Usage conditions may apply for digital images, video, and sound recordings linked within SOVA collections. While digital content may be restricted, SOVA collection descriptions and catalog records are available CC0 for re-use. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.
Archives of American Art
Alfred Hamilton Barr papers
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.barralfr
- Creators:
-
Barr, Alfred H., Jr., 1902-1981
- Dates:
-
[ca. 1915-1983]
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
61 Microfilm reels
- Repository:
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
Files kept during Barr's tenure at the Museum of Modern Art, including personal and professional correspondence with museum officials, curators, writers, historians, critics, art associations, foundations, magazines, artists, and collectors, including John Canaday, Stanton Catlin, Camilla Gray, Rene d'Harnoncourt, John Hightower, Roland Penrose, and James Thrall Soby; files on staff, exhibitions, publications and collections of MoMA, and abstract art, cubism and futurism, some related to Barr's book CUBISM AND ABSTRACT ART, 1936; files on the Foundation for Arts, Religion and Culture (ARC), Barr's travels, lectures, speeches, exhibitions, publications, political controversies, and artists and collections in the U.S.S.R.; writings, including travel notebooks regarding his trip to Russia, 1959, visits with Pablo Picasso, 1956, and Henri Matisse, 1952; exhibition catalogs, clippings and printed material; and photographs.
Scope and Contents
Also included are material collected by Margaret Scolari Barr, including Alfred's obituaries, A MEMORIAL TRIBUTE, 1981, an invitation and guest list to the memorial service, and condolence letters; and photocopies of autograph letters, ca. 1920s-1970s, from the Barr's collection sold to Arthur A. Cohen in 1975.
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
Museum director, curator, and critic; New York, N.Y. Died 1981. Became the first director of the Museum of Modern Art in 1929. He was married to Margaret Scolari Barr, art historian and teacher.
Administration
Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reels 2164-2199, 3145-3160 and 3259-3266 available at Archives of American Art offices, the Museum of Modern Art Archives, and through interlibrary loan.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals in the Museum of Modern Art, New York, N.Y.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Museum of Modern Art was responsible for the selection, organization and arrangement of the papers microfilmed. Five series were not microfilmed, including Matisse (6 ft.), Picasso (7 ft.), Russian culture (6 ft.), family letters (2 ft.), and education (2 ft.).
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.
Citation
Alfred H. Barr, Jr. papers, [ca. 1915-1983]. Owned by the Museum of Modern Art. Museum of Modern Art requires full citation to include microfilm reel and frame numbers, and reference to MoMA as the owner of the Alfred H. Barr papers.
More Information
Other Finding Aids
Other Finding Aids
A microfilm inventory prepared by the Archives of American Art and an inventory for record groups 5-10 compiled by the Museum of Modern Art is available in all Archives of American Art offices and at the Museum of Modern Art.
Keywords
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions