Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner papers

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Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner papers

circa 1914-1984

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/mw9ac60d2fa-adb8-4919-9ebb-ddef5dfaa3f8

The papers of abstract expressionist painters Jackson Pollock and wife Lee Krasner measure 16.1 linear feet and date from circa 1914 to 1984, with the bulk of the material dating from 1942 to 1984. The collection documents their personal and professional lives, as well as the legacy of Jackson Pollock's work after his death. Found are biographical material, correspondence, writings by Krasner and others, research material, business and financial records, printed material, scrapbooks, artwork by others, photographs, interview transcripts, audio and video recordings, and motion picture film. The collection is divided into two series, the first of which focuses on Pollock and includes his scattered papers dating from circa 1914 to his death in 1956, as well as Krasner's papers dating from his death to 1984 about managing Pollock's legacy. This series includes biographical materials, including transcripts and audio recordings of an interview with William Wright in 1949; Pollock's and Krasner's correspondence with Thomas Hart Benton, Betty Parsons Gallery, Bill Davis, B. H. Friedman, Reginald Isaacs, Sidney Janis, Violet De Lazlo, Martha Jackson Gallery, Alfonso Ossorio, Tony Smith, and Clyfford Still, and with one another; Krasner's correspondence concerning Pollock's estate and artwork after his death; numerous writings about Pollock, including an original draft of Bryan Robertson's biography and an essay by Clement Greenberg. James Valliere extensive research files on Pollock for a never-published biography were given to Krasner and filed in Series 1. These include scattered correspondence with Lee Krasner, and Pollock's family and friends, including Charles Pollock, Thomas Hart Benton, and Robert Motherwell. There are also transcripts of interviews Valliere conducted with Pollock's friends and colleagues, including James Brooks, Dorothy Dehner, Clement Greenberg, Reuben Kadish, Lee Krasner, Charles Maddox, Mrs. Sanford McCoy, Daniel T. Miller, Robert Miller, and Tony Smith. The original audio reels and duplicates exist for many and are filed here. Additional interviews were conducted with Willem de Kooning, Alfonso Ossorio, and Burton Rouche, but not transcribed - these are filed in Series 1.10, Audio Recordings and Motion Picture Film. Also found in Series 1 are scattered business records documenting Krasner's handling of Pollock's estate and legacy; printed materials relating to Pollock, including published biographies, exhibition catalogs, and clippings; two scrapbooks; and a sketchbook by an unidentified artist. Numerous photographs of Pollock include childhood and family photographs, photographs of Pollock in his studio by Hans Namuth, Rudy Burckhardt, and Herbert Matter, photographs of Pollock with Lee Krasner, and exhibition photographs. Audio recordings and motion film in Series 1 include a 1964 16mm film about Pollock (VHS copies are available) and reel-to-reel recordings of untranscribed interviews of Pollock's friends and colleagues by James Valliere, including interviews with Willem de Kooning and Alfonso Ossorio. Additional transcribed interviews are filed in subseries 1.4.Lee Krasner's papers documenting her own career are arranged in Series 2 and date from 1927-1984. Biographical materials include resumes and awards, school documents, family documentation, and exhibition lists. Her correspondence with artist friends and art colleagues is extensive and includes many letters from artists such as Philip Johnson, Ray Eames, Cleve Gray, and Hans Namuth. She also maintained correspondence with many art historians and critics, curators, gallery owners, collectors, arts-related and social organizations, admirers, and family members.There are thirteen transcripts of interviews with Krasner by Bruce Glaser, Barbara Cavaliere, Andrew Forge, Emily Wasserman, Barbara Rose, and others. The original audio recordings for these transcripts are filed in series 2.10, along with other audio recordings for which there are no transcripts, including interviews by John Gruen, Delores Holmes, Mercedes Matter, the Martha Dean Radio Show, NBC Today Show, and WQXR radio. There are also audio recordings of Krasner's lectures in series 2.10.Krasner's papers also include writings and reminiscences by Krasner; writings about Krasner; printed materials such as exhibition catalogs and clippings; and one scrapbook containing clippings and photographs. Numerous photographs are of Krasner, including portrait photographs taken by Hans Namuth; of Krasner with Jackson Pollock and family and friends, and of her exhibitions and artwork. Users should note that Pollock's and Krasner's papers contain similar types of material that often overlap in subject matter, especially among the correspondence and photographs.

Archives of American Art

Information

SNAC Resource ID: 6630667

Archives of American Art

Related Entities

There are 54 Entities related to this resource.

