Archives of American Art

Sheldon Cheney papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.chenshel
Creators:
Cheney, Sheldon, 1886-
Dates:
1915-1972
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.4 Linear feet
(on 2 microfilm reels)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
Journal of a 1922 European trip and correspondence (1915-1972), notes and writings, and printed material concerning Alfred Steiglitz, New Deal art and other topics.
Scope and Contents
REEL 3947: Seventeen letters from Alfred Stieglitz (1921-1938) discuss modern art, his 291 gallery, and the artists exhibiting there. Other correspondents include Aline Barnsdall, principally writing about the theatre, Simon Lissim, Dorothy Norman, Faith Vilas and Andrew Wyeth. Additional materials consist of notes (1939), Cheney's manuscript on "Stieglitz and Modern Art", writings (ca. 1930s) including "A Brief Delivered to the WPA-Federal Theatre Project," clippings (1921-1972), exhibition announcements and catalogs (1923-1969) and miscellaneous printed material.
Scope and Contents
REEL 4283: An undated letter to Cheney from Egmont Arens, editor of PLAYBOY, inviting him to a New Year's Eve party; and a 65-page journal (January 4 - March 13, 1922) in which Cheney records his impressions of museums, art galleries, architecture, and the theater in Europe. Cheney was especially interested in the state of "modern" art and was most impressed with Berlin, Munich, and Dresden. He also visited Amsterdam, Brussels, Oxford, London, Antwerp, Paris, and several places in Italy. In addition to critiques of the museums and art he saw, the journal records conversations with collectors and museum officials. Much of this work was in preparation for his book A PRIMER OF MODERN ART, published in 1924.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Art historian and writer; b. 1886; d. 1980.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reels 3947 and 4283 available at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The donor, John T. Cheney, is the son of Sheldon Cheney.

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.

Related Materials
Papers of Sheldon Cheney, 1900-1980, are also located at UC Berkeley's The Bancroft Library.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Art, Modern -- 20th century Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Modernism (Art) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art historians Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Stieglitz, Alfred, 1864-1946 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Wyeth, Andrew, 1917-2009 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Barnsdall, Aline, 1882-1946 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Federal Art Project Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Federal Theatre Project (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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