A Finding Aid to the Alvord Eiseman research material concerning Charles Demuth, circa , in the Archives of American Art

Transcription

1 A Finding Aid to the Alvord Eiseman research material concerning Charles Demuth, circa , in the Archives of American Art by Hilary Price 2017 February 7 Contact Information Reference Department Archives of American Art Smithsonian Institution Washington. D.C

2 Table of Contents Collection Overview... 1 Administrative Information...1 Biographical Note...1 Scope and Content Note... 2 Arrangement...2 Names and Subject Terms... 2 Series Descriptions/Container Listing... 3 Series 1: Correspondence, Series 2: Writings, circa Series 3: Artwork Files, circa Series 4: Printed and Research Material, circa Series 5: Photographic Material, undated, circa Series 6: Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco Catalogue Raisonné Research Material, circa

3 Collection Overview Repository: Archives of American Art Creator: Eiseman, Alvord, Title: Alvord Eiseman research material concerning Charles Demuth Dates: circa Quantity: Abstract: Language: 10.8 linear feet Alvord Eiseman's research on painter Charles Demuth dates from circa and measures 10.8 linear feet. The collection is comprised of correspondence, writings, artwork files, printed material, and photographic material that were used in Eiseman's research toward a catalogue raisonné on Demuth. Collection is in English Administrative Information Acquisition Information Donated in 2016 by Grete Meilman, a friend of Alvord Eiseman's who received the collection at the time of Eiseman's death. Related Material Also found in the Archives of American Art are the papers of Charles Demuth, , available on microfilm reel Processing Information The collection was processed to a minimal level and a finding aid prepared by Hilary Price in Preferred Citation Alvord Eiseman research material concerning Charles Demuth, circa Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Restrictions on Access Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives Washington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information. Ownership & Literary Rights The Alvord Eiseman research material concerning Charles Demuth is owned by the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution. Literary rights as possessed by the donor have been dedicated to public use for research, study, and scholarship. The collection is subject to all copyright laws. Biographical Note Alvord Eiseman ( ) was an art historian and specialist on painter Charles Demuth ( ). Eiseman was born in New York and received his degree from the College of the City of New York in He also studied at Cooper Union, the Teachers College at Columbia University, the New School for Social Page 1

4 Research, the University of Minnesota, and New York University. In 1975, Eiseman completed his dissertation in art history titled, "The Study of the Development of an Artist: Charles Demuth, Volumes I and II." Eiseman spent the next decade and a half continuing his research and writing on Demuth, authoring a draft manuscript of a catalogue raisonné on the artist. Scope and Content Note Alvord Eiseman's research on Charles Demuth dates from circa and measures 10.8 linear feet. The collection is comprised of authenticating correspondence, unpublished writings, comprehensive artwork files, printed material, and photographic material that were used in Eiseman's research toward a catalogue raisonné on Demuth. Writings make up a significant portion of the collection and include a manuscript of Eiseman's unpublished "Catalogue Raisonné of the Complete Works of Charles Demuth," which includes five parts, as well as numerous lists, appendices, a bibliography, and multiple drafts of certain sections. Eiseman's dissertation, "The Study of the Development of an Artist: Charles Demuth, Volumes I and II" is also found here, as well as numerous other writings about Demuth. Artwork files include hundreds of index cards organized by artwork date and contain the size, medium, signature location, collection, exhibitions, reproductions, and provenance of each work. Most cards are also accompanied by a reproduction of the artwork. Eiseman died before his manuscript could be published and his research material was given to the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco by Eiseman's friend Grete Meilman. The catalogue raisonné research continued until 2001, although the project was never completed. Meilman then handed the project over to historian Ulrich Hiesinger in Despite the additional attempts to complete the project, the catalogue raisonné was never published. Arrangement The collection is arranged as six series Series 1: Correspondence, (0.9 linear feet; Box 1) Series 2: Writings, circa (1.7 linear feet; Box 1-3) Series 3: Artwork Files, circa (5.8 linear feet; Box 3-9) Series 4: Printed and Research Material, circa (0.3 linear feet; Box 9) Series 5: Photographic Material, circa , undated (0.6 linear feet; Box 9-10) Series 6: Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco Catalogue Raisonné Research Material, circa (1.5 linear feet; Box 10-12) Names and Subject Terms This collection is indexed in the online catalog of the Archives of American Art under the following terms: Subjects: Art historians Types of Materials: Names: Catalogues raisonnés Manuscripts Photographs Demuth, Charles, Page 2

