Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Mabel Alvarez Papers, 1898-1987, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.alvamabe
Creators:
Alvarez, Mabel, 1891-1985
Dates:
1898-1987
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2.3 Linear feet
Repository:
The Mabel Alvarez papers measure 2.3 linear feet and date from 1898 to 1987. The papers include scattered biographical information, scattered letters, unpublished prose, printed materials, sketchbooks, expense books, notebooks, diaries and journals, address books, photographs, and scrapbooks documenting the life and career of Los Angeles painter Mabel Alvarez.

Scope and Content Note

Scope and Content Note
The papers of Mabel Alvarez (1898-1985) measure 2.3 linear feet and date from 1898-1987. The collection documents both her painting career as well as her personal life through correspondence, original writings, sketches, printed material, diaries and journals, financial records, and scrapbooks.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged into eleven series based primarily on document type and chronological order.
  • Missing Title
  • Series 1: Biographical Material, 1907-1970 (Box 1; 3 folders; reel 5672)
  • Series 2: Letters, 1909-1978 (Box 1; 1 folder; reel 5672)
  • Series 3: Writings, 1898, 1910-1935, undated (Box 1; 11 folders; reel 5672)
  • Series 4: Printed Material, 1917-1987, undated (Box 1; 10 folders; reel 5672)
  • Series 5: Sketchbooks, 1949-1950, undated (Box 1; 2 folders; reel 5672)
  • Series 6: Expense Books, 1914-1977 (Box 1; 1 folder; reel 5672)
  • Series 7: Notebooks on Exhibition and Paintings, 1921-1953 (Box 1; 1 folder; reel 5673)
  • Series 8: Diaries and Journals, 1909-1984 (Box 1-2; 15 folders; reel 5673-5675)
  • Series 9: Address Books, undated (Box 2; 2 folders; reel 5675)
  • Series 10: Photographs, 1905-1983, undated (Box 2; 5 folders; reel 5675)
  • Series 11: Scrapbooks, 1898-1984 (Box 3; 2 scrapbooks; reel 5675)

Biographical Note

Biographical Note
Mabel Alvarez (1891-1985) established her career as a portrait painter in California. Born in Hawaii, she moved to Los Angeles as a child and later studied with Stanton Macdonald Wright. Her early work was characterized by interests in Symbolism and Art Nouveau as well as the influences of Impressionism. Alvarez also studied with William Cahill at the School for Illustration and Painting which Cahill founded with John Hubbard Rich in 1914.
As a young woman, Alvarez was influenced by the philosophical writings of Will Levington Comfort, who espoused the principles of Theosophy and Eastern mysticism. She attended lectures and meditation sessions at Comfort's Highland Park home, experiences which fostered artistic experimentation and departure. Alvarez became part of the "Group of Eight" in 1922, a forward thinking artists collective which veered away from the predictable standards of the California Art Club. The members of the group were Henri de Kruif, Luvena and Edouard Vysekal, Donna Schuster, Roscoe Shrader, Clarence Hinkle and her former teacher, John Hubbard Rich.
Her work took a decisive turn when she met the painter Morgan Russel in 1927. At this time her paintings became more figurative rather than decorative or ambiguous, with delicate choices of color, a skill she mastered by the end of her career. Mabel Alvarez continued to paint through her sixties and seventies, and to exhibit regularly, including with the Women Painters West organization. She is noted for her important role in the emergence of Southern California Modernism and is remembered for her contribution to California Impressionism as well as to figure, still life and portrait painting.
Mabel Alvarez died on March 13, 1985 at the age of 93.

Administration

Author
Rosa M. Fernandez
Provenance
The Mabel Alvarez papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in 1988 by Glenn Basset, art dealer and friend of Mabel Alvarez.
Alternative Forms Available
The collection is available on 35mm microfilm reels 5672-5675 at Archives of American Art offices, and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of the material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
Processing Information
The collection was originally processed by Olivia Evens in 1991. A finding aid and reel/box inventory was completed by Rosa M. Fernandez in September 2000.

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access
The collection is open for research. Use of microfilmed material requires an appointment and is limited to the Washington, D.C. research facility.
Terms of Use
The Archives of American Art makes its archival collections available for non-commercial, educational and personal use unless restricted by copyright and/or donor restrictions, including but not limited to access and publication restrictions. AAA makes no representations concerning such rights and restrictions and it is the user's responsibility to determine whether rights or restrictions exist and to obtain any necessary permission to access, use, reproduce and publish the collections. Please refer to the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for additional information.
Preferred Citation
Mabel Alvarez papers, 1898-1987. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Portrait painters -- California -- Los Angeles Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Latino and Latin American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women painters Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art, Modern Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Works of art Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Diaries Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sketchbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Honolulu Academy of Arts Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Macdonald-Wright, Stanton, 1890-1973 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Otis Art Institute Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
San Joaquin Pioneer Museum Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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