files, 1954-1971. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
referencedIn Herbert Matter papers, ca. 1937-1984 Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn T. S. (Thomas Stearns) Eliot additional papers, 1903-1963. Houghton Library
creatorOf Sweeney, James Johnson, 1900-1986. James Johnson Sweeney papers, ca. 1930s-1960s. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Director. Records, 1924-[ongoing]. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
referencedIn Archives pamphlet file : Sweeney, James Johnson, 1900-1986 : miscellaneous uncataloged material. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Early museum history: administrative records, 1930s-1950s. Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)
referencedIn Horace Gregory Papers, 1920-1973 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Sweeney, James Johnson, 1900-1986. James Johnson Sweeney papers, 1961-1968. Museum of Fine Arts, Houston - Hirsch Library, Hirsch Library
referencedIn Papers of the magazine Transition, 1933-1941. Houghton Library
creatorOf Ends and beginnings : sound recording Archives of American Art
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Registrar. Eduardo Chillida Retrospective, exhibition files, 1964-1968. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
creatorOf Boston College Candlemas Lectures Director's Records Boston College. John J. Burns Library
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Registrar. The Olmec Tradition, exhibition files, 1961-1964. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
referencedIn Thomas, Howard, 1899-1971. Howard Thomas papers, 1888, 1895, 1899-1974 [manuscript]. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Director. James Johnson Sweeney correspondence, 1961-1967. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
referencedIn Barbara Rose papers, 1940-1993 (bulk 1960-1985). Getty Research Institute
creatorOf Ida Kohlmeyer papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Director. James Johnson Sweeney subject files, 1961-1968. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
referencedIn Cullinan, Nina J. Nina J. Cullinan papers, 1953-1981. Hirsch Library Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
creatorOf Sweeney, James Johnson, 1900-. Correspondence with Carl Zigrosser, 1947-1959. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Max Weber papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Kruse, Alexander Z., 1888-1972. Papers of Alexander Z. Kruse, 1890-1972 (bulk 1930s-1960s). Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Alfred Stieglitz / Georgia O'Keeffe archive, 1728-1986 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Papers of the magazine Transition, 1933-1941. Houghton Library
referencedIn Yaddo records, 1870-1980 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Oral history interview with H. Harvard Arnason Archives of American Art
creatorOf James J. Sweeney interview Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Arthur Cort Holden Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Ida Kohlmeyer Archives of American Art
referencedIn Oral history interview with Isabel Bishop Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith Arnason, H. Harvard person
associatedWith Bishop, Isabel, 1902- person
associatedWith Boston College. Candlemas Lectures. Director. corporateBody
associatedWith Brooks, James, 1906- person
associatedWith Chillida, Eduardo, 1924-2002. person
associatedWith Cullinan, Nina J. person
associatedWith Cullor, George person
associatedWith Cummings, E. E. (Edward Estlin), 1894-1962 person
associatedWith Day, Elizabeth Nottingham, 1907-1956. person
associatedWith De Creeft, José, 1884-1982. person
correspondedWith Eliot, T. S. (Thomas Stearns), 1888-1965 person
correspondedWith Faulkner, Barry, 1881-1966. person
correspondedWith Feininger, Lyonel, 1871-1956 person
associatedWith Gregory, Horace, 1898-1982 person
associatedWith Holden, Arthur Cort, 1890- person
associatedWith Howe, George, 1886-1955. person
associatedWith International Association of Art Critics. corporateBody
associatedWith Kandinsky, Wassily, 1866-1944. person
associatedWith Kohlmeyer, Ida, 1912-1997, person
associatedWith Kruse, Alexander Z., 1888-1972. person
associatedWith Langsner, Jules, 1911-1967. person
associatedWith Lekakis, Michael, 1907-1987. person
correspondedWith Levin, Harry, 1912-1994 person
associatedWith MacDowell Colony (Peterborough, N.H.) corporateBody
associatedWith Matter, Herbert, 1907-1984. person
associatedWith McBride, Henry, 1867-1962. person
associatedWith Modern Artist Speaks (1948 : Museum of Modern Art, New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Department of Education. corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of Building and Grounds. corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of Building and Grounds. corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Director. corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Director. corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Director. corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Director. corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Director. corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Registrar. corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Registrar. corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Registrar. corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Registrar. corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Office of the Registrar. corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Museum of Modern Art (New York, N.Y.). Dept. of Painting and Sculpture corporateBody
associatedWith Rose, Barbara. person
associatedWith Stieglitz, Alfred, 1864-1946. person
associatedWith Stieglitz, Alfred, 1964-1946. person
associatedWith Thomas, Howard, 1899-1971. person
correspondedWith Transition. corporateBody
associatedWith Transition. corporateBody
associatedWith Weber, Max, 1881-1961. person
associatedWith Winston, Lydia, 1897- person
associatedWith Yaddo (Artist's colony) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Texas--Houston
Subject
Art, Modern
Art, American
Art museum directors
Arts administrators
Arts administrators
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1900

Death 1986

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 34081671