Archives of American Art

Aaron Douglas papers

Summary

Collection ID:
AAA.dougaaro
Creators:
Douglas, Aaron
Dates:
1921-1973
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
4 Microfilm reels
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This microfilm collection of the papers of African American painter, muralist, and illustrator Aaron Douglas primarily concern Douglas' years at Fisk University, the development of the art department, and the management of the Stieglitz art collection. The collection consists of biographical material; correspondence; artwork including prints, drawings, and sketchbooks; and teaching material including drafts of lectures and teaching notes. Also included are printed material such as exhibition catalogs and clippings; reports and printed material concerning the Sigma Pi Phi fraternity; and photographs of Douglas and his works of art.
Among the correspondents are Charles Alston, Claude Clark, John Cowles, William Dawson, Jeff Donaldson, Cedric Dover, David Driskell, Mary Beattie Brady of the Harmon Foundation, John Davis Hatch, William C. Haygood of the Julius Rosenwald Fund, and Walter Pach.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Collection was microfilmed in the order as received from Fisk University.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
Aaron Douglas (1899-1979) was an African American painter, muralist, and illustrator in Nashville, Tennessee. He is commonly regarded as a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance. In 1937 Charles S. Johnson, the first African American president of Fisk University, invited Douglas to develop the university's art department. He served as the department head until his retirement in 1966.

Administration

Existence and Location of Copies
35mm microfilm reels 4520-4523 available at Archives of American Art offices, at Fisk University and through interlibrary loan.
Existence and Location of Originals
Originals and master negative in: Fisk University, Special Collections Department.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Lent for microfilming 1991 by Special Collections Department, Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee.

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
The Archives of American art does not own the original papers. Use is limited to the microfilm copy.

Related Materials
Fisk University Special Collections holds the Aaron Douglas collection, 1921-1973 and the Aaron Douglas Collection Addendum, 1937-1974. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, The New York Public Library holds the Aaron Douglas papers, 1924-1939.

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Art -- Study and teaching -- Tennessee -- Nashville Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Art, American Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Sketchbooks Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Educators -- Tennessee -- Nashville Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Illustrators -- Tennessee -- Nashville Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Muralists -- Tennessee -- Nashville Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Painters -- Tennessee -- Nashville Occupation Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American artists Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
African American educators Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Fisk University. Art Dept Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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