Romare Bearden papers

  1. Resources
  2. View Resource

ArchivalResource

Romare Bearden papers

1937-1982

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9ed3f5b60-2e93-4f30-af75-dbd95d060a90

The papers of Romare Bearden measure 2.1 linear feet and date from 1937 to 1982. The collection includes biographical information, correspondence, writings by and about Bearden, miscellaneous legal and financial material, photographs, drawings, and printed material.Correspondence is with family, friends, artists, galleries, museums, publishers, universities, arts associations, and colleagues, primarily concerning gallery space, exhibitions, sales of artwork, publishing, and arts events. Also found are numerous letters referring to African-American art movements of the 1960s and 1970s, including exhibitions, publications, associations, and scattered letters of a more personal nature. Many of the letters are illustrated with Bearden's doodlings and drawings. Although most of the letters are from galleries, museums, publishers, and arts associations, scattered letters from Charles Alston, Jacob Lawrence, Ad Reinhardt, Carl Holty, and Sam Middleton are found. In addition, there are letters from the Black Academy of Arts and Letters, and letters concerning its founding.Writings by Bearden include lectures, speeches, talks, essays, and prose. Many are handwritten, annotated, and edited in Bearden's hand and several are illustrated with Bearden's doodlings and sketches. Included are a memorial delivered upon artist Carl Holty's death, a tribute to Zell Ingram, autobiographical essays, essays on art, and African-American art, artists, and cultural life. Also found are several handwritten examples of Bearden's prose and poetry. There are also writings by others and one folder of fragments and notes assumed to be by Bearden.The collection houses two folders of photographs and snapshots of Bearden, family members, other unidentified artists or friends, classes and/or lectures, and works of art. Also found are several undated ink drawings, sketches in pencil and ink, and a hand-drawn and colored map with overlay of Paris. Printed material includes examples of Bearden's commissioned artwork for publications, press releases, exhibition catalogs and announcements, invitations, newspaper and magazine clippings, and miscellaneous printed materials. Although much of the printed material concerns Bearden's work, a fair portion concerns African-American art, artists, and cultural movements.

Archives of American Art

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6630366

Archives of American Art

Related Entities

There are 7 Entities related to this resource.

Black Academy of Arts and Letters (Dallas, Tex.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6330m8t (corporateBody)

The Black Academy of Arts and Letters was established to “define, preserve, promote, cultivate, foster and develop the arts and letters of black people,” as stated by Dr. C. Eric Lincoln in his founding address. Notable contributions by blacks to black America were to be recognized by the Academy members who, themselves, represented some of the finest achievements in arts and letters. The Black Academy was founded March 29, 1969 in Boston, and was incorporated on June 12...

Holty, Carl, 1900-1973

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6q52sbt (person)

Carl Holty (1900-1973) was a painter and writer from New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Carl Holty, 1968 Sept. 25-Oct. 1 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 495596637 Painter and writer; New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Carl Holty, 1965 June 9. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81548756 From the description of Oral history interviews with Carl Holty interviews, 1968 Sept. 25-Oct...

Reinhardt, Ad, 1913-1967

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bg2pg2 (person)

An abstract painter considered influential in the development of Minimalism. Though a contemporary of the Abstract Expressionists, he rejected biomorphism and developed paintings based on geometry, specifically grids, often using a single color in gradations. His last works were a series of all-black canvases. From the Getty's Union List of Artist Names record...

Middleton, Samuel M., 1927-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62f96nb (person)

Alston, Charles Henry, 1907-1977

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63x9r5t (person)

African-American artist Charles Henry Alston, nicknamed "Spinky," was born 28 November 1907 in Charlotte, N.C. He was the youngest of five children born to the Reverend Primus Priss Alston, who was born into slavery in Chatham County, N.C., and Anna Miller Alston. After Primus's death, Anna married Harry Pierce Bearden, artist Romare Bearden's uncle, and moved the family to New York in 1913. Charles Alston worked as a painter, sculptor, graphic artist, illustrator, and educator, gaining national...

Bearden, Romare, 1911-1988

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64f2gj8 (person)

B. September 2, 1911in Charlotte, N.C;d. 1988. From the description of Romy Bearden : Artist File. (International Center of Photography). WorldCat record id: 539064129 Romare Bearden (1911-1988) was painter from New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Romare Bearden, 1968 June 29. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81776639 Romare Bearden (1911-1988) was an African-American primitive painter from New York, N.Y. From the...

Lawrence, Jacob, 1917-2000

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62f7q08 (person)

Painter; New York, N.Y.; b. 1917; d. 2000. From the description of Oral history interviews with Jacob Lawrence, 1982 July 20-Aug. 4. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84455118 Jacob Lawrence was an African-American painter and illustrator. He received the Spingarm Medal in 1975 and taught at the New School and Pratt Institute. He died in 2000. From the description of Jacob Lawrence exhibition card and autobiographical notes, 1947-1948. (Pennsylvania State University...