Archives of American Art

Ivan Dmitri/Levon West papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.dmitivan
Creators:
Dmitri, Ivan, 1900-1968
Dates:
1892-1969
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
11 Linear feet
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
The papers of Ivan Dmitri, a.k.a. Levon West, include biographical material, correspondence, writings, financial records, art works, printed material and photographs relating to his career as a photographer and printmaker.
Scope and Contents
Certificates, permits, identification card and passports, 1918-1959; correspondence; a journal, 1943-1944; writings by Ivan Dmitri (aka Levon West) and others; a transcript of a tape recording made at Dmitri's studio, 1961; notes, undated and 1924-1963; business records, 1920-1960, including a ledger, a sales book, contracts, purchase orders, receipts from Kennedy & Co., Engravers, stock market records, and cancelled checks; 35 drawings; 28 prints by Dmitri and others; a story board section from Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", 1937; 5 scrapbooks of clippings; 4 scrapbooks of printed material; press releases, ca. 1943-1965; 4 annual reports from various companies, 1957-1961; "Etchings and Dry Points," and "Making an Etching" by Levon West; "Flight to Everywhere," "Color in Photography," and "Kodachrome and How to Use It" by Ivan Dmitri; 4 books about Dmitri by various authors; 3 books about art-related topics; printed material; and photographs and slides of Dmitri, his family, friends, and places related to his work, including 3 color photos of Diego Rivera in his studio by Dmitri, circa 1956 (2 are copies of the same photo).
Scope and Contents
840 original photographs, by various photographers, included in the five "Photography in the Fine Arts" travelling exhibits, organized and directed Dmitri, 1959-1967.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Ivan Dmitri/Levon West (1900-1968) was a printmaker and photographer. Levon West, Dmitri's given name, which he changed to Ivan Dmitri at the time he changed careers from printmaking to photography.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reels 152-153 avaiable at Archives of American Art offices and through interlibrary loan.
Existence and Location of Originals
Reels 152-153: Originals returned to Peter West after microfilming, and subsequently donated to the International Center for Photograpy, New York, N.Y.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
87 linear feet of material relating to Dmitri's work in photography were donated to the International Center for Photography in New York City in April 1981 and April/May 1982 via donor Peter West. A portion of this tranferred photographic material is microfilmed on reels 152 and 153.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
Use of original papers requires an appointment and is limited to the Archives' Washington, D.C., Research Center.

More Information

Other Finding Aids

Other Finding Aids
Finding aid is available in all Archives of American Art offices.


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Etching/ Printmaking etc Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photography Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographers Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Printmakers Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
West, Levon, 1900-1968 Personal Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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