Walt Kuhn Family papers and Armory Show records

ArchivalResource

Walt Kuhn Family papers and Armory Show records

1859-1984

The Walt Kuhn Family papers and Armory Show records measure 31 linear feet and date from 1859 to 1984, with the bulk of material dating from 1900 to 1949. Papers contain records of the legendary Armory Show of 1913, also known as the International Exhibition of Modern Art, which introduced modern European painting and sculpture to the American public. Papers also contain records of the Association of American Painters and Sculptors (AAPS), the artist-run organization that mounted the Armory Show; records of the New York artists' clubs the Kit Kat Club (founded 1881) and the Penguin Club (founded 1917); and the personal and family papers of New York artist Walt Kuhn (1877-1949), one of the primary organizers of the Armory Show.As Secretary for the AAPS, Kuhn retained the bulk of existing records of that organization and of the Armory Show. Minutes and correspondence make up most of the AAPS records (Series 2), as well as documents related to John Quinn's legal brief against a tariff on imported works of living artists. Armory Show Records (Series 1) include personal letters, voluminous business correspondence, a record book, miscellaneous notes, inventories and shipping records, two large scrapbooks, printed materials, a small number of photographs, and retrospective accounts of the show. The printed materials and photographs in Kit Kat Club and Penguin Club Records reflect Kuhn's deep involvement in those clubs.The Walt Kuhn Family Papers (Series 4) contain records of his artwork, career, travels, personal and professional associations, family members, and work in vaudeville, film, and interior design. Notable among the family papers are illustrated letters and other cartoons; sketches, drawings, watercolors, and prints; candid letters from Walt to Vera Kuhn discussing art scene politics and personalities in New York, Paris, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Florida, and the Midwest; general correspondence with artists, dealers, collectors, journalists, writers, models, and fans; notes in index card files containing biographical anecdotes of the Kuhns' many contacts; provenance files that document the origin and fate of Kuhn's paintings, sculptures, and prints; papers relating to Kuhn's exhibitions and his relationships with the Marie Harriman Gallery and Durand-Ruel Gallery; and photographs and drawings depicting Kuhn's early years in Munich, Germany and Fort Lee, New Jersey; trips to Nova Scotia, New England, the Western United States, and Europe; New York and summer studios, among other subjects.

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6630583

Archives of American Art

Related Entities

There are 18 Entities related to this resource.

Rainford, Percy

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zp5g03 (person)

Kit Kat Club (New York, N.Y.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6d272n7 (corporateBody)

Penguin Club (New York, N.Y.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w64r2znh (corporateBody)

Penguin Club (New York, N.Y.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dc6frv (corporateBody)

Rainford, Percy photographer

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69m7bvt (person)

Davies, Arthur B. (Arthur Bowen), 1862-1928

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tb18bw (person)

Artist; painter and printmaker; b. Utica, New York. From the description of Arthur B. Davies collection, 1890-1998. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70972386 Painter; New York, N.Y. From the description of Arthur B. Davies letters to Sally Lewis, 1919-1923. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122647988 ...

Kuhn, Vera, -1961

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qz3knp (person)

Pach, Walter, 1883-1958

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qp6wr4 (person)

Pach: Artist, critic, historian, writer, art consultant, curator; New York, N.Y. Instrumental in organizing the Armory Show, 1913. Winthrop: patron; New York, N.Y. His collection, left to Harvard University, included early American portraits, drawings by English and French artists, and Chinese sculpture. From the description of Walter Pach letter to Grenville Winthrop, 1933 Apr. 30. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 84852249 American artist and author. From the desc...

International Exhibition of Modern Art

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66c06zh (corporateBody)

Association of American Painters and Sculptors (New York, N.Y.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66163xn (corporateBody)

Kuhn, Walt, 1877-1949

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qz2cmc (person)

Walt Kuhn (1877-1949) was a watercolorist, lithographer, and etcher from New York, N.Y. Kuhn was a central figure in the organization of the Armory Show, and artistic consultant to the Union Pacific Railroad. From the description of Walt Kuhn, Kuhn family papers, and Armory Show records, 1859-1978, bulk 1900-1949. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82042078 Painter; New York, N.Y. Organizer of the 1913 Armory Show. Adele Weibel w...

Sheeler, Charles, 1883-1965

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cv4k63 (person)

Painter; Irvington, N.Y. From the description of Charles Sheeler letter to E.P. Richardson, 1958 Sept. 16. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79265385 From the description of Oral history interview with Charles Sheeler, 1959 June 18 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79269772 Charles Sheeler (1883-1965) was a painter, lithographer, and photographer from Irvington-on-Hudson, N.Y. From the description of Charles Sheeler papers, circa 1840s-1966,...

Quinn, John, 1870-1924

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sj1s62 (person)

John Quinn (1870-1924) was a corporation lawyer in New York City who amassed an important private collection of paintings, drawings and sculpture as well as books and manuscripts of contemporary authors. In addition to promoting modern and avant-garde art in all forms, he particularly encouraged the work of members of the Irish Literary Revival, the artists of the Paris School, and English and American writers of his time. In 1923 he sold his manuscript and library holdings to subsidize his art ...

Kuhn, Brenda, 1911-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63f5z0q (person)

Brenda Kuhn was the daughter of Walt Kuhn, a painter, and organizer of the 1913 Armory Show. From the description of Brenda Kuhn notes concerning Walt Kuhn, 1974-1985. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 85015163 Daughter of painter Walter Kuhn; Cape Neddick, Maine. From the description of Brenda Kuhn interview, 1966 Apr. 1 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82311468 ...

Weston, Edward, 1886-1958

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6qd0shq (person)

Edward Weston, (American, 1886-1958), was born in Highland Park, Illinois and from an early age was involved with photography. He studied at the Illinois College of Photography in 1908, afterwards moving to Los Angeles to work for a commercial portrait studio and eventually starting his own. Weston exhibited his works in many salons and exhibitions, making his works known in the photographic community. In 1929 Weston moved to Carmel, California, where he would spend the rest of his...

Armory Show (1913 : New York, N.Y.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cv8p4z (corporateBody)

Kit Kat Club (New York, N.Y.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6716mrx (corporateBody)

Oldfield, Otis, 1890-1969

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bv884p (person)

Otis Oldfield (1890-1969) was a painter and teacher from San Francisco, Calif. From the description of Otis Oldfield letters and photograph, 1913, 1925-1926. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 317592453 Painter; San Francisco, Calif. From the description of Oral history interview with Otis Oldfield, 1965 May 21. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220229026 Painter, teacher; San Francisco, California. From the description of Otis Oldfield papers, 1913...