Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Chakaia Booker Papers, 1981-2018, bulk 1994-2010, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.bookchak
Creators:
Booker, Chakaia, 1953-
Dates:
1981-2018
bulk 1994-2010
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
2.3 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of African American sculptor Chakaia Booker measure 2.3 linear feet and date from 1981 to 2018 with the bulk of the collection dating from 1994 to 2010. The collection consists primarily of printed material, but also includes selected correspondence and professional files, including a portfolio.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of African American sculptor Chakaia Booker measure 2.3 linear feet and date from 1981 to 2018 with the bulk of the collection dating from 1994 to 2010. The collection consists primarily of printed material, including exhibition announcements; exhibition and auction catalogs; magazines; and newspapers. Also included are three folders of correspondence, including selected correspondence from artist Jack Whitten, and professional files, which includes a portfolio of Booker's work.

Arrangement

Arrangement
This collection is arranged as three series.
  • Series 1: Correspondence, 1995-2013 (3 folders; Box 1)
  • Series 2: Professional Files, 1999-circa 2001 (3 folders; Box 1)
  • Series 3: Printed Material, 1981-2018 (2.2 linear feet; Boxes 1-3)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Chakaia Booker (1953- ) is an African American sculptor in New York, New York. In an artist's statement, Booker refers to herself as a "narrative environmental sculptor." She is known for large-scale sculptures incorporating recycled rubber tires and stainless steel. Booker's works are included in more than 40 public collections and have been exhibited across the United States and internationally. She has also served on the boards of International Sculpture Center and Socrates Sculpture Park.

Administration

Author
Rayna Andrews
Sponsor
Funding for the processing of this collection provided by the Henry Luce Foundation.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The papers were donated to the Archives of American Art in 2018 by Chakaia Booker as part of the Archives' African American Collecting Initiative funded by the Henry Luce Foundation.
Processing Information
The collection was minimally processed and a finding aid prepared by Rayna Andrews in 2021 with funding from the Henry Luce Foundation.

Using the Collection

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.
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.
Preferred Citation
Chakaia Booker papers, 1981-2018. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Women artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sculptors -- New York (State) -- New York Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American sculptors Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Women sculptors Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Whitten, Jack, 1939-2018 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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