Archives of American Art

A Finding Aid to the Douglas Cramer Papers, circa 1970-2014, in the Archives of American Art

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.cramdoug
Creators:
Cramer, Douglas S.
Dates:
circa 1970-2014
Languages:
Collection is in English
Physical Description:
1.41 Linear feet
Repository:
The papers of New York art collector Douglas Cramer measure 1.41 linear feet and date from circa 1970-2014. Papers include letters from artists, four guest books signed by visitors to Cramer's art collection and attendees of his parties, printed material documenting Cramer's career in television as well as his prominence as an art collector, and photographs of people and artists who attended his parties including Ellsworth Kelly, Ed Ruscha, Mary Boone, Leo Castelli, and others. There is an unprocessed addition to this collection of nine items donated in 2022 that include correspondence and works of art to Douglas Cramer consisting of handmade Christmas cards by Bryan Hunt, David Hockney, and Harland Miller; a sketch by Ellsworth Kelly; a postcard from Sol Lewitt; a sketch in oil on cardstock by Eric Fischl; and a collage by Richard Meier. Materials date from circa 1986-1994 and undated.

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of New York art collector Douglas Cramer measure 1.41 linear feet and date from circa 1970-2014. Papers include letters from artists, four guest books signed by visitors to Cramer's art collection and attendees of his parties, printed material documenting Cramer's career in television as well as his prominence as an art collector, and photographs of people and artists who attended his parties including Ellsworth Kelly, Ed Ruscha, Mary Boone, Leo Castelli, and others.
There is an unprocessed addition to this collection of nine items donated in 2022 that include correspondence and works of art to Douglas Cramer consisting of handmade Christmas cards by Bryan Hunt, David Hockney, and Harland Miller; a sketch by Ellsworth Kelly; a postcard from Sol Lewitt; a sketch in oil on cardstock by Eric Fischl; and a collage by Richard Meier. Materials date from circa 1986-1994 and undated.

Arrangement

Arrangement
The collection is arranged as five series
  • Missing Title
  • Series 1: Letters, 1972-2014 (2 folders; Box 1)
  • Series 2: Guest Books, 1990-1997 (0.5 linear feet; Box 1-2)
  • Series 3: Printed Material, circa 1972-2012 (0.7 linear feet; Box 1)
  • Series 4: Photographs, circa 1970, circa 1985 (1 folder; Box 1)
  • Series 5: Unprocessed Addition, circa 1986-1994 and undated (0.3 linear feet; folder 3, OV 4)

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Douglas Cramer (1931- ) is an art collector and television producer in New York, New York and Miami, Florida. A producer of noted television series including The Love Boat, Dynasty, and The Brady Bunch, Cramer is also an avid art collector and was a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.

Administration

Author
Hilary Price
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Donated to the Archives of American Art in 2016 by Douglas S. Cramer. 9 additional documents were donated by the Douglas S. Cramer Jr. Revocable Trust in 2022 via Herbert Bush III, Cramer's spouse and trustee.
Processing Information
The collection was processed to a minimal level and a finding aid prepared by Hilary Price in 2017.

Using the Collection

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.
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C. Research Center. Contact Reference Services for more information.
Preferred Citation
Douglas Cramer papers, circa 1970-2014. Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution.

Related Materials
Also found in the Archives of American Art is an oral history interview with Douglas Cramer conducted by Avis Berman in 2013.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Visitors' books Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art -- Collectors and collecting -- New York (State) -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art -- Collectors and collecting -- Florida -- Miami Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Television producers and directors -- Florida -- Miami Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Television producers and directors -- New York -- New York Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographs Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Ruscha, Edward Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Boone, Mary Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Kelly, Ellsworth, 1923- Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Castelli, Leo Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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