Archives of American Art

Kenneth Miller Adams papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.adamkenn
Creators:
Adams, Kenneth M.
United States. Department of the Treasury. Section of Fine Arts
Treasury Relief Art Project
Public Works of Art Project
Dates:
1933-1938
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
1 Microfilm reel
21 items on partial microfilm reel
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This microfilm collection of the Kenneth Miller Adams papers consists of a letter, dated December 1933, from a Public Works of Art Project official on a routine matter, and a letter, dated May 1933, from Cecil H. Jones of the Treasury Relief Art Project in which Jones tells Adams he is trying to have him transferred to the WPA Federal Arts Project. Also included is correspondence, 1936-1937, with Edward Rowan and others of the Section of Fine Arts regarding Section mural competitions. This correspondence includes contracts for two murals painted by Adams – one in Goodland, Kansas (1936) depicting a scene with a figure and a buggy, and one in Deming, New Mexico (1937) entitled Mountains and Yucca. A photograph of each of the murals is also included.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Kenneth Miller Adams (1897-1966) was a painter, muralist, and lithographer in New Mexico. Born in Topeka, Kansas, he studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Students League before serving in World War I. In 1924 he moved to Taos, New Mexico and joined the Taos Society of Artists. In 1933 he worked for the Treasury Relief Art Project and the Public Works of Art Project. He moved to Albuquerque in 1938 and later taught at the University of New Mexico until he retired in 1963. Adams was elected to the National Academy of Design in 1961.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reel NDA 1 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Lent for microfilming 1964 by Kenneth Miller Adams.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.

Related Materials
The Archives of American Art also holds the oral history interview with Kenneth M. Adams, 1964 April 23 conducted by Sylvia Glidden Loomis.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Mural painting and decoration -- Kansas Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Mural painting and decoration -- New Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
New Deal, 1933-1939 -- Kansas Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
New Deal, 1933-1939 -- New Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Federal aid to the arts -- Kansas Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Federal aid to the arts -- New Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art and state -- Kansas Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art and state -- New Mexico Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States -- Social conditions -- 1933-1945 Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945 Geographic Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- Kansas Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- New Mexico Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Muralists -- New Mexico Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Muralists -- Kansas Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Rowan, Edward Beatty, 1898-1946 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Jones, Cecil H. Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Federal Art Project Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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