Wright, W. D. (William David), 1906-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65b0hm3 (person)

Epithet: of Laxton British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000507.0x000234 William Wright Jr. was Gillis Long's cousin. Gillis Long (1923-1985) was representative for the 8th U.S. Congressional District of Louisiana in 1963-1965 and 1973-1985. He ran unsuccessfully for governor of Louisiana in 1964 and 1971. From the description of William Wright Jr. oral history interview, 1987. (Louisiana State University...

Burkhardt, Rudy.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6gf260w (person)

Maddox, Charles F.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6fb7thm (person)

Gray, Cleve ca. 20. Jh.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6c831z3 (person)

Painter, sculptor, art historian; Cornwall Bridge, Conn.; b. 1918; d. 2004. From the description of Cleve Gray papers, 1942-2004. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 276394137 From the description of Cleve Gray papers, 1942-2004. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 495595029 From the description of Cleve Gray papers, 1942-2004. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 233007000 Cleve Gray (1918-2004) was a painter, sculptor, and art historian from Cornwall Bridge, Conn. ...

Forge, Andrew.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6ff4mkx (person)

Smith, Tony, 1912-1980

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6c250ps (person)

Tony Smith (1912-1980) was a sculptor from New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Tony Smith, 1978 Aug. 22-30. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 779477529 Tony Smith, b. 1912; d. 1980, Sculptor of New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Tony Smith, 1978 Aug. 22-30. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 646397565 Sculptor; New York, N.Y. Died 1980. From the description of Tony Smith interviews, 1978...

Rose, Barbara

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69h7q8q (person)

Biographical/Historical Note Barbara Rose is an American art historian and critic, born in 1938 and educated at Smith College, Barnard College and Columbia University. She is known primarily for her writings on 20th-century American art. She has taught (at Hunter College, the Universtiy of California at San Diego and Irvine, and Sarah Lawrence College), curated exhibitions and made films. Through her marriage to Frank Stella and f...

Kadish, Reuben, 1913-1992

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6tm7hgm (person)

Kadish, Reuben, 1913-1992, Painter, sculptor and mural painter of New York, N.Y.; d. 1992. From the description of Oral history interview with Reuben Kadish, 1992 Apr. 15 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 646401374 Painter, mural painter; New York, N.Y.; d. 1992. From the description of Oral history interview with Reuben Kadish, 1964 Oct. 22 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81787825 Painter, sculptor and mural painter; Ne...

Forge, Andrew

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6n428x8 (person)

Matter, Mercedes, 1913-2001

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63f61pw (person)

Biography / Administrative History R. Buckminster Fuller conceived the World Game as an interactive role-playing experience that would teach participants to organize, revitalize and distribute depleted world resources. Relying on computers to provide raw data, players work non-competitively to allocate the earth?s natural capital worldwide, scoring points through efficient management. If cooperation degenerates into competition, the first ste...

Brooks, James, 1906-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60m130n (person)

Dehner, Dorothy, 1901-1994

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6z89z42 (person)

Married to David Smith. From the description of Correspondence to Edward F. Fry, 1969-1970. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 212070485 Sculptor, painter, printmaker; New York, N.Y. Dehner was married to sculptor David Smith. [Dehner died in 1994.]. From the description of Oral history interviews with Dorothy Dehner, 1965 Oct.-1966 Dec. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220185543 Sculptor; New York, N.Y. Dehn...

Wright, William, 1773-1860

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68x13jd (person)

Epithet: MD, of Bradford British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000507.0x00022b Epithet: of Add MS 46925 British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000507.0x000232 Epithet: clerk British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000507.0x000223 Epithet: clothworker, of London ...

Martha Jackson Gallery

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6mp9wh6 (corporateBody)

Martha Jackson opened her Gallery in New York City at 22 E. 66th St., moving three years later to 32 E. 69th St. The gallery specialized in modern American and European painting and sculpture, particularly Abstract Expressionists. Her son, David Anderson, worked with Jackson and took over the gallery after her death in 1969. He now operates the David Anderson Gallery, 521 W. 57th St. From the description of Martha Jackson Gallery records, 1954-1964. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 830...

Maddox, Charles

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65r7wpb (person)

Pollock, Jackson, 1912-1956

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6bk1jrn (person)

Jackson Pollock was born in 1912, in Cody, Wyoming, the youngest of five sons. His family moved several times during his childhood, finally settling in Los Angeles. In 1930 he joined his older brother, Charles, in New York City, and studied with Regionalist painter Thomas Hart Benton at the Art Students League of New York. Pollock worked during the 1930s for the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project. During 1936 he worked in artist David Alfaro Siqueiros's Experimental Workshop. In...

