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Archives of American Art
A Finding Aid to the Saul Baizerman Papers, circa 1916-1963, in the Archives of American Art
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.baizsaul
- Creators:
-
Baizerman, Saul, 1889-1957
- Dates:
-
circa 1916-1963
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
3 Linear feet
- Repository:
The papers of New York sculptor Saul Baizerman measure 3 linear feet and date from circa 1916-1963. The collection documents Baizerman's career through biographical information, writings by Baizerman including poems, lectures, plays, and writings on art, a few exhibition records, drawings and sketches, printed material, photographs of Baizerman and his work, and a dismantled scrapbook.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The papers of New York sculptor Saul Baizerman measure 3 linear feet and date from circa 1916-1963. The collection documents Baizerman's career through biographical information, writings by Baizerman including poems, lectures, plays, and writings on art, a few exhibition records, drawings and sketches, printed material, photographs of Baizerman and his work, and a dismantled scrapbook.
Arrangement
Arrangement
Due to prior arrangement on microfilm the papers are arranged as one series.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Born in Russia, New York sculptor Saul Baizerman (1889-1957) was known for his technique of hammering copper by hand to create relief sculptures. His deep sympathies for the labor movement and social causes informed his focus on the urban poor and manual worker as primary subjects for his work.
Baizerman came to the United States in 1910, settling in New York City, and subsequently trained as a sculptor at several art schools. In the 1920s he began shaping copper by hand in a process that involved forcefully hammering both sides of a copper sheet until an image appeared in relief. Two of Baizerman's most well-known works were a series of small-scale statuettes entitled "The City and the People" which he worked on throughout his life, and a "Labor" series. Baizerman also completed larger outdoor sculptures.
From 1934 to 1940 Baizerman taught sculpture, drawing, and anatomy classes at his own art institute, the Baizerman Art School. Thereafter, he continued to teach at the American Artists School and the University of Southern California, but focused primarily on his own artwork.
Baizerman was married to painter Eugenie Baizerman from 1920 until her death in 1949. Baizerman died of cancer at the age of 68.
Administration
Sponsor
Funding for the digitization of the microfilm for this collection was provided in part by The Walton Family Foundation.
Existence and Location of Copies
The collection has been microfilmed on reels N61-1 through N61-6. The microfilm has been digitized and is available on the Archives of American Art website.
Existence and Location of Originals
Circa 300 sketches and circa 50 photographs are in the possession of Joan Hay Baizerman.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Joan Hay Baizerman, Saul Baizerman's second wife, loaned the papers to the Archives of American Art for microfilming in 1964. She subsequently donated the papers in 1971 with the exception of circa 300 sketches and circa 50 photographs from the original loan.
Processing Information
The collection was microfilmed after receipt on reels N61001-N61006. The microfilm was described in a finding aid by Stephanie Ashley in 2023 and the microfilm was digitized in 2023 with funding provided by The Walton Family Foundation.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center.
Conditions Governing 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
Saul Baizerman papers, circa 1916-1963. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Related Materials
Related Materials
The Archives of American Art also holds the Haim Mendelson correspondence with Saul Baizerman and others, 1946-1957 and the Julius Samuel Held papers relating to Saul Baizerman and Leonard Baskin, 1947-1976.
Keywords
| Keyword Terms | Keyword Types | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Scrapbooks | Topical | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Educators -- New York (State) -- New York | Occupation | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
| Baizerman, Eugenie, 1899-1949 | Personal Name | Search Smithsonian Collections | Search ArchiveGrid |
Archives of American Art
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Washington, D.C. 20001
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-7950
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