5 Series Descriptions/Container Listing Series 1: Correspondence, linear feet; Box 1 Correspondence dates from and is primarily comprised of letters to Eiseman, however some drafts and copies of outgoing letters are also included. Correspondence is predominantly related to provenance and authenticity research for the Demuth catalogue raisonné project. Other letters relate to publication prospects, authentication requests, and obtaining photographs of works. In addition to numerous individual collectors, Eiseman corresponded with institutions including Amherst College, Barnes Foundation, Brooklyn Museum, Columbus Museum of Art, Demuth Foundation, Denver Art Museum, Hirshhorn Museum, National Endowment for the Arts, Parrish Museum, Philadelphia Art Museum, Phillips Collection, Provincetown Art Association, San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Sotheby's, Toledo Museum, Wadsworth Athenaeum, Walker Art Center, Whitney Museum, and Yale University. Galleries, historical societies, publishers, and magazines are also among the correspondents. A small number of photographs and printed materials are included with the letters. 1 1 A, General, B, General, C, General, D, General, E-F, General, G, General, H, General, L, General, circa M, General, N, General, O, General, P, General, R, General, S, General, T, General, U-V, General, W, General, X-Z, General, Series 2: Writings, circa linear feet; Box 1-3 Writings date from circa and include original clippings that date from circa The bulk of material in this series is a manuscript of Eiseman's unpublished "Catalogue Raisonné of the Complete Works of Charles Demuth," which includes five parts, as well as numerous lists, appendices, a bibliography, and multiple drafts of certain sections. Eiseman's dissertation "The Study of the Development of an Artist: Charles Demuth, Volumes I Page 3

6 and II" is also found here, as well as numerous other writings about Demuth, and a few of his writings as a student. Writings by others about Demuth are arranged at the end of the series "Addenda: Stieglitz and Demuth," circa 1980 "Catalogue Raisonné of the Complete Works of Charles Demuth" 1 23 "Part 1, Introduction-1908," circa "Part 2, ," circa "Part 3, ," circa "Part 4, ," circa "Part 5, ," circa List of Exhibition Catalogs, Brochures, and Articles Containing Lists and Illustrations of Works by Charles Demuth, circa List of Institutions with Work by Demuth, circa List of Published and Unpublished Material Authored by Demuth, circa Appendices, circa Bibliography, circa Drafts, Catalog of Works, circa Drafts, Chronology, circa Drafts, Key to Abbreviations, circa Drafts, List of Exhibitions, circa Drafts, List of Newspaper and Magazine Articles, circa Curricula Vitae, circa "Charles Demuth," circa Charles Demuth and American Modern Art Movements, circa "The Enigma of Demuth of Lancaster," "The Figures of Charles Demuth," circa Notes on Individual Watercolors and Oils, circa Poems, circa Review of Behind a Laughing Mask: Charles Demuth by Emily Farnham, "The Still Lifes of Charles Demuth," circa Student Papers, 1966, "The Study of the Development of an Artist: Charles Demuth" Volume I, "The Study of the Development of an Artist: Charles Demuth" Volume II, "Unseen and Seldom Seen Drawings and Watercolors of Charles Demuth," circa 1980 Page 4

7 3 17 Fragments, circa Scattered Notes, circa 1980 Writings by Others 3 19 "Chapter 9: Charles Demuth" by Sherman E. Lee, "Demuth in Bermuda" by Charles V. Zuill, "Charles Demuth, Lancaster Artist," 1958 Series 3: Artwork Files, circa linear feet; Box 3-9 Artwork files date from circa and are comprised of three sets of index cards that Eiseman used to collate his research on each individual work of art by Demuth. The third set is by far the most complete (beginning in Box 4, Folder 4 and ending in Box 9, Folder 7), and includes hundreds of index cards organized by artwork date, containing the size, medium, signature location, collection, exhibitions, reproductions, and provenance of each work. Most cards are also accompanied by a reproduction of the artwork. While Eiseman's index cards serve as the foundation of this series, subsequent researchers, including the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco and later Ulrich Hiesinger, added additional information to the files, including photocopies and internet research. These later additions to Eiseman's card index account for the dates of files after Eiseman's death in A small number of index cards are also included with the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco's artwork research files (see Box 10, Folders 9-12) Artworks Card Index for Works circa , circa Artworks Card Index for Works circa , circa Artworks circa 1895, Drawing Book, circa Artworks , circa Artworks 1900, circa Artworks , circa Artworks circa 1907, circa Artworks circa 1908, circa Artworks circa 1909, Sketchbook, circa Artworks circa 1909, circa Artworks circa 1910, circa Artworks circa 1911, circa Artworks circa 1912, circa Artworks circa 1913, circa Artworks circa 1914, circa Artworks circa 1915, circa Artworks circa 1916, Titles A-B, circa Page 5

8 6 1-4 Artworks circa 1916, Titles C-M, circa Artworks circa 1916, Titles N-W, circa Artworks circa 1917, Titles A-S, circa Artworks circa 1917, Titles T-W, circa Artworks circa 1918, circa Artworks circa 1919, circa Artworks circa 1920, circa Artworks circa 1921, Titles A-R, circa Artworks circa 1921, Titles S-Z, circa Artworks circa 1922, circa Artworks circa 1923, circa Artworks circa 1924, circa Artworks circa 1925, circa Artworks circa 1925, Still Lifes, circa Artworks circa 1926, circa Artworks circa 1926, Still Lifes, circa Artworks circa 1927, circa Artworks circa 1928, circa Artworks circa 1929, circa Artworks circa 1930, circa Artworks circa 1931, circa Artworks circa 1932, circa Artworks circa 1933, circa Artworks circa 1934, circa Series 4: Printed and Research Material, circa linear feet; Box 9 Printed and research material dates from circa Printed material is comprised of a binder of clippings and loose clippings saved and compiled by Eiseman about Demuth, as well as a few publications including an auction catalog, exhibition catalog, a magazine, and brochures. Research material includes copies of archival documents such as correspondence and school records. Copies of writings by Demuth are also arranged here. The dates of publication or creation of copied material is circa Page 6

9 9 8 Archival Documents (copies), circa Clippings Binder (disbound), circa Publications, Publicity and Loose Clippings, circa Writings by Demuth, Published and Unpublished (copies), circa Series 5: Photographic Material, undated, circa linear feet; Box 9-10 Photographic material dates from circa and includes photographic prints, transparencies, contact sheets, negatives, and slides. One undated folder contains copy print photographs of Demuth and his family. The bulk of the material is photographs of Demuth's artwork that Eiseman collected over the course of his research. Some materials, especially the slides, have descriptive labeling identifying the title, medium, and year, while other materials are unlabeled. Other research photographs include views of the Demuth house, the town of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and pages of a book about Demuth. Additional photographs of artwork ar included in Series 3: Artwork Files. Artwork Photographic Prints, circa Transparencies, circa Contact Sheets and Negatives, circa Slides, circa Slides, circa Slides, circa Demuth Bust by Arnold Rönnebeck, circa Artwork by Others, circa Demuth and Family, undated 10 6 Demuth House and Memorabilia, circa Lancaster, Pennsylvania, circa Photographs of Demuth Book Pages, circa 1970 Series 6: Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco Catalogue Raisonné Research Material, circa linear feet; Box The Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco catalogue raisonné research material dates from circa , but predominantly contains materials dating after Alvord Eiseman's death in 1991, at which time his research material was given to the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco by Eiseman's friend Grete Meilman. The catalogue raisonné research continued until 2001, although the project was never completed. Meilman then handed the project over to historian Ulrich Hiesinger in 2003, but the raisonné was still never published. Material in this series dating Page 7

10 from before it was given to the Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco is mostly the photographic prints originally accumulated by Eiseman. The bulk of material here is artwork research files and authenticating correspondence. Artwork research files expand on Eiseman's research found in Series 3: Artwork Files, but do not reflect Demuth's complete oeuvre. In a few instances, Eiseman's original index cards were included with this newer research. Also found here are a few inventory lists, example catalogue raisonné formats, and largely unsorted photographic material and reproductions Artwork Research Files, circa 1975, Chronological Correspondence, Chronological Correspondence, Chronological Correspondence, Chronological Correspondence, Lists, circa 1995 Photographic Material and Reproductions 11 4 Figures, circa 1970, circa Flowers and Still Lifes, circa 1970, circa Poster Portraits and Still Lifes, circa 1970, circa General, circa 1970, circa Sample Forms and Formats, circa Ulrich Hiesinger File, Page 8