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Archives of American Art
A Finding Aid to the Edward Biberman Papers, 1939-1985, in the Archives of American Art
Summary
- Collection ID:
- AAA.bibeedwa
- Creators:
-
Biberman, Edward, 1904-1986
- Dates:
-
1939-1985
- Languages:
-
English.
- Physical Description:
-
2.1 Linear feet
- Repository:
The papers of painter and educator Edward Biberman measure 2.1 linear feet and date from 1939 to 1985. The papers document Biberman's career in Los Angeles through correspondence with friends and colleagues; writings such as speeches and articles; sound recordings and related documents for his "Dialogues in Art" television program, including recordings featuring Henry Hopkins, Howard Warshaw, June Wayne, Charles White, and others; and lectures and interviews with other educators or for television programs.
Scope and Contents
Scope and Contents
The papers of painter and educator Edward Biberman measure 2.1 linear feet and date from 1939 to 1985. The papers document Biberman's career in Los Angeles through correspondence with friends and colleagues; writings such as speeches and articles; sound recordings and related documents for his "Dialogues in Art" television program, including recordings featuring Henry Hopkins, Howard Warshaw, June Wayne, Charles White, and others; and lectures and interviews with other educators or for television programs.
Arrangement
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into five series.
- Series 1: Correspondence, 1939-1985 (0.3 linear feet; Box 1)
- Series 2: Writing, 1947-1978 (0.1 linear feet; Box 1)
- Series 3: "Dialogues in Art" Records, 1966-1969 (0.6 linear feet; Box 1)
- Series 4: Lectures, Interviews, and Event Records, 1965-1978 (1.0 linear feet; Box 2)
- Series 5: Artwork, 1942 (0.1 linear feet; OV 3)
Biographical / Historical
Biographical / Historical
California painter and educator Edward Biberman (1904-1986) was known for his stylized portraits and history-inspired murals.
Biberman was born in Philadelphia and studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Between 1929 and 1936 he lived in New York City where he became acquainted with muralist Diego Rivera and decided to focus on creating murals. He moved to Los Angeles in 1936 where he was commissioned to create murals for the city's downtown U.S. Post Office and Courthouse.
Biberman was also an educator who taught at the Art Center School in Los Angeles, lectured widely on art, and hosted television shows including "Dialogues in Art" from 1967 to 1968.
Biberman was married to sculptor Sonija Dahl Biberman (1910-2007) for 51 years. His brother, Herber J. Biberman, was a film director who was imprisoned for contempt of congress by the House Committee on Un-American Activities.
Administration
Author
Ricky Gomez
Sponsor
The processing of this collection received Federal support from the Smithsonian Collections Care and Preservation Fund, administered by the National Collections Program and the Smithsonian Collections Advisory Committee.
Existence and Location of Copies
Portions of the collection are available on 35mm microfilm reels LA 1, 106, and 832 at the Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan. Researchers should note that the arrangement of material described in the container inventory does not reflect the arrangement of the collection on microfilm.
Some of the sound and video recordings in the collection were digitized for research access and are available at the Archives of American Art offices.
Processing Information
The collection was partially microfilmed on reels LA 1, 106, and 832 before the bulk of the loaned material was subsequently donated and received a preliminary level of arrangement. The collection was processed, and a finding aid prepared by Ricky Gomez in 2019.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The Edward Biberman papers were donated to the Archives of American Art by Sonija Dahl Biberman in 1987.
Separated Materials
The Archives of American Art also holds microfilm of material lent for microfilming 106, frames 151-601. Loaned materials were returned to the lender and are not described in the collection container inventory.
Using the Collection
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research. Access to original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies. Contact References Services for more information.
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
Edward Biberman papers, 1939-1985. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.
Related Materials
Related Materials
Also found in the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Edward Biberman conducted by Betty Hoag, April 15, 1964.
Keywords
Archives of American Art
750 9th Street, NW
Victor Building, Suite 2200
Washington, D.C. 20001
Business Number: Phone: 202-633-7950
https://www.aaa.si.edu/services/questions