Cavaliere, Barbara.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6739g7c (person)

Glaser, Jane R.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6z923ff (person)

Benton, Thomas Hart, 1889-1975

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w67w6dp5 (person)

Thomas Hart Benton (April 15, 1889 – January 19, 1975) was an American painter and muralist. Along with Grant Wood and John Steuart Curry, he was at the forefront of the Regionalist art movement. The fluid, sculpted figures in his paintings showed everyday people in scenes of life in the United States. His work is strongly associated with the Midwestern United States, the region in which he was born and which he called home for most of his life. He also studied in Paris, lived in New York City f...

Rouche, Burton

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w68183bd (person)

Davis, Bill, 1949-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6rk73cb (person)

Miller, Daniel

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6p975xz (person)

Gruen, John.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6zg6tdx (person)

John Jonas Gruen born Sept. 12, 1926 in Paris, France. Educated in Europe and the United States. Mr. Gruen is a portrait photographer; art, dance and music critic. He has written countless articles, reviews, interviews, monograhs and essays for many national and international periodicals. He has lectured extensively at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York among other museums, schools and universities and hosted a dance-interview radio program--The Sound of Dance--over WNCN. Fro...

McCoy, Sanford, Mrs.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6cw7jbz (person)

Holmes, Doloris

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6df7x0v (person)

Doloris Holmes, performance artist, poet and founder and director of the White Mask Theatre, has been active in the New York area since 1962. From the description of Doloris Holmes papers, 1966-1996. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122466185 Doloris Holmes is a performance artist and poet who founded the White Mask Theatre. Her work has been exhibited in the New York area since 1962. In 1972 she went to Spain to visit a prehistoric cave and was profoundly infl...

Zogbaum, Wilfrid, 1915-1965

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w69g5pff (person)

Sculptor; New York. From the description of Wilfrid Zogbaum papers, 1924-1966. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122647941 Sculptor, New York, N.Y. From the description of Wilfrid Zogbaum interview, 1964 Nov. 2. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220198948 Wilfrid Zogbaum, b. 1915; d. 1965, Sculptor of New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Wilfrid Zogbaum, 1964 Nov. 2 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 317...

Betty Parsons Gallery

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6s808v7 (corporateBody)

De Kooning, Willem, 1904-1997

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6xp768t (person)

Willem de Kooning (1904-1997) was an abstract artist from New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Willem De Kooning and others, 1979 Sept. (Smithsonian Archives of American Art). WorldCat record id: 688855147 Abstract artist; New York. 1904-1997. From the description of Oral history interview with Willem DeKooning and others, 1979 September [sound recording]. (Smithsonian Archives of American Art). WorldCat record id: 123944643 ...

Namuth, Hans

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6p26xdj (person)

Photographer, filmmaker; New York, N.Y.; d. 1990. From the description of Oral history interview with Hans Namuth, 1971 Aug. 12-1971 Sept. 8 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81603857 Hans Namuth (1915 -1990) was a photographer and a filmmaker from New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Hans Namuth, 1971 Aug. 12-Sept. 8 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 495595056 Photographer, filmmaker; New Yor...

Gray, Cleve.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61g86qw (person)

Abstract Expressionist painter, sculptor, and writer Cleve Gray (1918-2004) lived and worked in Connecticut where he was politically active in the Vietnam protest movement and other liberal causes. Born Cleve Ginsberg in New York City (the family changed its name to Gray in 1936), he attended the Ethical Culture School and at a young age developed a fascination with color and paint. At the urging of friends, Cleve's parents allowed him to accompany a school friend for le...

Ossorio, Alfonso, 1916-1990

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6hq448g (person)

Painter, sculptor; New York, N.Y. Died 1990. From the description of Alfonso Ossorio papers, 1949-1981. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122647958 Alfonso Ossorio (1916-1990) was an American artist who was born in the Philippines, attended boarding schools in England, and came to the United States to study at the Portsmouth Priory School, Rhode Island, and then at Harvard University. Ossorio is best known as for his illustrations and abstract sculpture. From the de...

Isaacs, Reginald R., 1911-1986

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6st7pp4 (person)

City planner and educator. Educated at the University of Minnesota (B.Arch. 1935) and Harvard University (M.Arch. 1939). Licensed architect on National Council of Architectural Registration Boards in Washington, D.C., Illinois and Massachusetts. Architect and city planner, 1926-1945; Charles Dyer Norton Professor of Regional Planning at Harvard, 1953-1978; Norton Professor Emeritus from 1978; and Chairman of Dept. of City and Regional Planning, 1953-1964. From the description of Pape...

Motherwell, Robert

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61j9c2h (person)

Abstract expressionist painter. Close friend of Baziotes. From the description of Robert Motherwell postcard to William Baziotes, 1944. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122557368 Robert Motherwell, 1915-1991, painter of New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Robert Motherwell, 1981 Feb. 15. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 646401238 Painter; New York, N.Y.; b. 1915; d. 1991. From the description of Robert Motherwell in...

Friedman, B.H. (Bernard Harper), 1926-2011

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6rn3zs7 (person)

Bernard Harper Friedman (1926- 2011) is an art historian from New York, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with Bernard Harper Friedman, 1972 Nov. 10 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 81297201 ...

Pollock, Charles C.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jq198q (person)

Painter, mural painter and instructor; Michigan and Paris, France. First wife Elizabeth. Older brother of Jackson Pollock. Studied with Thomas Hart Benton, Art Students League. Art instructor, Michigan State University 1942-1967. From the description of Charles Pollock papers, 1902-1990. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122515093 ...

Eames, Ray

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6748xn3 (person)

Burkhardt, Rudy

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dd12fq (person)

Johnson, Philip, 1906-2005

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dj5h79 (person)

Prominent New York architect. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and designed the State Theater at Lincoln Center in N.Y. From the description of Papers, 1927-1944. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 18376257 Architect, author, critic. Affiliated with the Museum of Modern Art, New York as the founder and director of the Dept. of Architecture (1932-34, 1952-1954), Trustee (1957- ), and donor. From the description of Philip Johnson pape...

Wasserman, Tamara E.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60g69pm (person)

Miller, Robert, 1932 Apr. 17-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6ng7g74 (person)

Krasner, Lee, 1908-1984

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6nc66sk (person)

Painter; Easthampton, N.Y. From the description of Lee Krasner interview, 1966 July 31 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 82561305 Painter; Easthampton, N.Y.; b. 1908. From the description of Lee Krasner interview, 1972 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 77755808 Painter; interviewee married Jackson Pollock, d.1984. From the description of Reminiscences of Lee Krasner : oral history, 1978. (Columbia University In...

Greenberg, Clement, 1909-1994

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sf2xzx (person)

Clement Greenberg, for many years America's most influential art critic, helped to create an audience and market for New York School artists such as Pollock, Newman, and David Smith. Greenberg wrote for Partisan review in the late 1930s and began writing art reviews for The Nation in the 1940s. Beginning in the 1950s, he abandoned regular reviewing in favor of the occasional article, organized exhibitions, lectured around the world, and served as a consultant for galleries, museums, and dealers....

Valliere, James

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6sz9ds9 (person)

Still, Clyfford, 1904-1980

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w661126x (person)

Janis, Sidney, 1896-1989

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w62524fd (person)

Art dealer; New York, N.Y. Operated the Sidney Janis Gallery. Died 1989. From the description of Sidney Janis interview, 1972 Mar. 21-1972 Sept. 26. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220186713 b. 1896; d. 1989. From the description of Artist file : miscellaneous uncataloged material. (Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)). WorldCat record id: 86133413 Sidney Janis (1896-1989) is an art dealer from New York, N.Y. Operated the Sidney Janis Gal...

Rouche, Burton.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w61k21zq (person)

Eames, Ray

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6mp6748 (person)

Designer; Venice, Calif.; b. 1916; d. 1988. From the description of Ray Eames interviews, 1980 July 28 - Aug. 20 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80437623 Ray Eames (1916-1988) was a designer from Venice, Calif. From the description of Oral history interview with Ray Eames, 1980 July 28-Aug. 20. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 646395860 ...

Matter, Mercedes.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dn6vxt (person)

Brooks, James, 1906-1992

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6rz0490 (person)

Painter; East Hampton, N.Y.; d. 1992. From the description of Oral history interview with James Brooks, 1965 June 10 and 12 [sound recording]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 79604582 James Brooks (1906-1992) was a painter from East Hampton, N.Y. From the description of Oral history interview with James Brooks, 1965 June 10 and June 12. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 646401425 Painter; East Hampton, N.Y. Died 1992. Brooks studied ...

Davis, Bill

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6669x44 (person)

Bill Davis served as a Lubbock County, Texas judge from 1959- 1964. From the description of Collection, 1891-1917, (bulks 1910-1916). (Texas Tech University). WorldCat record id: 25457143 ...

McCoy, Sanford, Mrs.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6dj85c3 (person)

Rose, Barbara

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w66w9fr9 (person)

Art historian; New York, N.Y.; b. 1937. From the description of Barbara Rose papers, 1966-1967. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 220244439 Barbara Rose (1937- ) is an art historian in New York, N.Y. From the description of Barbara Rose papers, 1962-circa 1969. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 744428650 ...

Valliere, James

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6g765cv (person)

Miller, Daniel Weiss

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6pv87w7 (person)