Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Laura Andreson Papers, 1932-1991, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.andrlaur
Creators:
Andreson, Laura
Dates:
1932-1991
Languages:
The collection is in English.
Physical Description:
1.9 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of ceramicist and educator Laura Andreson measure 1.9 linear feet and date from 1932 to 1991. The collection is comprised of correspondence, professional files, gallery records, writings and notes, artwork, and photographic materials that document her pioneering work in ceramics.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of ceramicist and educator Laura Andreson measure 1.9 linear feet and date from 1932 to 1991. The collection is comprised of correspondence, professional files, gallery records, writings and notes, artwork, and photographic materials that document her pioneering work in ceramics.
Correspondence is with clients, colleagues, artists Vivika and Otto Heino, Gail Natzler, Harding Black, Albert Henry King, Beatrice Wood, Imogen Cunningham, Sam Maloof, and others.
Professional files include curriculum vitae, employment records, a portfolio, publicity files, material from UCLA, and scrapbook. Gallery records document Andreson's personal business with galleries and museums. Andreson's writings consist of artist's statements, notes on ceramic history, nine glaze formula notebooks, and a sabbatical report.
Artwork includes sketches of pottery and case diagrams for an unidentified exhibition. Photographic materials consist of photographs and negatives of Andreson, family and colleagues, exhibitions, and works of art by Andreson's students.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as six series.
  • Series 1: Correspondence, 1935-1988 (Box 1; 0.2 linear feet)
  • Series 2: Professional Files, 1932-1989 (Box 1, OV 4; 0.7 linear feet)
  • Series 3: Gallery Records, 1940-1991 (Box 1-2; 0.4 linear feet)
  • Series 4: Writings and Notes, circa 1940-1986 (Box 2-3; 0.2 linear feet)
  • Series 5: Artwork, circa 1960-1970s (Box 3; 0.2 linear feet)
  • Series 6: Photographic Materials, circa 1940-1986 (Box 3; 0.2 linear feet)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Laura Andreson (1902-1999) was a ceramicist and educator in Los Angeles, California. She received a bachelor's degree in education at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1932 and a master's degree in painting from Columbia University in 1937. She began her career in ceramics studying under the influential ceramicist Glen Lukens. In 1933 she founded the ceramics department at UCLA where she taught from 1933 to 1970.
Andreson was a pioneer in ceramics, experimenting and developing glaze and clay techniques during a time when equipment was limited and only a few books were available on ceramics. Her work has been widely exhibited, primarily after her retirement from UCLA in 1970. Andreson died in Los Angeles, C.A. in 1999.

Administration

Author
Sarah Mundy
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were donated by Laura Andreson and her companion Pauline Blank in 1991 and 1996.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and a finding aid prepared by Sarah Mundy in 2018.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals of scrapbook photocopies found in the collection remain in the possession of Andreson's nephew.

Using the Collection

Preferred Citation
Laura Andreson Papers, 1932-1991. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.

Related Materials
Also found in the Archives of American Art is an interview of Laura Andreson conducted May 20, 1981 by Ruth Bowman, for the Archives of American Art.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Ceramicists -- California -- Los Angeles Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Educators -- California -- Los Angeles Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women ceramicists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women educators Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Decorative arts Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art -- Study and teaching Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Scrapbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sketches Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Black, Harding, 1912- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Cunningham, Imogen, 1883-1976 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Heino, Otto, 1915-2009 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Heino, Vivika, 1910-1995 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
King, Albert Henry, 1900-1982 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Maloof, Sam Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Natzler, Gail Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wood, Beatrice Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
University of California, Los Angeles Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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