Archives of American Art

Oliver O'Connor Barrett papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.barroliv
Creators:
Barrett, Oliver O'Connor, b. 1908
Dates:
1930-1980
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.5 Linear feet
(on 3 partial microfilm reels)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Correspondence, art works, writings, photographs, printed material, and business records document Barrett's sculpture and life.
Scope and Contents
REEL 138: Letters between Barrett and his colleagues discuss his art works and writings (1943-1964). Art works consist of 157 sketches and an annotated sketchbook (1942-1962). Writings include poems and autobiographical notes and articles (1930-1939). Photographs show Barrett and his works (1944-1951). Printed material consists of a press release, clippings (1961-1963), 10 exhibition catalogs (1944-1962), a bulletin, and 2 programs (1953-1955). Business records include meeting notes (1951), a contract for Barrett's "Sculpture Continuum" (1963), lists of expenses (1959-1962), receipts (1962-1963), and income tax returns (1953-1959).
Scope and Contents
REEL 3837: Fourteen pages from an annotated sketchbook.
Scope and Contents
REEL 4391: A resume (1969); photographs of Robert Moses, President of the New York World's Fair, and Jeff Jaffe, President of the Chunky Corporation, with Barrett and a model of his "Chunky Square Continuum" for the World's Fair (1963); a brochure on Barrett's sculpture continuum works; and his book, MYSELF EMERGING (1980).

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Sculptor, illustrator, and teacher; New York, N.Y. and Colchester, England. Born Oliver O'Connor Barrett in London, England, Barrett studied at Fircroft College, Birmingham, England, and is a self-taught sculptor. In 1940, he arrived in the United States, becoming a sculpture and drawing instructor at the Putney School in Vermont (1941-1942), Tulane University (1942), and Cooper Union Art School (1945).
Biographical / Historical
Barrett produced illustrations for TOWN AND COUNTRY and other magazines, and has published poems and short stories. He later returned to England. He often shortened his name to Connor Barrett.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reels 138, 3837, and 4391 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Reel 138: A press release, clippings, exhibition catalogs, a bulletin, and programs were transferred to the Library of the National Museum of American Art and the National Portrait Gallery.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center. Microfilmed materials must be consulted on microfilm. Contact Reference Services for more information.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Sculpture, Modern -- 20th century Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Illustrators Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sculptors Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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