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Archives of American Art
Oral history interview with Harry N. Abrams
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.abrams72
- Creators:
-
Abrams, Harry N.Cummings, Paul
- Dates:
-
1972 March 14
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
1 Sound tape reelSound recording5 in.29 PagesTranscript
- Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
An interview of Harry N. Abrams conducted 1972 March 14, by Paul Cummings, for the Archives of American Art. Abrams speaks of his educational background including classes at the National Academy of Design, the Art Students League, and New York University. He recalls his book designs, advertising and mail orders for Schwab and Beatty (1928-1936) and the Book-of-the-Month Club (1936-1950) and his association with Illustrated Modern Library and Illustrated Junior Library.
Scope and Contents
He discusses the organization and early problems of the Abrams Publishing Company, paperback reprints, translations, foreign publications and successful titles. Abrams speaks of the Abradale Press, the Norman Rockwell series, the Contemporary Painters series; and the characteristics of book club and bookstore customers. The interview concludes with a description of his art collection.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Harry N. Abrams (1905-1979) was a publisher from New York, New York.
Administration
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This interview is part of the Archives' Oral History Program, started in 1958 to document the history of the visual arts in the United States, primarily through interviews with artists, historians, dealers, critics and others.
Digital Content
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
Transcript available on the Archives of American Art website.
More Information
General
General
Originally recorded on 1 sound tape reel. Reformatted in 2010 as 1 digital wav file. Duration is 1 hr.
Keywords
Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
---|---|---|---|
Art publishing -- New York (State) -- New York | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Art -- Collectors and collecting -- New York (State) -- Interviews | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Publishers -- New York (State) -- New York -- Interviews | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Sound recordings | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Interviews | Genre Form | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions